Pokémon Legends ZA is excitingly only a few days away, and this might be the perfect time to look back on the game that started the Legends hype. Before we get lost and fall in love in the streets of Lumiose, let us revisit Hisui, its wilderness, and understand why its open zones were so loved.
Pokémon Legends Arceus can be considered a bold reinvention of the series with its mechanics and gameplay. But it has been 3 years since its release, and with Pokémon Legends ZA coming in less than a week, is it still worth playing in 2025?
Is Pokémon Legends Arceus Still Worth Playing In 2025?
The short answer is yes. This game wasn't afraid to break conventions because it dared to give us something fresh, and honestly, with all the love it received and still receives to this day, we can say it was a success thanks to its open exploration and immersive gameplay.
Now that a brand new Pokémon Legends game is on the way, going back to Hisui feels like a special reminder of how far Pokémon has come.
Pokémon Legends Arceus came out back in January 2022 and was released exclusively to the original Nintendo Switch family of systems. It sold over 14 million copies worldwide, so it is one of the best-selling titles and the love for it was apparent.
For the very first time in Pokémon, you can sneak up and catch Pokémon in the overworld without a battle animation starting up. Stealth is as important as being battle-ready, which was really fun to do. And of course, for the first time, the trainer can be attacked by Pokémon and take damage.
To this day, Pokémon Legends Arceus remains the most action-oriented Pokémon in the series. Exploring and battling feel very seamless, and every wild encounter genuinely gave real tension. Hisui truly felt like a living land with its unpredictability and its wilderness. Pokémon, living in their own lifestyles and territories, became genuine threats and could take you down. Yes, you, the trainer.
This game also introduced Alpha Pokémon to us, which are massive versions of the Pokémon we know and love. These Pokémon are huge threats due to their temper, speed, and tenacity. Imagine a gigantic Electivire charging at you with Voltic Rampage!
Now, to answer the question of whether it's worth playing in 2025, it definitely is. In fact, this game will be worth it to play at any given time. This game can be argued as the most complete game in the series because, unlike other titles, everything you need is in the base game already.
It is possible to catch all Pokémon or experience everything in this game without needing to trade or connect online. This game is a completionist heaven in a single cartridge. This is extra special, knowing that we are now in a time where DLCs and online subscriptions seem to lock content behind paywalls.
Another major reason why it will remain relevant and play-worthy at any time is that it has a sandbox-style gameplay design. The Hisui map has multiple and large open zones where you have total freedom with the way you play and the pacing you choose.
Spend time exploring the areas and farm items, or catch rare Pokémon, or battle Alphas, any way you play it feels right and fun. There's also plenty of side quests for you to get distracted by. Along the way, there's always something new to discover, and that perfect combo of freedom and thrill is hard to put a price on.
Now, to talk about visuals, Pokémon Legends Arceus is one of the most graphically consistent and stable titles ever. It has this ancient, cell-shaded Japanese watercolor style that makes it a cultural eye-candy. Up to this day, whether on Switch 1 or 2, it remains smooth and visually rich.
The performance is top-notch, and loading times are not bad. The textures are not perfect, but the gameplay more than makes up for it. It is a game that feels flavorful and full of atmosphere.
Since we are talking about "worth", the value of this game lies in its replayability. Each run you take can feel drastically different from the last. On your second walkthrough, you might be bringing a full Alpha team, and on the third, you are boasting a team full of shinies.
Maybe a run with only Hisuian forms. Why not? Or maybe you want to be an aspiring researcher and just finish the Pokedex and finish every single research task there is. That is freedom to play in any way you prefer.
Bottom line, Pokémon Legends Arceus is a celebration of Pokémon's spirit of adventure and evolution. While Pokémon Legends ZA is shaping up to revolutionize Pokémon with its new battle system, Legends Arceus will always be worth it to revisit.
Here's to hoping that Pokémon Legends ZA will be as memorable, fun, and innovative as its predecessor, but while we wait to find out, Pokémon Legends Arceus remains at the top.
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