Pokémon Legends: Z-A

What it is

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an action RPG developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. It launched on October 16, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The game combines Pokémon catching, team building and a story centered on Lumiose City with real-time combat, replacing the usual turn-by-turn exchanges with battles in which Trainers and Pokémon move simultaneously.

The standard Nintendo Switch version has a US list price of $59.99, while the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition costs $69.99 and offers enhanced resolution and frame rates. Owners of the Switch game can purchase a $9.99 upgrade pack rather than buy the full game again. Mega Dimension, the paid expansion, is a separate $29.99 purchase unless included in a bundle.

The announcement campaign began in February 2024. An extended gameplay presentation followed on February 27, 2025, showing the city, the new battle system and Mega Evolution; the exact release date was confirmed on May 28, 2025.

Story and setting

The adventure begins with a sightseeing visit to Lumiose City, the Kalos location previously featured in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. An urban redevelopment project led by Quasartico Inc. aims to create spaces shared by people and Pokémon. Shopping areas, cafés and restaurants sit alongside parks and waterfronts, with Prism Tower standing at the city’s center.

Hotel Z serves as the player’s base. Its owner, AZ, is among the characters encountered during the story, while Team MZ works to protect the city’s peace. Depending on the appearance selected for the player character, either Urbain or Taunie becomes a friend. Both characters live and work at Hotel Z; they are not the names of a fixed playable protagonist.

Chikorita, Tepig and Totodile are the first-partner choices. The city’s problems include incidents involving rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon, which the player investigates alongside the people met during the adventure. The setting is a single city rather than a journey through an entire region.

Gameplay and modes

Positioning and timing are central to combat. Trainers command attacks while moving around the battlefield, and moves differ in range, area of effect and how long they take to execute. Choosing when to attack or switch Pokémon therefore matters alongside the composition of the team.

Catching also happens directly in the environment. Players aim and throw Poké Balls at wild Pokémon, approach from behind or hide to avoid detection, and battle targets to reduce their HP. Lumiose’s designated wild zones provide habitats for Pokémon within the redevelopment project.

At night, battle zones host the Z-A Royale. Players begin at Rank Z and work toward Rank A by defeating Trainers, earning Ticket Points and qualifying for promotion matches. Bonus cards provide additional objectives that can increase Ticket Point earnings. The competition’s promised reward for reaching the top is the granting of a wish.

Mega Evolution temporarily changes eligible Pokémon’s appearance and strengthens them; some also change type. A Trainer’s Key Stone and the Pokémon’s corresponding Mega Stone enable the transformation.

Multiplayer is separate from the single-player adventure. The Z-A Battle Club features real-time Link Battles for up to four players, with standard matches lasting three minutes and rewarding Pokémon knockouts. Private Battles support friends through local wireless or online connections, while Ranked Battles match players online and offer battle, promotion and season rewards. Link Battles work across the Switch version, Switch 2 Edition and upgraded Switch copies. Internet battles require Nintendo Switch Online.

Reception

Metacritic lists the Nintendo Switch 2 version at 78/100 and the original Switch version at 70/100. Its platform selector lists 112 Switch 2 critic reviews and nine Switch reviews, although the main score panel displays 107 reviews for Switch 2.

The collected reviews show a divide between enthusiasm for the combat and reservations about other aspects. Nintenduo’s 9/10 review praises the real-time battles while describing exploration as limited. Multiplayer.it’s 7.5/10 assessment finds the game enjoyable but identifies weaknesses in story, balance and technical presentation. These are attributed critical assessments, not publisher claims about quality.

Post-launch updates and editions

Mega Dimension’s additional story content released on December 10, 2025. It requires completion of the main story and continues the adventure through distortions leading to Hyperspace Lumiose. Hoopa opens portals with help from donuts prepared alongside Ansha, while Team MZ and Korrina participate in the investigation. Hyperspace Pokémon can have total levels exceeding the normal limit of 100.

The expansion introduces further Mega Evolutions, including Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y, and includes Holo-X and Holo-Y apparel usable in the main game. The same DLC purchase supports both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 editions.

Nintendo’s latest listed software update is version 2.0.2, released on March 18, 2026, in its US update history. Its notes state that several issues were fixed. The preceding version 2.0.1 added bulk Berry purchasing and increased the Mega Shard carrying limit from 999 to 9,999, alongside DLC-related fixes.

A digital Nintendo Switch 2 Edition bundle includes the game and Mega Dimension. The latest physical-package announcement, dated September 30, 2026, gives October 29, 2026, as the release date for a bundle containing both on one game card. That physical package is not yet released as of October 25, 2026, and contains the same game content as buying the game and expansion separately.