During the Feb 2025 Pokémon Presents, The Pokémon Company revealed the first trailer for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a brand new Pokémon game releasing later this year.
Legends: Z-A was first teased during last year’s Pokémon Presents. It’s the second game in the Pokémon Legends series, following Arceus in 2022.
The series features semi-open worlds and real-time Pokémon catching, without introducing any new Pokémon to the series (other than some regional variants). However, Z-A takes it a step further by introducing real-time combat for the first time in a main Pokémon game in nearly 30 years.
Another difference is that while Legends: Arceus took place in the past of Diamond and Pearl, Legends: Z-A takes place in the future of X and Y. Plus, it’s an urban setting, versus the wilderness of Arceus.
In Z-A, trainers return to Lumiose City, the large, Paris-inspired city at the heart of Pokémon X and Y (2013). Lumiose City has undergone some major changes, including new wild zones that include wandering Pokémon for capturing and battling.
With real-time battles, players can actively dodge enemy attacks, and strategically swap Pokémon and unleash moves with specific timing.
The trailer also teases the return of a fan-favorite feature, the Battle Tower.
Like other main Pokémon titles, players can choose between three starter Pokémon. The starters in Z-A are a mix from older games: Chikorita (Gold/Silver), Totodile (Gold/Silver), and Tepig (Black/White).
Curious why they only mined two different games instead of three for our nostalgic starter ‘mons. Cyndaquil, Gold and Silver’s fire starter, appeared in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, along with Pokémon from two other games (Rowlet and Oshawott).
Pokémon X and Y also introduced one of the series’ most beloved gimmicks: Mega Evolution. Mega Evolution also returns in Legends Z-A, letting trainers super-power their favorite Pokémon in battle.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to release later this year. Nintendo has not confirmed an exact release date, nor if it will launch with Switch 2.
