Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the next installment in Game Freak's Legends series, is generating significant buzz. Set in the Lumiose City of the X and Y games, this upcoming title has received an E10+ ESRB rating for "Fantasy Violence," a departure from the usual "E for Everyone" rating of the mainline Pokémon games. This has sparked considerable, and often humorous, speculation among fans.
The Nintendo Switch store page reveals the E10+ rating, prompting questions about the game's content. While unusual for Pokémon, this rating is consistent with Pokkén Tournament DX, another Pokémon title with an E10+ rating and similar content descriptors.
Which Mainline Pokemon Game Is The Very Best?
Pick a winner
New duel
1ST
2ND
3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results
The rating has fueled various theories, ranging from the inclusion of more intense combat sequences to the potential return of darker story elements from Pokémon X and Y, perhaps featuring AZ's role in Kalos' history. Some humorous suggestions include the introduction of a more violent minigame or even a storyline involving aggressive Pokémon encounters. Reddit user RynnHamHam playfully commented, "Ohhhh boy, Game Freak is taking off the little kiddie gloves...This ain’t your kindergartener’s Pokémon game."
More plausible explanations might involve increased instances of Pokémon-on-Pokémon battles with more graphic depictions of the combat or the inclusion of a more action-oriented minigame. The darker aspects of Lumiose City itself could also play a more prominent role.
### The 10 best dog Pokémon of all timeThe 10 best dog Pokémon of all time
The "Fantasy Violence" descriptor likely accounts for the rating increase. The real-time combat elements shown in Pokémon Legends: Z-A's previews could contribute to this, as the Pokémon interactions are more direct and visually impactful.
The absence of a listing on the ESRB website currently prevents further clarification. However, the speculation surrounding the E10+ rating adds to the anticipation surrounding the game's release.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is scheduled for a late 2025 release on Nintendo Switch.
