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Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Release Time, Editions, File Size, and Early Reviews

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is finally ready to launch tomorrow, bringing players back to Lumiose City in the Kalos region with a brand-new real-time battle system.


Pokémon Legends Z-A poster.
Pokémon Legends Z-A

Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the game is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Pokémon releases in years. Here’s everything you need to know before jumping in.


Release Date & Time

  • Global launch date: October 16, 2025

  • Staggered rollout by region:

    • US West Coast (PDT): October 15 at 9:00 PM

    • US East Coast (EDT): October 16 at 12:00 AM

    • UK (BST): October 16 at 12:00 AM

    • Central Europe (CEST): October 16 at 12:00 AM

    • Japan (JST): October 16 at 12:00 PM

    • Australia (AEDT): October 16 at 12:00 PM

  • Preloading is already live on the Nintendo eShop for digital buyers.


Editions & Pricing

  • Standard Edition (Switch): $59.99 USD

  • Switch 2 Edition: $69.99 USD

  • Upgrade Pack: $9.99 (for players moving from Switch to Switch 2)

  • Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Legends: Z-A Bundle: $499.99 USD

    • Includes Switch 2 console + digital copy of Z-A

    • Saves $20 compared to buying separately


Preorder Bonuses

  • Universal reward: Ralts holding a Gardevoirite

  • Digital preorder: Extra 100 Poké Balls (via email code)

  • Retailer-specific rewards:

    • Pokémon Center / Walmart: Starter pins (Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile)

    • Target: Pokémon Legends: Z-A decal set

    • Best Buy: Lumiose City gamer mat

    • GameStop: Exclusive in-game trench coat and pants set


File Size

  • Nintendo Switch: 4.1 GB

  • Nintendo Switch 2: 7.7 GB


Early Reviews & Reception

The review embargo has lifted now, and the game has received generally favorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 81/100 (based on 45 critic reviews) and an OpenCritic score of 82/100. Critics praise the innovative real-time battle system, smooth performance on Switch 2, and nostalgic ties to Pokémon X/Y, but some note repetitive structure, limited exploration compared to Legends: Arceus, and a basic story. Here's a selection of top-scoring reviews from major outlets:


  • Video Games Chronicle (VGC): 5/5 – "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."


  • TheSixthAxis: 10/10 – "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."


  • RPG Site: 9/10 – "Years ago, I said that Pokemon Legends: Arceus proved that there was room in the Pokemon world for more games like Pokemon Colosseum to exist, and to even thrive. While Pokemon Legends: Z-A wasn't quite what I had in mind, it feels like validation nonetheless. Pokemon is at its best when Gamefreak is allowed to experiment with what a Pokémon game can actually be, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an affirmation that the series isn't done evolving, much like the Pokémon themselves. If this is the future of the series - more experimental "Legends" titles which attempt to broaden the Pokémon world in ways that only they can, instead of merely retreading old ground with remakes - I couldn't be happier."


  • Screen Rant: 9/10 – "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."


  • GamesRadar: 8/10 – "Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers a true slice-of-life Pokémon experience thanks to its anime-style real-time combat system and wholesome worldbuilding elements. While its single-city setting can sometimes feel a bit samey, Lumiose is densely packed with things to do and discover. This is a world worth getting lost in."


  • Nintendo Life: 7/10 – "Pokémon Legends: Z-A should be celebrated for its fabulous real-time combat and its largely smooth jump to the Switch 2, but in condensing things down to one single location, it loses part of the Pokémon magic that Arceus and many other entries managed to amplify. I’ll forever find filling up my Pokédex fun, and for the Switch 2 generation, this is a good starting point for the franchise. But if the Legends series is to continue, it needs to recapture its personality and fuse that real-time system with a bit more freedom."


  • Eurogamer: 6/10 – "Lumiose City could do with work, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a much more tightly focused - and delightfully goofy - return to better form. At least by modern Pokémon's standards."


Overall, it's seen as a strong entry, with scores nearly matching Sun and Moon (87) and Legends: Arceus (84), while surpassing some traditional mainline titles like Scarlet/Violet (73), Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (73), and Sword and Shield (80). 

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