Digimon Story: Time Stranger smashes all records: best annual profits in franchise history, surpassing the 2000s.

Bandai Namco has confirmed: *Digimon Story: Time Stranger* has propelled the franchise to its highest annual profits ever—surpassing even the anime's golden age of the 2000s. The unexpected revival is complete.

A record no one would have predicted

Nao Udagawa, CEO of Bandai Namco Entertainment, shared information that surprised more than one industry observer: Digimon Story: Time Stranger contributed to the best annual profits ever recorded for the entire Digimon franchise—surpassing the results from the anime era of the 2000s, when Digimon Adventure and its sequels were dominating screens worldwide.

This is a level of success that was genuinely not expected at this scale. The Digimon franchise has long lived in Pokémon’s shadow (a comparison it has never truly shaken off), with its share of ups and downs—the peak of anime popularity at the dawn of the 2000s, years of relative drought, and then a strong comeback through the films Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) and Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (2023).

Why Time Stranger changed everything

Time Stranger seems to have cracked the code. While Bandai Namco has not yet released precise sales figures, the success likely stems from a combination of factors: a return to the RPG format that defined the golden age of Digimon Story, a perfectly timed release, and a community of nostalgic fans eager to support a solid product.

But above all—and this is what the CEO directly indicated in his statements—it’s every category of the Digimon business that performed well, not just the game. Merchandising, anime, trading cards: the franchise thrives as an ecosystem, and Time Stranger acted as a catalyst.

Our take

We’re genuinely happy about this. Digimon deserved this moment. The franchise has always had a deeper narrative and more mature themes than Pokémon has ever truly pursued—Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (2023) is the perfect recent example. A commercial success of this magnitude paves the way for more ambition in future projects.

A quick note:Time Stranger confirms that the Digimon Story RPG formula works—and that the adult fanbase, hit right in the nostalgia sweet spot, is ready to open their wallets for quality content.

For whom: Digimon fans of all generations, Japanese JRPG enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to understand why “Pokémon’s rival series” deserves attention in 2026.