Pokémon Legends: Z-A Fan Theories Link to Past Games

This morning gave us our first detailed glimpse of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic new Pokémon game set in Lumiose City, the familiar location from Pokémon X and Y. While we observed several features—such as rooftop running, battle system changes, and the return of Mega Evolution—many questions remain. We're still unclear on exactly when Pokémon Legends Z-A occurs in the Pokémon timeline and which returning characters might appear in Lumiose City.

That’s where the community steps in.

For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone stories, the first Pokémon Legends game introduced time travel. It revisited key locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, set centuries in the past, and included characters who were clearly ancestors of figures from other games—or, in one case, a Pokémon Black and White character dropped into the past by a legendary Pokémon itself. Given this history, fans are eager to learn when Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set, whether it involves time-travel twists, and if we’ll encounter familiar faces in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer launched, fans have been scouring it for ties to earlier Pokémon games—and they've uncovered quite a few. The most obvious is AZ, who is mentioned directly in the trailer. AZ is an immortal character who lived for 3000 years before the events of Pokémon X and Y, so it makes sense that he would appear in Z-A regardless of the time period. In this game, he seems to operate a hotel in Lumiose City and appears far happier now that he’s reunited with his beloved Floette.

az taller than a mf giraffe
byu/sam_90_ inpokemon

But more subtle connections have also emerged. One standout discovery by fans is what looks like the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker is a popular detective who debuted in Pokémon Black and White and has since appeared in multiple titles. Sharp-eyed fans noticed an office in the trailer that closely resembles the Looker Bureau from past games, leading to speculation that either Looker or his apprentice Emma will appear in Lumiose City.

Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A?
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Another fascinating theory centers on the two main protagonists and their resemblance to other characters. Now that we have the full character art for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, many have observed that the protagonists look a lot like Ethan and Lyra, the player characters from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This has sparked theories that Legends: Z-A could feature a time-travel plot in which Ethan and Lyra are transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose City.

am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra
byu/God-Kotsu inpokemon

Yet another protagonist-related theory points to a different origin. Some fans argue that the pair bear a resemblance to Kalos Pokémon Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist in Pokémon X and Y. The connection to Grace is a bit more speculative, but it’s an intriguing idea given the Legends series' focus on ancestry and lineage.

ZA protagonist relatives
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The most compelling part of these theories is that several could be true at once. As many have noted, we still don't know where Pokémon Legends Z-A fits in the timeline. Over the years, Pokémon games have followed a loosely sequential timeline that sometimes includes alternate realities—and, as with Legends: Arceus, time travel. If AZ is running a hotel, many believe the game must be set after the events of Pokémon X and Y.

But that could mean hundreds of years later, given AZ’s immortality. The most telling clue is Lumiose City itself, which appears massive and futuristic in Legends Z-A—a design that likely took decades to construct. If that's the case, the protagonists and anyone operating the Looker Bureau could be distant descendants of the characters they resemble.

ITS A SEQUEL?!?
byu/Slyme-wizard inpokemon

Another character fans are focusing on is this mysterious woman from the key art:

New hex?
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This woman resembles a Hex Maniac, a trainer class that appeared in Pokémon X and Y. While several returning trainer types were spotted in today's news, this character stands out because of an unresolved Pokémon mystery: the Ghost Girl.

In Pokémon X and Y, there’s a scene in Lumiose City where, upon entering a building and going to the second floor, the lights flicker, the music stops, and a Hex Maniac appears behind you. She glides to the front of the screen and says, "No, you're not the one," before vanishing. The scene remains unexplained—the girl doesn’t reappear or unlock anything—and has been regarded as a strange Easter egg. Since this Hex Maniac has been a mystery for years, her eerie presence in Legends Z-A has fans hopeful that this storyline might finally be resolved. If she is a ghost, she could have haunted that building for centuries.

Over the next few days, we're sure to uncover more secrets, Easter eggs, and connections in all the footage, art, and news released today about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The game is scheduled for a late 2025 release, so we have some time to wait—but at least we now have plenty of new details to analyze. For a full recap of today's Pokémon Presents, including all Legends Z-A updates, mobile gaming news, and Pokémon Champions announcements, check out our complete coverage here.