Game reviews / Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
2025 · Nintendo Switch · Nintendo Switch 2 · Action RPG · Role-playing
4 scored sources · 2 countries contributing scores
Review consensus
Pokémon Legends: Z-A successfully reinvents Pokémon battles with real-time movement, cooldown-based moves, positioning, tactical range management, and dramatically improved Mega Evolution encounters. Its dense Lumiose City also supports memorable characters, plentiful side missions, customization, and a strong soundtrack. However, the single-city structure sacrifices the environmental variety and discovery that made Pokémon Legends: Arceus special. Wild Zones feel cramped, the presentation is visually flat, and the setting can become repetitive. Performance is substantially stronger on Switch 2, while the original Switch version suffers from more noticeable pop-in, weak textures, and longer loading. Overall, Z-A is an inventive but uneven Pokémon evolution.
Limited geographic coverage. Treat this score as an early indication.
Last researched: 2026-09-14
Pros
- Excellent real-time combat with meaningful positioning and cooldown strategy
- Mega Evolution and Rogue Mega battles provide exciting tactical encounters
- Memorable characters, side missions, customization, and music
- Switch 2 version delivers smooth performance
Cons
- Lumiose City and Wild Zones can feel repetitive and restrictive
- Visuals, textures, shadows, and presentation remain underwhelming
- Catching and exploration lack Arceus's sense of discovery
- Original Switch version has more pop-in and technical compromises
Review sources
4 sources found across 2 countries. This is not exhaustive worldwide coverage.
- GamesRadar+ · United Kingdom · 80/100
- Nintendo Life · United Kingdom · 60/100
- GameSpot · United States · 70/100
- Shacknews · United States · 90/100