It's not uncommon for The Pokemon Company to release multiple games in the same year, but so far, there is only one major title it has scheduled for 2025: Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Revealed during a Pokemon Presents showcase in February 2024, Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the next big game from Game Freak, and it's the successor to the 2022 action RPG Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Unlike Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn't take place hundreds of years in the past. Instead, it's set in the future, sometime after the events of Pokemon X and Y. The game takes place entirely within Lumiose City, the fictional region inspired by Paris, France, and it is part of the ninth generation of Pokemon titles.
Following its initial announcement, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company went silent on Pokemon Legends: Z-A and didn't share any new information about the game, until only recently. During the February 2025 Pokemon Presents showcase, The Pokemon Company showed off a new trailer for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which gave players their first look at the game in action. In addition to revealing its story and combat mechanics, the trailer confirmed that Pokemon Legends: Z-A would be released in late 2025 for the Nintendo Switch. Although this release window is vague, it, at the very least, can help fans narrow down the launch date for the next generation of Pokemon games.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Bringing Back Move That Was Cut from Scarlet and Violet
After further analyzing the extended Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer, some fans point out that the upcoming title will see a cut move come back.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Release Window Could Give Some Clues As to When Gen 10 is Coming Out
Most Pokemon Generations Last About 3 Years, But Gen 9 May Break That Trend
As most Pokemon enthusiasts will know, the term "generation" is used to describe the period of time between the release of mainline entries in the Pokemon series. The current generation of Pokemon games, Gen 9, started off in 2022, following the launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. These two Pokemon titles, as hard as it is to believe, are already over two years old. Judging by the patterns in the series' release schedule, the next generation of Pokemon games should be on the horizon.
Ever since Game Freak released Pokemon Black and White on the Nintendo DS in 2010, it has been launching a new pair of mainline entries in the series once every three years. It appears that this streak is finally going to break, however, with Generation 9. Unless Game Freak surprises fans by releasing a new pair of mainline Pokemon games this year (which is highly unlikely, given Pokemon Legends: Z-A's release window), Gen 9 will be the first generation since Gen 4 to have a 4-year duration.
The Gen 10 Pokemon Games May Be Released in Late 2026 on Both the Switch and Switch 2
The release cadence of the recent Pokemon games may provide additional insight into Gen 10's potential launch window. The latest Pokemon Legends game, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, made its debut in January 2022. Meanwhile, the newest mainline entries in the series, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, were launched in November of that year. If Generation 10 follows a similar trend, then perhaps the next mainline Pokemon games will come out around 10–11 months after Pokemon Legends Z-A hits store shelves. Game Freak has made a habit of launching mainline entries in the Pokemon franchise during the month of November, so it's reasonable to assume that the Gen 10 games will be released in November 2026.
Although Nintendo's next console, the Nintendo Switch 2, will almost certainly be out by the time the next mainline Pokemon games are released, it's entirely possible, if not likely, that they will be launched on the original Switch as well. There are multiple major installments in the Pokemon series that have been released very late in the life cycle of Nintendo's handhelds, so the Gen 10 Pokemon games could follow the same pattern. Considering how popular the Nintendo Switch still is, it's hard to imagine that Game Freak won't release these upcoming titles on the console, even if it is pretty old.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- October 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
WHERE TO PLAY
LIVE THE LIFE OF A POKÉMON TRAINER IN THE STREETS OF LUMIOSE CITY
Whether you’re a die-hard Pokémon fan or about to toss your first Poké Ball, the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game has plenty to offer for Trainers of all types. Experience classic gameplay with modern twists that are sure to revolutionize your Pokémon RPG experience.
CATCH, BATTLE, AND MEGA-EVOLVE—ALL IN REAL TIME!
Step onto the battlefield and command your Pokémon directly—there are no turns! For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, Trainers and their Pokémon can both move around in real-time battles, and your Pokémon will unleash their moves when you tell them to. Strategically swapping out your Pokémon and accounting for each move’s timing and area of effect will greatly help you in this new style of battle.
HARNESS THE POWER OF MEGA EVOLUTION
When Trainers have a strong bond with their Pokémon, a Key Stone worn by the Trainer resonates with a Mega Stone held by their Pokémon, allowing Mega Evolution to take place.
ROGUE MEGA EVOLUTION
Rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon are threatening Lumiose City. These Pokémon are extra tough to beat, but if you do manage to defeat them, you'll receive valuable Mega Stones as a reward.
RISE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE Z-A ROYALE
You’re invited to join the Z-A Royale, a competition for Pokémon Trainers to test their skills and determine who’s strongest.
Each night, a battle zone for the competition will appear. Prepare yourself by spending the day in wild zones, catching and training Pokémon, then venture into the battle zone and take on other Trainers.
Be strategic and complete bonus card challenges as you battle to speed up your climb from Rank Z to Rank A. Can you climb the ranks and reach the top?
WELCOME TO LUMIOSE CITY
Visit shops, restaurants, and more, all centered around Prism Tower. An urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon.
BATTLE WITH TRAINERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
With a Nintendo Switch Online membership*, you can battle up to three other Trainers at once, locally or online, in frenetic real-time battles!
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
