Sakura Wars - Reception and Sales

Reception and Sales

The Sakura Wars series sold over 3 million units in Japan by early 2002, and over 4.5 million units by 2010. The original Saturn version of Sakura Taisen sold 360,000 copies in Japan in 1996, recording the biggest sales as a SEGA Saturn original title. Sakura Taisen 2 later sold more than 500,000 units in Japan during its first week on sale in 1998, making it the second best selling dating game of all time in Japan. When Sakura Taisen 2 was released, it was the current number one most popular game in Japan according to Famicom Tsuushin. The Dreamcast ports of the first two Sakura Taisen games additionally sold around 100,000 copies each in 2000, while the third and fourth Sakura Taisen games sold around 300,000 copies each for the Dreamcast in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The PlayStation 2 version of the original Sakura Taisen also sold an additional 236,000 copies in 2003.

According to Famitsu's 1996 top ten wanted list, Sakura Taisen scored second place just below Final Fantasy VII. The game went on to win the Game of the Year prizes at the CESA Awards and Semi-Grand Prix Awards in 1997. Sakura Taisen later ranked #13 place in the Famitsu's 100 all-time favorite games list. The first four Sakura Taisen games all made Japan’s “Top 100 Games of all time” as voted by fans. Famitsu gave Sakura Taisen V a 37/40 (10 / 10 / 9 / 8) score. In Japan, Sakura Taisen V was the 91st best selling game in 2005. In 2009, Sakura Taisen scored first place in the Famitsu list of most wanted game sequels of all times. In 2010, Sakura Shinguji ranked 17th among the 50th Famitsu best video game characters.