On Pokémon Day 2024, we were treated to a sneak peek at a second entry in the Legends series, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Promising to be an ambitious new adventure in the world of Pokémon, a lot of questions sprung up after the announcement added it into the list of all upcoming video games. So far, we still have more questions than answers, but some careful investigation and digging have given us a better understanding of what’s in store with this upcoming Switch game. Between Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and this, there aren’t that many new Switch games announced so even though it may not be the next generation of Pokémon, there’s a lot to be excited about with this title. Let’s dive into everything we know about it thus far.
Since we’re in a bit of a holding pattern waiting for the Switch 2, you may as well also check out the upcoming PS5 games, upcoming PC games, and upcoming Xbox Series X games.
Release window
As of March 2025, Pokémon Legends: Z-A only has a release window of late 2025. Odds are this will be Nintendo’s big fall release, possibly in November, but we will have to wait and see what the final date is.
Platforms
It should go without saying, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be a Switch exclusive. However, it was specifically stated to be coming to “Nintendo Switch family of systems.” With the Switch 2 also set to arrive in 2025, there might be a version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A for the new hardware. If not, it will at least be backwards compatible.
Trailers
The reveal trailer for Pokémon Legends: Z-A is brief but does hide some secrets fans have sniffed out. The most obvious is that this game will take us back to Lumiose City, first featured in X and Y. Later, Nintendo clarified that the game will not only be focused on this city but set entirely within it. As to who we are and what we’re doing in the city is still unknown. Fans speculate that the digital and futuristic style of the trailer is hinting at the game being set in the future, contrasting how Arceus was set in the past, but this is all just theorizing.
We had to wait an entire year until Pokémon day 2025 for a second look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A. This new trailer showed off our first look at the game in action in Lumiose City. The city is currently undergoing an urban redevelopment project to better suit humans and Pokémon coexisting.
The story begins with your character visiting the city and staying at Hotel Z, which will act as your main base. You will choose from either Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile as your starter and meet your ally, either Urbain or Taunie, depending on what gender you pick for your trainer. Other characters we see include AZ, the hotel owner, Jett, the CEO og Quasartico inc., and Vinnie who works as Jett’s secretary.
This game’s Legendary is Zygarde, a Dragon/Ground Type.
Not long after Pokémon day, Pokémon Legends: Z-A got another trailer during the March Nintendo Direct. The trailer starts by rehashing a lot of the info we got in the last trailer, but it does move on to give us some new stuff in the gameplay department.
Gameplay
Being set within a single city is quite a departure from the past Legends game, which introduced us to an open-world-style game. City does appear fully explorable, with the ability to go onto and across rooftops. There will be dedicated Wild Zones where Pokémon roam free for you to battle and catch.
Combat looks just like it did in Arceus, but there is are some key new differences here. One, of course, is mega evolutions that completely change your monster’s moves and power. What will be more important to keep in mind, though, is that moves all have ranges now. If you are too far from the enemy when selecting an attack, it can completely miss.
The main highlight from the last trailer is the dichotomy between how the city functions during the day, when people and Pokémon are friendly and casual, and at night. This is when the best trainers show up for the Z-A Royale tournament which adds new battle zones across the city. While inside a battle zone, any trainer that spots you will engage you in a battle. However, if you sneak up and attack an unaware opponent, then you will land a surprise attack and get an advantage in the fight. Your trainer will start at rank Z and work their way all the way up the alphabet to rank A, hence the title. The legend goes that anyone who makes it to the top will have a wish granted.
Preorder
Pokémon Legends: Z-A will arrive sometime this year, but we have no date to put on the calendar yet for preorders. Once we do, we will let you know.
