Pokémon Legends: Z-A — Hands-on Preview & Release Info

Pokémon Legends: Z-A shifts the series toward an action-RPG with real-time combat, dodgeable attacks, and dramatic Mega-Evolved boss encounters in a Paris-inspired Lumiose City. The demo impressions suggest a promising evolution of the franchise for players who want a more active, moment-to-moment trainer experience.

What to expect

• Real-time combat: No turn-based battles — you control a trainer who locks on to enemy Pokémon, uses active skills on cooldowns, and dodges attacks to protect your party.
• Action-RPG feel: Combat plays more like a smaller-scale JRPG (think elements of Xenoblade Chronicles), with sneak attacks, active skill timing, and player mobility.
• Rogue boss encounters: Boss battles feature Mega-Evolved Pokémon in special arenas and can include allied Pokémon joining the fight, creating showy, cinematic encounters.
• Setting: The game is set in Lumiose City, a Paris-like urban environment with a darker mystery involving Pokémon entering frenzied Mega Evolutions.

Demo highlights

The demo sequence included nighttime training and alleyway battle zones. The playable team included Chikorita, Weedle, Mareep and Fletchling. Combat felt like an active, skill-based system where positioning and dodging matter; after a few matches the real-time flow becomes engaging and fun. A standout was a Rogue Mega Absol boss fight with Lucario joining in — the encounter played like a boss fight from larger RPGs, with Mega Evolutions acting like temporary power bursts.

How it compares

Previous entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus set groundwork for open-ended exploration, but retained turn-based battles. Legends: Z-A appears to be the next step, removing the turn-based requirement and pushing the series into real-time action while keeping the core trainer progression and roster-building familiar to long-time fans.

Release & availability

Official release date: October 16, 2025 on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. A Switch 2 bundle featuring the game will also be available at launch.

Find the game on Amazon (US): Search Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Amazon

Final thoughts

Pokémon Legends: Z-A keeps the trainer-journey core while experimenting with a more action-focused combat system. For fans who’ve wanted the series to evolve beyond strict turn-based fights, this could be an exciting step forward. Will it fully replace traditional combat for everyone? Unclear — but it’s a fresh and promising direction.

Based on hands-on coverage reported by gaming outlets.

Join the discussion

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