Pokémon Legends: Z-A E10+ Rating Fuels Fan Speculation

Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the upcoming chapter in Game Freak's Legends series set in Lumiose City from X and Y, has caught attention with its E10+ rating from the ESRB. This revelation has sparked curiosity and a mix of playful and serious fan theories about the game's content.

Keen observers spotted the E10+ rating on the Nintendo Switch store page, citing 'Fantasy Violence.' Unlike the typical 'E for Everyone' rating of mainline Pokémon titles, this shift has raised eyebrows and prompted lively discussions among fans.

Which Mainline Pokémon Game Stands Out?

Choose Your Favorite

The E10+ rating has triggered a wave of speculation, ranging from humorous to plausible. Fans are musing over what bold choices Game Freak might have made, from intense dialogue to unexpected mechanics like a group of Scrafty ambushing players in Lumiose’s backstreets, as some Redditors jokingly proposed.

“Game Freak is stepping up the intensity,” Reddit user RynnHamHam quipped. “This isn’t your preschooler’s Pokémon adventure.”

Jokes aside, fans have tied the rating to AZ, a character with a dark backstory from Pokémon X and Y, who may play a pivotal role in the deeper narrative elements of the Kalos region in Legends: Z-A.

More grounded theories point to slightly edgier content, like increased use of mild language or a Game Center-style minigame. The darker undertones of Lumiose City could also take center stage.

The 'Fantasy Violence' noted by the ESRB likely explains the rating shift. This aligns with Pokkén Tournament DX, another Pokémon title with an E10+ rating for similar reasons. The real-time combat in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, where creatures visibly clash, might account for the elevated rating.

As of now, the ESRB site offers no further details on Pokémon Legends: Z-A, leaving fans to theorize until more is revealed. The speculation, while entertaining, will continue until the game’s full scope becomes clear.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to release on Nintendo Switch in late 2025.