Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Vibrant Setting
Excellent Combat
Repetive
Pokémon Legends: Z-A blends real-time battle systems, returning Mega Evolutions, and a focused urban adventure in Lumiose City that updates the Pokémon formula with fresh ideas and nostalgic hooks. While its exploration is smaller in scale than some predecessors and presentation has rough spots, its combat innovation, vibrant setting, and strategic depth make it a fun experience for many players.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Official Trailer | Pokemon Presents 2025
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Official Announcement Trailer
Lumiose City could do with work, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a much more tightly focused - and delightfully goofy - return to better form. At least by modern Pokémon's standards.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A finally feels like Game Freak hitting its stride in Pokemon’s 3D era, with a fun setting to explore, a well-written story, and a total battle system overhaul that works surprisingly well.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A isn't without flaws, but its drawbacks are vastly outweighed by its fun factor.
That dream sold to us by the Pokemon anime? It's right here, clearer than it ever has been.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A successfully translates its iconic battle system to real-time, but its visuals and presentation leave a lot to be desired.
Hopefully Game Freak will continue using the Legends series as a playground (maybe a return to pixel graphics, just a suggestion), but, for now, Lumiose City has been a treat to revisit.
Does Pokémon Legends: Z-A successfully shake up the Pokémon formula and deliver another exciting adventure or is this another doomed trip to Kalos?
Pokémon Legends: Z-A flips everything I thought I knew about Pokémon battles on its head, putting a fresh spin on the nearly 30-year-old series. Spicing up its challenging new real-time battle system is the return of fan-favorite mega evolutions, which give every battle a subtle tinge of excitement. However, its stealth mechanics leave a lot to be desired, and the lack of voice acting still makes for rather off-putting story beats and cutscenes.
Somehow... the grapes returned.
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The hunt for Shinies in Legends: Z-A just got even easier.
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Look! It's colour!
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Naveen really isn't that bad.
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