Pokémon Legends Z-A Launches with Strong Metacritic Score Ahead of Nintendo Switch 2 Debut

Pokémon Legends Z-A, developed by Game Freak for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, is already generating significant buzz just days before its official release.

As the Pokémon franchise continues its evolution, early critical reception highlights Z-A as a pivotal entry, combining modern technical advancements and beloved series traditions.

With 42 reviews in as of this writing, Metacritic—the industry’s leading review aggregator—awarded Pokémon Legends Z-A a Metascore of 81, classifying it as 'Generally Favorable.' This score marks a notable step forward for the franchise on current-generation hardware.

Historically, Pokémon Legends: Arceus debuted with a Metascore of 83, while Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launched at 71.

The new score cements Z-A among the series’ higher-rated releases, edging close to Arceus and comfortably surpassing its immediate predecessor in critical reception.

Critics have praised Game Freak’s willingness to innovate within the Pokémon formula.

According to VGC’s review, Pokémon Legends Z-A stands out as a 'grand adventure' and a testament to the creativity within the Legends series.

The critic notes that the game serves as a love letter to longtime fans—particularly those with nostalgia for Pokémon X & Y—and commends the introduction of new battle systems and the excitement of Rogue Mega Battles.

"The direction Game Freak is taking feels refreshing and reaffirms the potential longevity of the Legends series," the review noted. RPGSite remarked that Pokémon Legends Z-A validates Game Freak’s experimental direction within the Pokémon universe, building on the foundation laid by Arceus.

The reviewer emphasized that Z-A demonstrates the value of innovation, stating that 'Pokémon is at its most compelling when it embraces experimentation and pushes the boundaries of its established formula.' Siliconera highlighted the game’s thematic focus, noting how Z-A explores the coexistence of humans and Pokémon in a vibrant, urban setting.

While the reviewer missed the varied environments featured in Arceus, they praised the detailed storytelling, atmosphere, and city design, calling the experience 'deeply satisfying after more than 35 hours of play.' Not all feedback was unreservedly positive.

Nintendo Life, while applauding the real-time combat improvements and the game’s technical performance on Switch 2, critiqued the single-city setting for reducing some of the franchise’s sense of scale and discovery.

"For newcomers to the Switch 2 platform, Z-A is an accessible introduction but would benefit from recapturing the open-world expansiveness that defining entries like Arceus provided," the review concluded. Eurogamer offered a more measured perspective, describing Lumiose City as 'tightly focused and delightfully silly,' indicating a return to form—even if some aspects could be further refined.

As fans prepare for the launch of Pokémon Legends Z-A on the Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo eShop and physical release, the generally favorable critical consensus offers strong reassurance for both newcomers and veterans.

Game Freak’s ongoing commitment to experimentation and refinement continues to push the series forward, raising anticipation for future installments.

The full release is slated for later this week, and ongoing sales milestones are likely to follow, given the sustained popularity of the franchise on Nintendo hardware.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Switch Pokémon Legends Z-A Game Freak Metacritic Z Pokémon Legends Pokemon Legends Z-A Pokemon Legends Arceus Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Switch eShop