The Pokemon series naturally lends itself to replayability, with various challenges being developed by the community over the years to encourage new playthroughs. Out of all the games in the series, Pokemon X and Y are the most worthy of a replay in 2025 due to their connection to the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Pokemon X and Y may feel somewhat outdated by modern standards, but with the Kalos Region set for a grand return in 2025, now is the best time to dust off the 3DS and start up a new playthrough of the Gen 6 games.
Pokemon X and Y are often considered the black sheep of the series due to their controversial narrative pacing, lowered difficulty, and lack of a third, definitive version. However, despite these shortcomings, there is still plenty to love about the Gen 6 games that make them worth replaying. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A likely to expand upon the lore of the Kalos Region and fill in some of the gaps left by the lack of a “Pokemon Z” version, 2025 marks an important year for X and Y, and fans would be wise to brush up on these games in the meantime.
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Pokemon Legends: Arceus – Why You Should Start Over in 2025
Even three years after its release, Pokemon Legends: Arceus offers players a better reason than ever to start a new playthrough in 2025.
Pokemon X and Y is Worth Replaying in 2025
A Pokemon X and Y Playthrough is the Perfect Way to Prepare for Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Although it’s unclear how much Pokemon Legends: Z-A will draw from X and Y, the fact that this new title will be set entirely within Lumiose City means there will likely be allusions to the city’s portrayal in Gen 6. With players set to oversee the urban redevelopment of Lumiose City in Legends: Z-A, getting reacquainted with the location in Pokemon X and Y seems like a great place to start preparations for the new game. Lumiose City remains one of the largest cities in the franchise, with iconic features like Prism Tower, Lysandre Cafe, the Looker Bureau, and a taxi service for travel between different parts of the map, all of which could be referenced in Legends: Z-A.
Aside from Lumiose City itself, there are other parts of the Kalos Region and its history that could be worked into the story of Pokemon Legends: Z-A. The history behind the ultimate weapon and its mysterious creator, the ancient king AZ seems primed to be a core part of the game’s narrative. With ancestors of AZ potentially appearing in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, diving deep into the history of the Kalos Region and combing Pokemon X and Y for any clues that could help bridge this lore with Legends: Z-A definitely warrants a fresh playthrough.
Team Flare’s Lysandre is a descendant of AZ’s family—specifically the ancient king’s younger brother—so there is already a foundation for more of AZ’s descendants to appear in Legends: Z-A.
Getting a Refresh on Mega Evolution May Be Important Ahead of Legends: Z-A
Arguably the biggest reason to replay Pokemon X and Y in 2025 is to get refamiliarized with the Mega Evolution mechanic before it returns in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Mega Evolution completely changed the game when it was added in Pokemon X and Y, allowing players to evolve certain mons one stage further temporarily. However, Mega Evolution was largely cast aside in Gen 7 before being removed entirely from the series from Gen 8 onward.
Mega Evolution puts a twist on Pokemon series battles that haven’t quite been replicated in subsequent games. Experiencing X and Y‘s unique battle mechanics is a great way to become accustomed to the layer of strategy Mega Evolution adds ahead of Legends: Z-A. It’s unclear just how Mega Evolution will come into play in Legends: Z-A, but the battle styles mechanic introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus suggests that players could experience Mega Evolution in a whole new way.
- Released
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October 12, 2023
- ESRB
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e
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo