The setting of Lumiose City set players in a Kalos metropolis for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but a future spin-off might have to take place elsewhere. Lumiose was a fantastic contrast to the ancient Hisui region of Legends: Arceus, creating new Pokémon for a prehistoric version of Sinnoh. However, with both games focusing on the past and future, a third title may have to get creative to be just as successful.
Like various gameplay trends of the Pokémon: Legends series could continue in a possible third entry, the setting likely won’t be the same. Even if there are no battle system changes to the established Pokémon formula that Legends: Z-A or Legends: Arceus created, players will want fresh environments to explore and capture Pokémon in. Since the spin-offs tend to adapt existing regions, there are many possible settings to choose from.
The Next Pokémon Legends Game Should Take Place In Johto
Often Overlooked Second Generation Can Be An Excellent World Once Again
While it may be somewhat of a hot take, I believe that the 2nd Generation’s Johto region would be a perfect spot for another Pokémon: Legends game, though not necessarily within a familiar time period. A Legends game taking place in Johto’s recent past could make for an interesting world, tackling the origins behind deep lore surrounding some iconic Pokémon from that area.
Johto is often recognized as a much smaller region than others, especially considering the Gold and Silver games they were introduced in also featured Generation 1’s Kanto region as well as an explorable region. Even the Gen 4 remakes, Pokémon Heartgold and Soulsilver, still feature Johto’s smaller size in conjunction with Kanto, so a game expanding Johto alone could add more context to its environments.
While Kanto is also a candidate for being a Legends region, the amount of attention that region has received has been staggering in other Pokémon games and media.
Johto being the focus of a new Legends game can elevate the region too, much like how Kalos was in Legends: Z-A. The Kalos region was not celebrated much in Pokémon X and Y, with players spending little time in the region compared to past games. This is incredibly similar to how Johto is in earlier Generations, despite the fact that Kanto’s connection gives players more time in that series of games.
Other regions like Unova or Alola were improved in rare sequel mainline Pokémon games, but Johto has rarely been revisited. To dive back into the distinct locations Johto has could be interesting from a story perspective, especially when you consider what Legendary Pokémon appeared first in that region.
Johto Region Lore & Legendaries Could Craft An Interesting Setting
Fan-Favorite Pokémon Could Receive New Regional Forms Alongside Classic Legends
Johto has always had interesting regional lore, especially when it comes to their signature Legendary Pokémon. Ho-Oh and Lugia are two of the most iconic Pokémon ever, so a game focusing on them might be fascinating beyond what the original Gold or Silver could achieve. For example, imagine if your Trainer traveled to a time in Johto’s history where these Pokémon were being encountered for the first time.
In addition, this could include stories about the Legendary dog trio — Suicune, Entei, or Raikou. These Pokémon have never truly gotten the spotlight within various Pokémon games, but remain incredibly popular due to their different roles in the TV or movies that featured them. These Pokémon are also tied into the themes of spirituality that persist in the Johto region, making them strong choices to drive a new Legends game.
An alternate era of Johto could also create several new regional forms for Pokémon, a key ingredient to the Legends games. In Legends: Arceus, this was seen in giving some Pokémon Hisuian forms, changing their appearance and typings with striking new features. For Legends: Z-A, new Mega Evolutions gave players something new. For a possible Johto game, it could go in either direction or try something completely new.
Time Travel To Johto’s Past Strikes A Middle Ground Between Arceus And Z-A
Historical Past Instead Of Prehistoric Creates A Balanced Setting
Perhaps the best way to establish Johto as a new Legends setting is to go back into its past, but not nearly as far as Legends: Arceus did with Sinnoh. Instead of creating a new region entirely, the team behind this spin-off could choose a period where civilizations were established, but had a very new relationship with Pokémon in a region that would eventually have a deep, rich connection with its Legendary creatures.
This nearly historical setting could adopt a lot of the architecture that still remains in Johto in past Generations, such as the tower where you summon Ho-Oh in Pokémon Heartgold. Almost resembling a feudal Japan or China, the human characters could be as interesting as the Pokémon themselves at that kind of time period.
While Lumiose City in Legends: Z-A has a sprawling map, there is much less open world exploration in it compared to Legends: Arceus. For the next spin-off, a return to a more open world and exploration could be welcome.
The past being closer to the present could also mean a future Legends game in Johto would feature characters that would later become known in mainline Pokémon games. While it could lose a historical angle, perhaps this game could feature the origin of Team Rocket, before they became a criminal organization known to all by the time of the first Pokémon games.
It is impossible to tell what kind of sequel the next Legends will be like, how it will play, or even which Pokémon would appear in it. That being said, I would hope that the next game after Pokémon Legends: Z-A tries something new, while elevating what was lackluster before in the signature way this spin-off series does so well.
- Released
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October 16, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
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Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Engine
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Proprietary
