The new Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings fans back home
A wave of nostalgia comes rushing over with the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, creating fresh memories that bring fans back to 2013’s Kalos region—literally.
Game Freak developed the new Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the sequel to the sixth-generation titles Pokémon X and Y (2013) and the second entry in the Pokémon Legends sub-series, following Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022).
The Pokémon Company and Nintendo released the sequel game in the same month as the prequels, just a decade later. Therefore, it is playable on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, compared to the prequels which are playable on the Nintendo 3DS.
Pokemon Legends Z-A Charted no. 1
With Pokémon being the world’s highest-grossing media franchise, Z-A landed at No. 1 in United Kingdom’s physical charts. The fans’ anticipation allowed the game to debut at No. 1 in the UK, only two days after its release last October 16, 2025. The game sold 5.8 million units in its first week.
Since its launch, the fans have polarizing views over the game. Some say the game’s level grinding is enjoyable, while others are disappointed with the game overall. But why?
New Mega Evolutions
Similar to Pokémon X and Y, Z-A takes place in the same place which is X and Y’s Paris-inspired Lumiose City, located in the Kalos region. The new release blends traditional role-playing game elements with real-time combat mechanics in comparison to the previous games’ turn-based mechanics. Moreover, Z-A also marks the return of the fan-favorite Mega Evolution, introducing new Mega forms for Pokémon such as Victreebel, Malamar, and Dragonite, among others.
The developer positions Z-A as a modern take on the series set in a region that is no stranger to the fans, but with different mechanics. As Austin Manchester of Polygon said, Z-A is a fresh evolution, but it is still the same monster. He stresses the weight of players having the thought of “been there, done that.”
Though some fans view Z-A as a repetitive world of chaos and adventure, its new ranking system allows trainers to climb from Rank Z to A through high-stakes battles that redefine competition, reshaping progression in the Pokémon world.
Hence, IGN’s Rebekah Valentine says that while Lumiose is uninteresting in terms of visuals, it does not mean it is uninteresting to explore. She says that despite its similarities to the prequels, Z-A tells the stories of more characters with more details.
Undeniably, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings similar chaos that the previous games did, but the story is deeper, the stakes are higher, and the metropolis is more alive than ever. It is a homecoming with more exploration and discovery.
To begin your journey of grinding from Z to A, purchase the game through the link: https://legends.pokemon.com/en-us/buy-now.
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