POKEMON LEGENDS: Z-A

A Mega Evolution For The Series

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Developer: Game Freak Publisher: Nintendo ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10+) Release Date: 10/16/2025 Played On: Nintendo Switch 2 Reviewed By: Zubi Khan

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is here, bringing with it the second exciting entry into the Legends spinoff series of games, one that gives off the bright glow of a Mega Evolution, surpassing even the might of Legends Arceus.

I'll be the first to admit it, I'm a bit of a Pokémon Pessimist. After finding myself underwhelmed with the efforts of the last couple of games, particularly those that saw release on the original Nintendo Switch hardware, I thought my admiration for the beloved series was over. Despite it all, I did enjoy my time with Scarlet, once it saw a performance boost on Nintendo Switch 2, but, even then, if I had to pick, I found myself enjoying Pokémon Legends: Arceus the most out of any modern Pokémon release, thanks to its fresh and nonconventional break from the routine of the mainline series.

With the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A as a cross-gen game on both the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, it was kind of a given that, at least, from a performative standpoint, the latest entry into the franchise would sing on new hardware. I'm happy to report that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a sight to behold on Nintendo Switch 2, only really held back by constraints put in place by the original Switch.

Everything from the large number of unique NPC characters to the plethora of unique animations for its impressive roster of Pokémon present in the game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the most realized the series has been to date, with flashes of brilliance that transport players into what feels like the anime or manga.