Nintendo Switch 2 Critic Reviews

Pokémon Legends Z-A is a grand adventure that once again proves that the Legends series is home to the most interesting ideas Game Freak has. It's a game that understands its audience, and feels like a love letter to both players who grew up with X & Y, and those who've been here the whole time. The new battle system really worked for me, and the Rogue Mega Battles are bombastic fun, even if, like the traditional turn-based offering, it can get very easy as you level up your team. I hope the Pokémon Legends series is here to stay.

Unlike the most recent Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a game that really holds your attention. The spiritual successor to Legends Arceus, it’s learned from the mistakes of the distant past and beautifully shows what city life is like in the Pokémon universe. I can see myself playing this for another hundred hours as I finish my Pokédex, shiny hunt and generally have a great time. This is easily the best Pokémon game on the market.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A hits such an exceptional stride. An invigoratingly original combat system, an almost surprisingly good narrative that covers real and important themes, and the same charming monster designs and aesthetics that continue to define Pokémon as one of the biggest media properties in history. Excellent work, Game Freak.

Thanks to its mature story tinged with nostalgia, its fast-paced gameplay, and its remarkably smooth performance, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like one of the best entries in the series — a must-play for any Pokémon fan. While it pays heartfelt tribute to the franchise’s past with its Kalos setting, it also stands as a clear glimpse of what the future of Pokémon can become.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A mega evolves the series in an exciting new direction, and is one of the best games I've played on the Switch 2.

Pokémon Legends Z-A is a welcome change of pace in a series that’s been running for almost 30 years. Here’s hoping the Legends games continue to serve as testing grounds for new ideas, and that the core mainline games can bring some learned lessons in exciting ways.

I’m sure of it: beyond its imperfections and the unfinished business Game Freak has yet to resolve, Pokémon Legends: Z-A marks the first step in a smart direction—one that aligns with what many fans have been asking for over the years and shows particular respect for the legacy it inherits from the most successful franchise in history. I’m convinced we’re looking at one of those special games, one of those one-in-a-million experiments that end up working out. This time, Game Freak, you have my full attention.

With a well-rounded gameplay flow, seamless catching and fighting as well as a smooth performance, Pokémon-Legends: Z-A is the best game delivered by Game Freak in the last ten years.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A reinvents the series with bold real-time battles and an ambitious urban world. Though exploration feels limited, its combat depth and smooth performance make it a standout evolution for the saga.

It's a fun, fresh take on the series' formula that really helps Pokémon Legends: Z-A set itself apart as one of the best entries yet.