System: Switch 2 (reviewed), Switch
Release date: October 16, 2025
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
In the modern day, Pokemon games are kind of tough to give a fair review to. As the world’s largest media franchise, the franchise is subject to a lot of scrutiny – which is understandable, given that both Scarlet and Violet and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl released in rather shoddy states. That being said, I don’t think it’s quite fair to write off the Pokemon series as a whole. Numerous leaks have indicated that Pokemon Legends: Z-A was actually supposed to launch in 2024, but that it was internally delayed to late 2025. That means the game most likely had around three years of development time, and assuming that’s true, it shows – Pokemon Legends: Z-A is up there with Pokemon Legends: Arceus as a real contender for the best Pokemon game on Nintendo Switch. It’s certainly not perfect – there are still classic Game Freak slip-ups here and there, but for the most part I think this is a much-needed step in the right direction for the franchise.
Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Nintendo’s various franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, has commented on why the company is now more focused on making movies.
Nintendo is taking films more seriously than it ever has before. The Super Mario Bros. Movie kicked things off a couple of years ago, and it’ll be getting a sequel in 2026 based on Super Mario Galaxy. Don’t forget that we’re also set to receive a live action movie for The Legend of Zelda in 2027.
In a recent news post sent out to Switch owners, Nintendo provided a listing of the top 15 European eShop downloads for September 2025.
On the Nintendo Switch 2 front, Hollow Knight: Silksong is #1 this time around. Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 does manage to make the list, but it’s at #8.
The full list of Europe’s top 15 downloads on the Nintendo Switch eShop for both Switch and Switch for September 2025 is as follows:
Listings on the eShops provide file sizes for a bunch of Nintendo Switch games. These include Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted and more.
Here’s the full roundup:
The latest Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of October 19, 2025 are now available.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been much anticipated, and it’s #1 this week as expected. Elsewhere, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted enters the top three and Persona 3 Reload gets two spots in the top ten with pre-loads beginning for both titles.
Below are the full Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of October 19, 2025:
Inti Creates has revealed a new physical release for Majogami on both Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch.
This is especially significant because of the Nintendo Switch 2 version. It’s one of the few third-party games that will have the entire data on the cartridge – no game-key card here.
Tales of Xillia Remastered isn’t too far away now, and if you’re wondering what’s new for this new release, a helpful list covers all of the new features and improvements.
It looks like the team put in quite a bit of work here. Highlights include availability of the Grade Shop during your first playthrough, autosaves, an enemy encounter switching function, and dash more.
The full rundown is as follows:
The next big Pokemon game is here with Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This is a pretty notable release for multiple reasons. For one thing, each new Pokemon title from Game Freak is always an event. On top of that, this is the first proper Pokemon game we’re seeing on Nintendo Switch 2.
So if you’ve started up Pokemon Legends: Z-A, how are you feeling about it so far? What are you early impressions? Let us know in the comments.
We have a new location guide for Pokemon Legends: Z-A that’s all about Eternal Flower Floette.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is available now, and it actually doesn’t introduce a single new species of Pokemon. There are new Mega Evolutions, sure, but no truly all-new Pokemon. That’s okay, given that there are well over 1,000 species of Pokemon available right now. Legends Z-A does, however, introduce a new form of Pokemon that has been in the game’s code for over a decade, but completely unobtainable until now: Eternal Flower Floette. Indeed, it was first discovered hidden within Pokemon X and Y’s game code in 2013, but it was never made available – perhaps an event was canceled or the game’s story changed, but we don’t know for sure. Whichever the case may be, Eternal Flower Floette is now available in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Just be prepared to work for it, because you have to clear the main story to even begin working your way towards it. There are story spoilers inside, so keep that in mind before you continue.
