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

This morning, we were treated to our first extensive glimpse of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's innovative new Pokémon game set in the iconic Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. The trailer showcased exciting features like rooftop running, changes to battling mechanics, and the return of Mega Evolution. Yet, many questions linger about the game's timeline in relation to other Pokémon titles and which beloved characters might reappear in Lumiose City.

That's where the passionate Pokémon community steps in.

For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone experiences, the first Pokémon Legends game introduced time travel and featured locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl set centuries in the past, along with characters who were ancestors of those in other Pokémon games. Some were even directly from Pokémon Black and White, seemingly placed there by the Pokémon deity itself. With this in mind, fans are eager to understand the setting of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, whether it involves time travel, and which familiar faces we might encounter in Lumiose City, no matter when the game is set.

Since the trailer's debut, fans have been meticulously analyzing it for connections to other Pokémon games, uncovering a wealth of intriguing links. The most direct connection is the appearance of AZ, a character who was granted immortality 3000 years before the events of Pokémon X and Y. In Z-A, AZ appears to run a hotel in Lumiose City and seems much happier now that he's reunited with his beloved Floette.

az taller than a mf giraffe

byu/sam_90_ in pokemon

But there are subtler connections too. One fan-favorite theory points to the potential presence of the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker, the beloved detective character from Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in various games. Observant fans have noted that an office in the trailer resembles the Looker Bureau from previous games, hinting at the possible return of Looker or his protégé Emma in Z-A's Lumiose City.

Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A?

byu/PrimalPokemonPlayer in pokemon

Another intriguing theory suggests a connection between the two main protagonists of Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Ethan and Lyra, the protagonists from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This has sparked speculation about a time-travel scenario where Ethan and Lyra are transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose City.

am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra

byu/God-Kotsu in pokemon

Yet another theory suggests that the protagonists resemble Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist from Pokémon X and Y. While this theory stretches further, it's a compelling thought, especially given the series' history of playing with ancestry.

ZA protagonist relatives

byu/tismxtt in pokemon

What's fascinating about these theories is that they could all be true simultaneously. Fans have noted that Pokémon Legends Z-A's timeline is a mystery. Pokémon games have a loosely sequential timeline that sometimes includes alternate realities and time travel. Given AZ's immortality and the futuristic look of Lumiose City in Legends Z-A, the game could be set hundreds of years after Pokémon X and Y. This would mean the protagonists and other characters are descendants of those they resemble.

ITS A SEQUEL?!?

byu/Slyme-wizard in pokemon

One character that has captured fans' attention is a mysterious woman from the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This trainer type has been spotted in the new footage, but this particular Hex Maniac is linked to an ongoing Pokémon mystery: the Ghost Girl. In Pokémon X and Y, a Hex Maniac appears in a building in Lumiose City, delivering a cryptic message before vanishing. This unresolved mystery has fans hopeful that Legends Z-A might finally provide some answers, especially if the Hex Maniac is a ghost haunting the city for centuries.

New hex?

byu/Webby_webs in pokemon

In the coming days, more discoveries, easter eggs, and connections are sure to emerge from the footage, art, and news about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. With a release planned for "late 2025," fans have plenty of time to delve into the new information. You can catch up on everything announced at today's Pokémon Presents, including Legends Z-A news, mobile gaming updates, Pokémon Champions, and more, right here.