Summary
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the first main series Pokemon game to have an ESRB rating higher than E for Everyone.
- The game will feature real-time battles and will include “Fantasy Violence.”
- Fans are speculating about why the game has a higher rating than most Pokemon titles.
The upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the first time a main series Pokemon game has an ESRB rating higher than E for Everyone. Pokemon Legends: Z-A is scheduled to launch in late 2025 for the Nintendo Switch. The game was first announced last year, while the latest Pokemon Presents event pulled the curtain back on exactly what fans can expect from it.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will have players exploring Lumiose City, located in Pokemon X and Y‘s Kalos region. Its story is set after the events of X and Y, and it features a real-time battle system. It retains Pokemon Legends: Arceus‘s catching system, but expands players’ exploration options. The game looks like it will greatly appeal to those that enjoyed Arceus by providing a very similar, but upgraded experience. That being said, there is something interesting about Pokemon Legends: Z-A that will help it stand apart from its predecessor and other main series Pokemon games in general.
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Pokemon Fan Art Imagines Mega Evolutions for Legends Z-A Starters
A fan creates unique Mega evolutions for the three starters of the upcoming Pokemon Legends Z-A, coming up with incredible results.
As pointed out by Centro Leaks on Twitter, Pokemon Legends: Z-A will be the first main series Pokemon game with a rating higher than E from the ESRB. While a full, descriptive rating for Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn’t seem to be available at the time of this writing, we do know that the game has been rated E10+ for “Fantasy Violence.” It’s unclear how this differs from other main series Pokemon games. Perhaps the “real-time” element makes Legends: Z-A‘s combat more violent, but maybe there are other things in the game that are causing the ESRB to bump up its rating for the game versus other main series Pokemon titles.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A ESRB Rating
One theory that has been floating around on social media since the Pokemon Legends: Z-A E10+ rating came to light is that the game may bring back the Game Corner. For the uninitiated, the Game Corner is essentially a casino that was present in early Pokemon games where players could redeem coins for prizes. The Game Corner has been gone for over a decade, likely due to its gambling elements, but maybe it or something like it could be making a comeback in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, prompting the higher rating. That is highly unlikely, but fans will continue to speculate until more information about the age rating comes to light.
It’s unclear when exactly more information on Pokemon Legends: Z-A will be revealed. It’s possible that the game will be featured at the upcoming Switch 2 Direct presentation if it’s getting a native port on the platform, but otherwise fans will have to keep an eye out during future Nintendo Direct or Pokemon Presents events.
