Pokémon Legends: Z-A Age Rating Spurs Speculation

We recently got a detailed look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the next title in Game Freak's Legends series, which is set entirely within Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y. The game has also surprisingly received an E10+ rating from the ESRB, sparking both genuine curiosity and plenty of humorous fan speculation about what this new adventure will entail.

Observant fans spotted that the Nintendo Switch eShop listing for Pokémon Legends: Z-A carries an E10+ rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, citing 'Fantasy Violence.' While such a rating might not raise eyebrows for most franchises, it's unusual for Pokémon, whose core series games have historically maintained an 'E for Everyone' rating.

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This rating has naturally fueled all sorts of theories, ranging from serious to outright silly. It's genuinely amusing to imagine what unexpected choices Game Freak might have made to warrant the bump, be it dialogue with darker implications or even a bizarre gameplay mechanic. As some Redditors have jokingly suggested, perhaps the return of horde encounters involves being ambushed by a gang of Scrafty in a Lumiose City back alley.

"Oh boy, Game Freak is taking off the kiddie gloves," commented Reddit user RynnHamHam. "This isn't your kindergartener's Pokémon game anymore."

Several jokes have also centered on AZ, a character with a complex history who is confirmed to appear in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. He played a central role in some of the darker narrative elements and regional history of Pokémon X and Y.

Moving to more plausible theories, possibilities include slightly more intense battle animations, the inclusion of a casino-style minigame, or a greater focus on Lumiose City's grittier side.

My personal view is that the rating likely stems from the 'Fantasy Violence' noted by the ESRB. While unusual for a main Pokémon title, this rating aligns with the real-time fighting game Pokkén Tournament DX, which also received an E10+ for 'Fantasy Violence.' The more direct, real-time combat shown for Pokémon Legends: Z-A could justify the slightly higher rating, as the monster battles appear more impactful.

As of this writing, there is no official listing for Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the ESRB website, so further details are scarce for now. Nevertheless, it's fun to speculate until we learn more about the game's final design and what specifically earned it that elevated rating.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is scheduled for a worldwide release in late 2025 on Nintendo Switch.