I received this game to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has quickly become a favorite in our household! My kids dove into this one and had very different play styles, which gave me a great look at how the game works across different age groups and approaches. Between the two of them, they’ve logged well over 100 hours, so I sat down with them to get the full scoop.
About the Game
This game takes place in a rebuilt Lumiose City and offers a more action-oriented experience than past Pokémon titles, while still keeping exploration, collecting, and strategy at the heart of the gameplay. It’s not a traditional mainline Pokémon game- and that’s part of what makes it stand out!
What They Loved
Zac {11} jumped in and never looked back! He has already completed the main storyline and plenty of side missions- racking up an impressive 83 hours of playtime in the couple of weeks that the game has been out. One of his favorite parts of the game has been being able to catch the legendary Pokémon from the X & Y generation and their starter evolutions. He also loved that shiny hunting is available early in the game- and yes, he managed to catch some! {It actually became a running joke in our house for a week or so that every time we saw him he had caught another one!}
Shane {16} is still working through the main storyline with around 30 hours played, but he’s already hooked, too. He really likes the battle system, which shifts away from turn-based combat unlike the main series games and leans more into real-time strategy and movement. He found it really fun to adapt to the new mechanics and felt it kept things fresh without being overwhelming.
Both of them enjoyed how smooth the controls were, and Zac noted that even on the original Nintendo Switch, the game runs with hardly any lag! We were lucky enough to receive both the Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game and we were all pleasantly surprised by how great they both looked and how well they ran. If you haven’t upgraded to a Switch 2 yet, you’ll still love this game.
One of the things that Shane was looking forward to the most was customization, which is on a whole other level compared to prior games. His expectations were exceeded- he said this is the best character design system in any Pokémon game yet! He spent a lot of time putting together an outfit he loved and felt the character models were the best-looking in the franchise so far. It helped him really connect with his character, especially with the wide variety of clothing options available.
Both kids appreciated the story- Zac said it’s a lot of fun and includes a helpful guide that keeps you on track. Shane liked that it has well-developed characters. They both agreed that it starts a little slow, but picks up quickly and holds your attention once you’re past the initial hours.
What Could Be Better
Not much, honestly. This game was a winner for us. That said, both kids mentioned that the tutorial section felt a little long. Shane in particular thought it dragged a bit, even though everything afterward was a blast. Zac’s main critique was the requirement to battle 1,000 trainers to get one specific item that he wants- something that felt like a grind rather than a fun challenge.
Overall Thoughts
Both of my kids gave this game high ratings- Zac gave it a solid 9/10, and Shane came in even higher with a 9.5/10. While they have different play styles, both found something to love here: Zac enjoyed shiny hunting and completing the story, while Shane got deep into the new battle mechanics and character customization.
They’ve also already started looking forward to the DLC! Zac noted that after finishing the main story, there are still some side quests and the Infinite Z-A Royale mode, but he’s eager for more. Shane agreed, saying he hopes future expansions include a high-level repeatable mode like Dynamax Adventures or Tera Raids from past titles to keep the gameplay going long-term.
Between the beautiful graphics {especially in Area 20}, the smooth gameplay, and the fun new features, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a standout. Zac’s favorite Pokémon in the game were Zygarde and Greninja, while Shane’s proudest moment was catching a Shiny Alpha Ralts and evolving it into a Mega Gardevoir, one of his favorite Pokémon in the entire Pokédex. Whether you’re chasing legendaries or customizing your character, this game really lets you dive in and play your way!
Buy It: You can grab Pokemon Legends: Z-A on {affiliate link} Amazon, the Nintendo Shop or at a local store near you!
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