When Pokémon Legends: Z-A was first revealed, everyone jumped straight into speculation mode about where it would fit into the Pokémon timeline. The where was easy — it’s set entirely in Lumiose City, the iconic heart of the Kalos region from Pokémon X and Y. But given how Legends: Arceus took players hundreds of years into Sinnoh’s past, most fans (myself included) assumed Z-A would instead leap far into the future.
Turns out, we were completely off the mark.
Now that review embargoes have lifted, we can finally confirm Pokémon Legends: Z-A doesn’t take place in some distant timeline — it’s set just five years after the events of X and Y. It’s not a time-travel story at all, but a direct sequel that continues many of the threads, characters, and consequences from the Kalos saga.
Through our early playtime and conversations with multiple in-game characters (none of whom we can quote directly yet due to embargo restrictions), we’ve confirmed this short time jump. And honestly, it makes for a refreshing, grounded return to a region that many players have long wanted to revisit.
A few highlights from what we can talk about: AZ, the 3,000-year-old wanderer who stole the show in X and Y, makes a return and plays a central role once again. Mable, a former Team Flare member, appears in a surprising new capacity — she’s now the region’s Pokémon Professor, sending you out on research tasks and creature-capturing challenges. Familiar faces from X and Y also make comebacks, some of them completely transformed in ways best left unspoiled for now.
This straightforward sequel setup is a big deal for Pokémon storytelling. Over the years, Game Freak has kept timelines intentionally vague, dabbling in alternate universes (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), massive time gaps (Legends: Arceus), and barely connected regions. While a few direct sequels exist — Gold/Silver after Red/Blue, Black/White 2 after Black/White — continuity has typically taken a backseat to innovation. The result? A Pokémon timeline that’s somehow more chaotic than The Legend of Zelda’s.
That’s why Z-A feels so refreshing. It’s a rare chance to see real continuity — to revisit a beloved region, reconnect with familiar faces, and catch a glimpse of how the world has evolved just a few short years later. In retrospect, we probably should’ve seen it coming when they named it “Z-A,” completing the sequence that began with X and Y.
If you’re curious about the game’s systems and story beyond its timeline placement, my review-in-progress is now live with impressions from the first 24 hours — full review dropping next week. Also, fun note: after nearly three decades, Pokémon Legends: Z-A finally updates the Nurse Joy template, allowing new looks and personalities for the iconic character role.
