Pokémon Fans Are Frantically Trying to Work Out How Pokémon Legends: Z-A Connects to Other Pokémon Games

This morning, we got our first extensive look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic Pokémon game set in the familiar Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. While the trailer showcased rooftop running, battle changes, and Mega Evolution, many questions remain about its placement within the Pokémon timeline and the potential return of familiar characters.

The Pokémon Legends series, unlike most standalone Pokémon games, has explored time travel. Legends: Arceus featured locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, set hundreds of years in the past, and characters who were ancestors of those in other games—or, in one memorable instance, a character from Pokémon Black and White inexplicably transported to the past. This precedent fuels fan speculation about Pokémon Legends: Z-A's setting, potential time travel elements, and returning characters in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer's release, fans have been diligently searching for connections to other games, uncovering surprising links. The most obvious is AZ, directly mentioned in the trailer. AZ, granted immortality 3000 years before Pokémon X and Y, is expected to appear regardless of the game's timeline. In Z-A, he seemingly runs a Lumiose City hotel, appearing happier after reuniting with his beloved Floette.

Beyond AZ, more subtle connections have emerged. One popular theory involves the Looker Bureau. Looker, a detective introduced in Pokémon Black and White and appearing in subsequent games, may be present in Z-A. Fans have noted a striking resemblance between an office in the trailer and the Looker Bureau from previous games, suggesting the presence of Looker or his protégé, Emma.

Another intriguing theory centers on the protagonists' resemblance to Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, sparking speculation about a time-traveling scenario where they're transported to a futuristic Lumiose. Alternatively, some believe the protagonists resemble Professor Sycamore and Grace (the protagonist's mother in Pokémon X and Y), a theory particularly interesting given the Legends series' focus on ancestry.

Interestingly, these theories aren't mutually exclusive. The game's exact placement in the timeline remains unknown. Pokémon games have a loosely sequential timeline, sometimes incorporating alternate realities and, as seen in Legends: Arceus, time travel. AZ's presence suggests a post-Pokémon X and Y setting, potentially centuries later given his immortality. Lumiose City's futuristic, expansive design in Z-A further supports this idea, implying decades of development. If so, the protagonists and Looker Bureau personnel could be descendants of the characters they resemble.

Another captivating element is a mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This is particularly intriguing due to the unsolved mystery of the Ghost Girl in Pokémon X and Y. This unexplained encounter, featuring a Hex Maniac disappearing after uttering "No, you're not the one," has fueled speculation that this woman's presence could finally provide answers.

In the coming days, further discoveries and connections are sure to emerge from the recently revealed footage, art, and news about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The game's release is slated for late 2025, but the wealth of new information provides ample material for discussion in the meantime. You can find all the announcements from the Pokémon Presents, including Legends: Z-A news, mobile gaming updates, Pokémon Champions, and more, here.