Pokemon Winds and Waves is not letting go. The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive held its number one position in Famitsu's most wanted games chart for the second consecutive week, pulling in 599 votes from Japanese readers who cast their ballots between April 1 and April 7.
That margin at the top is tighter than it looks. Pragmata sits just 58 votes behind on PS5 with 541, making it the closest challenger to Pokemon's throne. The Capcom sci-fi title is clearly resonating with Japanese players despite its long development road, and it even appears twice in the chart: once on PS5 at number two, and again on Switch 2 at number 13 with 138 votes.
How the top ten breaks down
The Switch 2 platform dominates the upper half of the chart in a way that tells you a lot about where Japanese gaming enthusiasm currently sits. Five of the top ten entries are Switch 2 titles.
Ganbare Goemon Daishuugo at number three with 398 votes is a notable result. The long-dormant Konami series clearly still commands serious loyalty from Japanese readers, outpacing Persona 4 Revival by just 6 votes in what is essentially a dead heat for third place.
Splatoon Raiders at 339 votes confirms that Nintendo's competitive shooter franchise remains a fixture in the Japanese gaming consciousness, even before a release date has been confirmed.
What the lower half of the chart reveals
Below the top ten, a few entries stand out. Grand Theft Auto 6 lands at number 11 on PS5 with 148 votes, which is a respectable showing but puts it well behind Japanese-developed titles. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth appears at number 12 for Switch 2 with 140 votes, suggesting demand for the port is real even if it is not setting the chart on fire.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam appears twice in the chart, at number 9 on Switch 2 with 161 votes and again at number 20 on original Switch with 90 votes. That split reflects players on both platforms tracking the same title.
Neptunia Unlimited makes its debut this week, landing at number 27 on PS5 with 69 votes and number 29 on Nintendo Switch with 60 votes. New entries this low are fairly standard for a series debut on the chart, and the dual-platform showing suggests a committed fanbase spread across hardware.
The Duskbloods at number 23 on Switch 2 with 76 votes is worth watching. The FromSoftware exclusive has generated significant conversation internationally, and seeing it chart in Japan gives a clearer picture of domestic interest ahead of its release.
Pokemon Winds and Waves heading to Switch 2 in 2027
For context on why the chart-topper is generating this much anticipation: Pokemon Winds and Waves is confirmed as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive targeting a 2027 release. The first trailer dropped recently and clearly landed with Japanese readers, pushing the game straight to number one last week and keeping it there this week.
The chart will shift as release dates get announced and new titles enter the conversation. If you want to track how Japanese reader sentiment evolves week to week, browse more guides and gaming news on our site for ongoing coverage. For deeper reads on the titles making noise in this chart, the latest reviews section has you covered as more of these games hit shelves.
