Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings the series back with bold changes that build on what Pokémon Legends: Arceus started. That game opened the door for experimentation, but this one feels more confident in where it wants to go. It trades open fields for the heart of Lumiose City, creating something tighter, faster, and more focused than before.
The shift to real-time combat gives the series a new energy. Battles happen right in front of you, with no menus or pauses to break the flow. It feels immediate and more personal, especially when you’re commanding Pokémon while dodging attacks yourself. Lumiose City becomes your whole world this time, packed with rooftops, alleys, and neon-lit streets that make every fight feel part of the city’s rhythm.
As someone who’s played every major Pokémon release since Pokémon Red and Blue, this one stood out fast. It’s familiar, but it doesn’t feel like a repeat. Within minutes, I could tell that Pokémon Legends Z-A wants to move the series forward while keeping the parts that made it special in the first place.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A details
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Game Freak
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Action, Role-playing game
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
The battle for Lumiose
The story in Pokémon Legends: Z-A takes place entirely within Lumiose City, now redesigned as the stage for the Z-A Royale. This tournament turns sections of the city into active battle zones after dark, letting trainers climb the ranks from Z to A. It’s a simple concept that gives structure to the game’s new real-time combat and makes each win feel like progress toward something bigger.
At first, it seems like a straightforward competition. Then the mystery around Rogue Mega Evolution takes over. Pokémon begin evolving on their own, without the usual keystones, and those transformations threaten to tear the city apart. Your journey through the Z-A Royale becomes about more than just rank, it’s about saving Lumiose before these unstable evolutions cause chaos.
Cutscenes and side conversations add just enough detail to make Lumiose feel like a living place. Each district has its own atmosphere, from quiet streets filled with markets to rooftops buzzing with trainers. You meet friends and rivals who fit naturally into the city’s culture, and they help tie the story together. What works best is how contained everything feels. You’re not travelling across regions or chasing a villain halfway around the world. The focus stays tight on Lumiose and the people trying to rebuild it. That smaller scale gives Pokémon Legends: Z-A a clear sense of purpose, it’s about protecting one city, not saving the entire Pokémon world.
Real-time battles take the lead
Pokémon Legends: Z-A changes the flow of the series in a big way. Battles now unfold in real time, putting you and your Pokémon directly in the action. You move freely, dodge attacks, and call out moves without waiting for turns. It feels fast, reactive, and more hands-on than anything the series has tried before.
Every move has a short cooldown, so you’re constantly making small adjustments mid-fight. Once you find the rhythm, it’s hard to go back to traditional battles. The system makes encounters feel closer to real duels, where positioning and timing matter as much as type matchups. It’s especially satisfying when you land a perfectly timed combo to finish a tough opponent.
I had a moment early on when a wild Garchomp charged me out of nowhere. I dodged at the last second, sent out my starter, and somehow managed to turn the fight around. It was chaotic but thrilling, the kind of surprise that reminded me how unpredictable real-time battles can be. Progress in Z-A revolves around the tournament. You earn points in nighttime battle zones, collect challenger tickets, and face stronger opponents to rise through the ranks. It’s simple to understand but fun to grind through. The challenge ramps up gradually, and even the easier matches reward creative play.
Outside of combat, exploration still matters. Lumiose may be smaller than past regions, but it’s packed with vertical routes, hidden rooftops, and shortcuts. Some areas open only after you complete certain challenges, keeping exploration tied to your story progress. Sneaking up on trainers or catching wild Pokémon between matches gives a sense of freedom even within the city’s boundaries. The new combat system might be the biggest shift Pokémon has made in years, and it actually works. It keeps battles exciting and unpredictable, making each win feel earned rather than scripted.
A city that never sleeps
Pokémon Legends Z-A looks and runs better than any game in the series so far. On Nintendo Switch 2, the game runs smoother and looks cleaner, with sharper visuals and better lighting across Lumiose. Even big battles stay steady, and load times are short. It’s a clear step up that makes Lumiose feel more believable and alive.
The city’s design does a lot of the heavy lifting. Each district has its own look, from sleek commercial zones to older neighbourhoods with narrow streets and rooftops that connect like a maze. At night, the lighting transforms everything. Signs glow, puddles reflect nearby lights, and the whole city feels alive in a way Pokémon games haven’t captured before.
Small details stand out. NPCs react to your movement, Pokémon behave naturally in Wild Zones, and animations carry more weight. Characters move with a sense of purpose instead of repeating short loops. That polish helps Lumiose feel like a real place rather than a backdrop. The music also deserves mention. Each area has a theme that shifts between day and night, adding mood to every step. One battle track in particular had me turning up the volume, it built intensity without feeling repetitive. Combined with the crisp visuals, it keeps every match engaging.
It’s not flawless, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition finally shows what the series can look like on new hardware. The world feels consistent and full of life, exactly what fans hoped for after Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A starts a bold new chapter for Pokémon
Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like the right kind of step forward for the series. It keeps the core of what makes Pokémon fun but pushes in a new direction that actually works. The move to real-time combat gives every battle a sense of motion and risk, while Lumiose City offers a compact world that never feels empty. It’s different from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but it builds on its ideas with more focus and confidence.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The real-time combat system feels fast, fluid, and satisfying. | Early battles are too easy, even with Mega Evolutions. |
| Lumiose City is detailed, vertical, and full of personality. | The story takes a while to pick up momentum. |
| The focused story gives clear purpose without dragging on. | |
| The Z-A Royale tournament structure keeps battles exciting. |
The story fits the setting well. The Z-A Royale structure gives purpose to each battle, and the Rogue Mega Evolution thread keeps tension alive without overcomplicating things. It’s refreshing to play a Pokémon game that doesn’t stretch itself thin across regions. Everything happens within one city, and that choice pays off by keeping the experience tight and meaningful.
Performance on Nintendo Switch 2 seals the deal. The smoother frame rates, quick load times, and sharp visuals make this one of the most polished entries yet. After seeing how well it runs, it makes it tough to go back to older hardware.
Overall assessment of Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5 (90%)
I finished the story wanting more time in Lumiose. Not because I missed anything, but because the world felt fun to exist in. That’s something Pokémon hasn’t nailed in a while. Pokémon Legends: Z-A proves that smaller, faster, and smarter can sometimes be better. If you’re planning to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2, there’s also a new Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Bundle available. It’s an easy way to experience Lumiose City at its best, or a solid gift option for any Pokémon fan.
