Pokémon Legends: Z-A Performance Compared on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest mainline entry from The Pokémon Company, has launched simultaneously for both the original Nintendo Switch and the recently released Switch 2.

With promotional efforts largely spotlighting the enhanced Switch 2 version, many players are curious to see how the ambitious new title holds up across Nintendo's hardware generations. Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings players back to the heart of the franchise with an expansive new region, enhanced open-world design, and a variety of gameplay improvements sought after by series veterans.

Developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company, the game aims to push the boundaries of the Pokémon experience, leveraging advancements in the Switch 2's capabilities while ensuring accessibility for the established base of Switch 1 owners. To provide an objective look at performance differences, content creator Felix Sanchez has published a detailed side-by-side analysis.

In the comparison video, viewers can examine standard gameplay, cinematic cutscenes, and load times for Pokémon Legends: Z-A running on both platforms. As expected, the Switch 2 delivers a markedly improved experience.

The sequel hardware offers a consistent 60fps frame rate—double the 30fps cap seen on the first-generation Switch.

This boost results in noticeably smoother animations and more fluid exploration.

Video evidence also highlights sharp improvements in graphical resolution and texture quality, ensuring crisp visuals and a more immersive world.

Furthermore, several loading sequences are considerably shorter on the Switch 2, enhancing immersion and reducing wait times between gameplay segments.

However, a few transitions still lag behind expectations, with the video pointing out instances where progress remains incremental. Conversely, Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the original Switch retains a respectable level of stability despite being technically outpaced.

The older hardware delivers a solid, if less refined, version of the game, with choppier frame rates and longer load times.

While the visual fidelity does not match its successor and users may spot performance dips during busy scenes, the experience remains playable and stable—an achievement for a title of this scope on the nearly eight-year-old console. To quote the essence of Sanchez's review, "The Switch 2 iterations incorporate the visual and performance upgrades you’d hope for, but even on Switch 1, Legends: Z-A manages to run smoothly and maintains an enjoyable play session.” Pokémon Legends: Z-A released globally on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, following a well-received announcement during a February 2024 Nintendo Direct.

The title's dual-platform launch illustrates Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's ongoing commitment to supporting legacy hardware while ushering in the next generation for fans seeking the best technical performance and graphical fidelity. For players considering which version to try, the Switch 2 edition undoubtedly delivers dramatic enhancements, but the original Switch continues to provide a solid and accessible entry point into the world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Switch Pokémon Legends: Z-A Z Pokémon Legends Legends: Z-A The Pokémon Company Felix Sanchez