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

This morning, fans were treated to an in-depth preview of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's innovative new title set in the iconic Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. The trailer showcased exciting features like rooftop running, revamped battle mechanics, and the return of Mega Evolution. However, despite these revelations, many questions linger about the game's timeline in relation to other Pokémon titles and the potential return of familiar characters to Lumiose City.

This is where the Pokémon community steps in to fill the gaps.

For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone experiences, the original Pokémon Legends game introduced time travel and featured settings and characters from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, set centuries in the past. It also included ancestors of characters from other games, and even a character from Pokémon Black and White, seemingly placed there by a divine Pokémon intervention. With this precedent, fans are eager to understand the timeline of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, explore any time travel elements, and anticipate which familiar faces might reappear in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer's debut, fans have been meticulously analyzing it for links to other Pokémon games, uncovering numerous connections. The most evident is the presence of AZ, explicitly mentioned in the trailer. Known from Pokémon X and Y, AZ was granted immortality 3000 years prior to those events. In Z-A, he appears to be running a hotel in Lumiose City, seemingly happier now that he's reunited with his Floette.

az taller than a mf giraffe
byu/sam_90_ inpokemon

More subtle connections have also been spotted. One intriguing find is the potential return of the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker, a beloved detective character introduced in Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in multiple games. Observant fans have noted an office in the trailer that closely resembles the Looker Bureau from previous titles, suggesting Looker or his protégé Emma might be present in Z-A's Lumiose City.

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

A wild theory circulating involves the main protagonists of Pokémon Legends: Z-A looking remarkably similar to Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This has sparked speculation that Z-A could involve a time travel plot, transporting Ethan and Lyra from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose City.

am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra
byu/God-Kotsu inpokemon

Another theory suggests the protagonists may resemble Kalos' Professor Sycamore and the protagonist's mother, Grace, from Pokémon X and Y. While this connection to Grace is a bit of a stretch, it's an intriguing possibility given the series' history with ancestry.

ZA protagonist relatives
byu/tismxtt inpokemon

These theories could potentially coexist, as the exact timeline of Pokémon Legends Z-A remains unclear. Pokémon games have a loosely connected timeline with occasional alternate realities and time travel. Given AZ's immortality and the futuristic, expansive Lumiose City in Z-A, the game might be set hundreds of years after Pokémon X and Y. If so, the protagonists and Looker Bureau occupants could be distant descendants of the characters they resemble.

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

One character drawing significant attention is a mysterious woman from the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This trainer type is notable due to the unresolved mystery of the "Ghost Girl," a Hex Maniac who appears briefly in a specific building in Lumiose City, uttering "No, you're not the one" before vanishing. With no clear purpose or follow-up, fans are hopeful that Z-A might finally unravel this enigma, given the Hex Maniac's continued presence in the city.

New hex?
byu/Webby_webs inpokemon

In the coming days, fans will likely uncover more easter eggs and connections from the footage and art released for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. With a release planned for late 2025, the wait will be long, but there's plenty of new information to delve into. You can catch up on all the announcements from today's Pokémon Presents, including updates on Legends Z-A, mobile gaming, Pokémon Champions, and more, right here.