Pokémon Legends: Z-A's E10+ Rating Fuels Speculation

We recently got a detailed preview of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the upcoming installment in Game Freak's Legends series, which will be set in Lumiose City from X and Y. Interestingly, it appears to have already received an E10+ rating from the ESRB, sparking a mix of genuine curiosity and playful speculation among fans about what this new game might entail.

Observant fans spotted that the Nintendo Switch store page lists Pokémon Legends: Z-A with an E10+ age rating from the ESRB, citing 'Fantasy Violence.' While such a rating might not typically cause a stir for most franchises, it's unusual for Pokémon, whose core series games have consistently held an 'E for Everyone' rating.

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This rating has naturally fueled widespread speculation, ranging from serious theories to outright jokes. It's genuinely amusing to ponder what unconventional choices Game Freak might have made to warrant the higher rating—be it dialogue alluding to Pokémon causing fatalities or the unlikely introduction of firearm mechanics. As some Redditors humorously suggest, perhaps the return of horde encounters involves a gang of Scrafty ambushing the player in a Lumiose City alleyway.

"Oh boy, Game Freak is taking off the training wheels," remarked Reddit user RynnHamHam. "This isn't your little sibling's Pokémon game anymore."

Several jokes have also circulated regarding AZ, a character with a complex history who is set to appear in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and played a pivotal role in some of the darker narrative elements and regional lore of Pokémon X and Y.

Regarding more plausible theories, there are a few ideas, including the possibility of slightly more mature language or the inclusion of a casino-style mini-game. Even the grittier aspects of Lumiose City's setting could be brought more into focus.

My personal interpretation is that this likely stems from the 'Fantasy Violence' highlighted by the ESRB. While the rating is atypical for a standard Pokémon game, it *does* align with the pocket monster fighting game Pokkén Tournament DX, which also received an E10+ rating for 'Fantasy Violence.' The real-time combat elements showcased for Pokémon Legends: Z-A might have prompted the slightly stronger rating, as the monster battles appear more physically direct.

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

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