Pokemon Legends: Z-A Reviews
Ironically, Pokémon Legends: Z-A thrives on dualisms and almost antagonistic contrasts. On the one hand, we have perhaps the most innovative title in the franchise's recent history, with experimentally revamped gameplay that offers exciting new challenges. On the other hand, there is an inherently outdated production, with a technical aspect that is openly disappointing and difficult to justify. We have a fun title capable of entertaining for hours on end, but at the same time a superficial setting that can lead to an understandable perception of repetitiveness. Game Freak's new title thus becomes a borderline project, as enjoyable and even refreshing for the most devoted fans as it is potentially disappointing for those who would like to see something more from The Pokémon Company's gaming universe. A crossroads that we hope will mark a decisive change of pace in the future of the saga.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While I had my expectations in check, given the scope of what Legends ZA would offer, I was ultimately let down in a big way here. The Switch 2 version certainly provides some solid performance with the sharpest visuals the series has seen, but apart from an interesting battle system, everything else ZA tries to do is met with absolute failure. From boring side quests to a narrative loop that lasts far too long, and one of the most underwhelming finales across the franchise, ZA is simply boring and feels like filler until the next main entry.
It feels so empty at times, grinding for wild Pokémon is still a sometimes boring chore, and there are exceedingly long periods of time where you’re just fighting and you don’t really have a choice but to keep going back, night after night, to brawl with strangers. When you limit the game to a single city, you want the whole thing to feel vibrant and charged, like if Blade Runner let you hunt Replicants with an Arcanine. Instead, it’s just another Pokémon game. It moved some things forward in terms of fashion and some animation, but it’s a snail’s pace of progress for one of the wealthiest IPs out there today.
The new Pokémon games unfortunately fail to meet expectations in the end. The first title on Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t deliver impressive results, although the real-time combat system does deserve praise.
Review in Polish | Read full review
At the very least, [Pokémon Legends Z-A's] real-time combat system has potential, enough so to replace the turn-based combat of mothership titles if improved upon and refined further. As it stands, you could do worse than with this new Pokémon title that at least doesn't run like hot garbage unlike the previous Legends title.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A injects new life into Game Freak and Pokémon Company's long-running series with their debut on Switch 2. (Review in Portuguese for Entertainium Brasil)
It’s not perfect and there are many issues, but Legends ZA is definitely the best Pokémon game in a while. I’m hoping that Game Freak will continue to tweak parts of the Pokémon games as they continue making them. I don’t mind the day/night cycle, but I think that they need to adjust it so that the cycle pauses when people are catching Pokémon or doing a quest at least. I look forward to seeing what the DLC has to offer early next year and what changes they make.
Pokémon Legends Z/A pushes the series forward in some ways, but takes several steps back in others. It offers a solid story and a memorable cast, yet its weak exploration and limited regions feel like a noticeable downgrade from the previous game. The combat system brings fresh and creative ideas, but it’s still far from polished or fully realized. Overall, the game delivers a fun Pokémon experience, but not the major evolution fans hoped for as the opening title of the Nintendo Switch 2 era.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Pokémon Legends: Z-A turns away from a proven framework to try something new - a gamble that mostly pays off, but not without caveats.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t perfect, but it’s bold. It takes chances the series has avoided for far too long. Focusing the entire adventure within one city could’ve been a disaster, but it mostly works thanks to how alive Lumiose feels and how strong the new battle system is. The Z-A Royale gives the game a clear purpose, the rogue Mega Pokémon inject tension, and the combat overhaul breathes new life into battles that had started to feel mechanical.
Pokémon Legends Z-A redefines the franchise formula with dynamic battles, a memorable story, and the return of Mega Evolution.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you are a Pokemon fan and have played just about every game in the franchise, you are going to pick this up no matter what. I find it hard to recommend this one to anybody who has barely played any Pokemon games before or if they do not own a Switch 2. Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a good first step and Legends: Z-A was another good step in the right direction. It’s still enjoyable but nothing earthshattering. Hopefully if we get a third Pokemon Legends game it will blow these last two games out of the water.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A, like Legends Arceus before it, manages to weave new concepts into the series' familiar gameplay, finally brings back Mega Evolution and captivated me with its loop between day and night areas. The city wasn't too small for my liking and the story takes a genuinely serious turn towards the end, which I hadn't expected. Sure, I have my criticisms of the game, and Game Freak could certainly address some of them. But I still had a really good time with the game and am eager to spend more time with it, when the DLC comes out.
Review in German | Read full review
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is not a mere spin-off of the series, but a glimpse of its future, seizing the opportunity to deliver a fun and solid game that is, above all, the most refreshing and innovative in recent years.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Pokémon Legends Z-A marks an enjoyable breath of fresh air, but it could still do with some growth to catch up with the times.
Pokémon Legends Z-A is the worthy conclusion that the Kalos region deserved — and seeing a continuation of X/Y is simply thrilling. Lumiose City is full of life, and the new real-time battle system is the most fun the franchise has ever offered, especially when played in multiplayer mode. While the city’s visuals leave a bit to be desired, the interiors and Pokémon themselves are gorgeous and expressive, accompanied by an incredible soundtrack that further elevates the audiovisual experience. Pokémon Legends Z-A is a gift to longtime fans of the series: fun, nostalgic, and packed with fresh ideas — even if it’s not the best entry point for newcomers.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
For the first Pokemon on Switch 2, let alone just an RPG in 2025, you would hope for a more well rounded experience. Sadly, most of the issues are likely due to the fact that it was anchored down by a simultaneous release on the Nintendo Switch, which is hardware from 2017. It’s not perfect and the truth is that Pokemon Legends ZA should be a vastly better experience as there are a myriad of reasons that make it feel like the antithesis of a next generation experience. However, underneath its faults, the experience is accessible, the gameplay loop is addictive, and it emphasizes how satisfying catching and evolving Pokemon can be.
Pokémon Legends: Z‑A has some interesting new ideas that I would like to see, in some way, implemented into the mainline games. The game might not capture players’ hearts. Die-hard Pokémon fans may enjoy this entry into the series, but I think it’s about time the Pokémon series had a mega evolution.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A continues the progression the series has made since arriving on the Switch. It’s a pretty similar formula to what the series has been like since it debuted more than 30 years ago, but with enough quality-of-life changes and a new battle system to freshen it up. It looks gorgeous on the Switch 2, despite some off-looking textures here and there. It’s a promising vision of what’s to come with the long-running series and a great addition to any Pokémon fan’s Switch library.
Despite promising ideas and real-time battles that could have evolved the series, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels small, unfinished, and creatively hesitant. Lumiose City offers little to explore, the Z-A Royale grinds pacing to a halt, and the few glimmers of ambition are buried under a sense of obligation rather than inspiration.