Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Fans Decode Connections to Other Games

This morning, we got our first detailed look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's latest futuristic Pokémon game set in the iconic Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. The trailer showcased exciting features like running on rooftops, changes in battling mechanics, and the return of Mega Evolution. However, fans are left with numerous questions about the game's timeline and potential returning characters.

For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone, the first Pokémon Legends game introduced time travel and featured locations and characters from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl set centuries in the past. This has led fans to speculate about when Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set and whether it involves time travel or familiar faces in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer debuted, fans have been meticulously analyzing it for connections to other Pokémon games. The most evident link is the character AZ, who was granted immortality 3000 years before the events of Pokémon X and Y. In Z-A, AZ appears to be running a hotel in Lumiose City and seems much happier, having reunited with his beloved Floette.

Fans have also spotted more subtle connections. One intriguing discovery is the potential presence of the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker, a beloved detective character from Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in multiple games. Some fans believe an office shown in the trailer resembles the Looker Bureau, suggesting Looker or his protégé Emma might be in Z-A's Lumiose City.

Another wild theory suggests a connection between the two main protagonists of Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Their striking resemblance has led to speculation that Legends: Z-A might feature a time-travel scenario where Ethan and Lyra are transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose.

Alternatively, some fans propose that the protagonists might be related to Kalos characters Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist from Pokémon X and Y. This theory, while a bit of a stretch, aligns with the series' past focus on ancestry.

What's fascinating is that these theories could coexist. The timeline of Pokémon Legends Z-A remains a mystery, but with AZ running a hotel, it's clear the game takes place after Pokémon X and Y. Given AZ's immortality and the futuristic appearance of Lumiose City, the game could be set hundreds of years in the future, making the protagonists and Looker Bureau characters distant descendants of those they resemble.

One character that has captured fans' attention is a creepy woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This trainer type is linked to an ongoing mystery—the Ghost Girl. In Pokémon X and Y, a Hex Maniac appears in a building in Lumiose City, saying, "No, you're not the one," before vanishing. With no explanation to date, the presence of a Hex Maniac in Legends Z-A has fans hopeful for resolution to this eerie easter egg.

As we await the game's release in "late 2025," more discoveries and connections are sure to surface from the footage, art, and news shared at today's Pokémon Presents. You can catch up on all the announcements, including Legends Z-A, mobile gaming updates, and more, right here.