Introduction

In case you are a reader of most of my reviews—thank you from the bottom of my heart if you are—then you know I am more of a Digimon fan than Pokémon. However, that really applies more to the anime. In terms of games, I have played most of the main titles to completion and still play them today. Recently, in fact, I began a Nuzlocke (a type of challenge where if a Pokémon you own faints you consider them gone from the team and can’t use them again), showing that I do love the games quite a bit. I won’t deny though, their quality as of late has been a bit worrying. Despite the sales of the cards and the anime releasing, Pokémon games feel undercooked, and I know if you go on X (Twitter) you’ll see I’m not the only one who thinks that way.

That’s why I wasn’t 100% sold on diving into the newest game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Still, as a fan—and someone who wants more than one game for my Nintendo Switch 2—I ponied up the $70 and bought a copy. Is Pokémon Legends: Z-A the return to the series we all needed and desire, or is this another reason Digimon may run supreme in the gaming landscape? We find out in my full Pokémon Legends: Z-A Review for the Nintendo Switch 2!

Gameplay

Once more we step into the world of Pokémon, but this time returning to a previously explored area from past games—the Kalos region. Using themes from older games like Pokémon X and Y, Silver, and Black/White, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a new setting called Lumiose City. You end up coming to this newly developed city and quickly get involved in several events happening there. Luckily, you will get your starter Pokémon—choose between Chikorita, Totodile, and/or Tepig. From here you enter the world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and this is where the game changes things up from the traditional formula.

First, unlike traditional Pokémon games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t about your character rising the ranks to be the best trainer of them all via beating gym bosses, but instead by raising your rank within the city. This is accomplished by doing two things—participating in the Battle Zone at night to earn enough points to eventually beat a specific trainer, and completing various side missions and activities. However, the Battle Zone is the primary means of gaining rank.

Now, battling is also where Pokémon Legends: Z-A adds some themes from Pokémon Legends: Arceus—real-time combat—but this time, it’s even more engaging thankfully. Players can unleash their Pokémon when needed and then use various skills via a cooldown. You can also dodge enemy attacks—when in wild battles—and move about to position your character for better vantage points. The latter never felt necessary in trainer battles, but when up against wild Pokémon that you can capture or defeat like most Pokémon games, positioning is important. If the player takes too many strikes from a wild foe, you’ll pass out and lose the chance of getting that Pokémon. I won’t deny though, I prefer these real-time battles more than the static RPG ones from past games. I still think some fine-tuning is needed here and there, but as is, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a lot more fun than Arceus and better refined.

Outside of the usual Pokémon affairs, you can explore the city and enter areas where Pokémon can be caught or find shops that can give you new cosmetics. Lumiose City isn’t gigantic but it isn’t small either, with plenty of places to visit and areas to explore. I do wish there were more areas to venture out into, but having a game focused on one giant new locale isn’t a horrible idea. Longtime fans are used to going from small towns to semi-larger ones, and that I think got a bit old. Pokémon Legends: Z-A takes a chance with one major hub, but it centers the game and makes for a unique take on the traditional exploration aspect.

What also returns in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is Mega Evolutions, which we saw in Pokémon X and Y. Once more your player can temporarily evolve a Pokémon to a Mega form—think Digimon—which gives them increased stats, abilities, and alters their form. These forms are a mixed bag for sure, with some Pokémon looking really cool and others—Starmie—just being laughable. Regardless of your take, Pokémon Legends: Z-A tries to pull from various games, and I appreciate the effort even if they aren’t all perfect.

Graphics

Okay, yes, Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t the most graphically appealing title of 2025, but I won’t join the anger train that the internet seems to be on. Visually, it looks dated, with textures that scream older games and designs that I feel aren’t that impressive given the price. However, the Pokémon and the characters themselves look pretty good with a nice amount of detail. The Mega Evolutions return in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and while I won’t deny some of the new Mega forms are horrible-looking, they still have some flair visually. I will say that it looks better on a Switch 2 than on the OG Switch—it runs better too—but there’s not a huge difference.

Sound

Like the visuals, there’s good and bad to be had in the sound department. I personally love the music and OST in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and was quite surprised by how battles felt epic and more intense due to the themes. Even just walking in the various zones, I enjoyed the tunes and often found myself standing still just listening to the music. The bad is that in 2025 this franchise still doesn’t have voice work for the cast! Yes, I know none of the main games have really ever had voices, but when you are watching a giant story unfold and characters are moving their mouths without a single sound coming from them, it just comes off as silly. We need voice work for future Pokémon games.

Story

The story in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is—in my opinion—not perfect but noteworthy for numerous reasons. While I haven’t completed the game completely, the story feels like an elongated episode from one of the various anime. There are times where it feels ridiculous, but I think fans forget the targeted audience for Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t adults but kids to teens, and in that respect, the story is solid. You are basically crafting a legend in Lumiose, and it is kind of exciting to see your various actions do so, even if it uses a simple formula of beating trainers, raising ranks, and helping develop the various systems in the city.

Overall Impression

Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t perfect, and I won’t deny there are a million things I can find at fault while playing. However—and this is where I think people forget who Pokémon Legends: Z-A is truly aimed at—are these issues really a problem, or is it because I’m an adult who can’t see what a young kid sees when playing a kid-focused title? In my mind, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is doing what it needs to do for kids, with a simple but fun story, engaging combat, and decent visuals. I know Game Freak is well aware of who is going to buy Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and that might irk some who want their perfect version of a Pokémon game done right. But as a longtime player of the games and a semi-fan, I think it’s decent. I’ll keep playing and get closer to completion, but I promise you my opinions won’t change—Pokémon Legends: Z-A is good for who it’s meant to be for. It might be hard to accept that as fans who are growing with the series, but I understand the vision here, and I think it works.

Conclusion

Pokémon Legends: Z-A might not be the best entry of the franchise compared to some of them, but it’s considerably better. I think Game Freak needs to really begin investing more funds and time into Pokémon games, as fans probably won’t keep accepting to pay $70 for a game that feels outdated. Still, if you don’t dive into the hate train that is the internet, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is fun and has some appeal. I still have much to do in it, but I want to complete my adventure in Lumiose City. When that adventure is done, will I continue playing Pokémon Legends: Z-A? Not too sure—but maybe the DLC—which is already out for yet another $30—will give me some incentive.

—Aaron