Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Fans Puzzle Over Connections to Other Games

This morning, we got our first extensive look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's innovative new Pokémon game set in the familiar locale of Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. The trailer showcased exciting features like rooftop running, changes to battling, and the return of Mega Evolution. However, it also left us with numerous questions about the game's timeline relative to other Pokémon titles and which characters might return to Lumiose City.

That's where the Pokémon community steps in.

For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone, 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 games—or, in one case, a Pokémon Black and White character mysteriously placed in the past. With this backdrop, fans are eager to understand when Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set, if time travel is involved, and which familiar faces might reappear in Lumiose City.

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

az taller than a mf giraffe byu/sam_90_ inpokemon

But there are more subtle connections as well. One of the most exciting discoveries is the potential presence of the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker, a beloved detective character who debuted in Pokémon Black and White and appeared in subsequent games, may be indicated by an office in the trailer that closely resembles the Looker Bureau from past games. This has led fans to speculate about the presence of Looker or his protégé Emma in Z-A's Lumiose City.

Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A? byu/PrimalPokemonPlayer inpokemon

Another fascinating theory revolves around the game's protagonists, who resemble Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This similarity has sparked speculation that Legends: Z-A might involve 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 inpokemon

Alternatively, some fans believe the protagonists might be related to Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist in Pokémon X and Y. While this theory stretches further, it aligns with the series' past explorations of ancestry.

ZA protagonist relatives byu/tismxtt inpokemon

The intriguing aspect of these theories is that they could all coexist. Given the Pokémon series' loosely sequential timeline, alternate realities, and past use of time travel, Pokémon Legends: Z-A could be set hundreds of years after Pokémon X and Y, especially considering AZ's immortality and the futuristic look of Lumiose City. This would suggest that the protagonists and others in the game are descendants of characters they resemble.

ITS A SEQUEL?!? byu/Slyme-wizard inpokemon

Another character capturing fans' attention is the mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This trainer type is linked to an ongoing mystery in the Pokémon series: the Ghost Girl. In Pokémon X and Y, a Hex Maniac appears in a building in Lumiose City, utters a cryptic message, and disappears without explanation. Her presence in Legends: Z-A has fans hopeful for a resolution to this long-standing enigma, especially if she's a ghost haunting the city for centuries.

New hex? byu/Webby_webs inpokemon

In the coming days, more discoveries, easter eggs, and connections are likely to emerge from the footage, art, and news about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. With the game's 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.