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 takes place in Lumiose City from X and Y. It has reportedly received an E10+ rating from the ESRB, sparking both genuine curiosity and humorous fan speculation about what the new game will bring.

Observant fans noted on the Nintendo Switch store page that Pokémon Legends: Z-A carries an E10+ rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, citing "Fantasy Violence." While this might not raise eyebrows in other franchises, it stands out for Pokémon, as the mainline games have always been rated E for Everyone.

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Naturally, the rating has sparked all sorts of theories, ranging from serious to playful. It's fun to imagine what unexpected decisions Game Freak might have made to warrant the higher rating—perhaps dialogue referencing Pokémon causing harm or even the introduction of combat mechanics involving firearms. As some Reddit users jest, maybe the horde battles return, but this time you're ambushed by a gang of Scrafty in a Lumiose back alley.

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

There’s also been plenty of joking about AZ, a character with a deep backstory who is set to appear in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. AZ plays a key role in some of the darker themes of Pokémon X and Y's narrative and the history of the Kalos region.

On the more plausible side, theories include more intense battle sequences than usual, or the inclusion of a Game Corner-style mini-game. The shadowy sides of Lumiose City could also feature more prominently.

My view is that the rating likely stems from the "Fantasy Violence" highlighted by the ESRB. Although unusual for a standard Pokémon title, this rating matches that of the fighting game Pokkén Tournament DX, which also received an E10+ for "Fantasy Violence." The real-time combat shown in Pokémon Legends: Z-A might have contributed to the slightly higher rating, as the creatures visibly clash in battle.

As of now, there is no official listing for Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the ESRB website, so further details are limited. Still, it’s enjoyable to speculate until we learn more about Z-A's final direction and what exactly earned it that step up in the E rating scale.

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