Fans of Pokémon have always loved digging into the details of every new game, searching for hidden references and Easter eggs that connect the latest adventures to the franchise’s long history. With the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A in October 2025, players quickly noticed that the game is packed with nods to the Kalos region, especially when it comes to the city of Lumiose and its landmarks. The game’s footage, trailers, and early gameplay have revealed a treasure trove of references that make longtime fans smile, and many of these references are tied to places, characters, and events from Pokémon X and Y, the original Kalos games.
One of the first things players noticed is how Lumiose City is portrayed in Legends: Z-A. The city is the heart of the game, and it’s filled with familiar sights. The Prism Tower, which was the central Pokémon Gym in X and Y, is still standing tall and is a major landmark in the new game. The tower is not just a background detail; it plays a key role in the story, especially during the final battle against the metallic plant monster that threatens the city. This is a direct callback to the events of X and Y, where the Prism Tower was a symbol of Kalos’s progress and unity. The game’s developers, Game Freak, have made sure that the tower is not just a visual reference but a part of the gameplay, with players able to explore its interior and interact with NPCs who mention its history.
Another major reference is the Glittering Cave, a location that first appeared in X and Y. In Legends: Z-A, the cave is still there, and it’s described as a place filled with gemstones and glowing moss. Players can explore the cave and find fossils of ancient Pokémon, just like in the original games. The cave is also home to an aquarium that features a variety of water Pokémon, which is a nod to the region’s love for water-based creatures. The game’s NPCs often mention the cave’s history, and some even talk about how it was a popular spot for trainers to train their Pokémon in the past.
The Kalos Power Plant is another landmark that makes a return in Legends: Z-A. In X and Y, the power plant was the site of a major battle against Team Flare, and in the new game, it’s still a key location. Players can see the power plant from the desert area, and it’s mentioned in several side quests. The plant is also the site of a research project led by a scientist named Mable, who is a new character in the game. Mable’s research is focused on the energy that powers the city, and her work is a direct reference to the events of X and Y, where the power plant played a crucial role in the story.
The Laverre City Gym is another reference that fans have spotted. In X and Y, the gym was a Fairy-type gym led by Valerie, and in Legends: Z-A, the gym is still standing, though it’s now a museum. Players can visit the gym and learn about its history, and some NPCs mention Valerie and her role in the region’s past. The gym is also the site of a detective quest, where players must solve a mystery involving a missing Pokémon. This quest is a nod to the detective quests in X and Y, where players had to solve puzzles and help NPCs with their problems.
Coumarine City is another location that makes a return in Legends: Z-A. In X and Y, Coumarine was a seaside town known for its railways and port, and in the new game, it’s still a bustling hub of activity. Players can visit the town and interact with NPCs who mention the city’s history, and some even talk about the Grass-type Gym Leader Ramos, who was a key figure in X and Y. The town is also the site of a side quest involving a missing train, which is a direct reference to the railway system in the original games.
Parfum Palace is another landmark that fans have noticed. In X and Y, the palace was a museum built by the royals of Kalos, and in Legends: Z-A, it’s still a museum, though it’s now dedicated to the history of the region. Players can visit the palace and learn about the royal family, and some NPCs mention the events of X and Y, including the war that took place 3,000 years ago. The palace is also the site of a research objective, where players must collect artifacts and learn about the region’s past.
The Poké Ball Factory is another reference that fans have spotted. In X and Y, the factory was the northernmost landmark in the Kalos region, and in Legends: Z-A, it’s still a key location. Players can visit the factory and interact with NPCs who mention its history, and some even talk about the production of Poké Balls in the past. The factory is also the site of a side quest involving a missing shipment, which is a nod to the factory’s role in the original games.
An NPC on the North Boulevard mentions that the first Mega Evolution happened in Hoenn, which is a direct reference to the events of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. This is a subtle nod to the franchise’s history, and it shows that the developers are aware of the connections between the different regions. The NPC also mentions that the Kalos region has a long history of Mega Evolution, which is a reference to the events of X and Y, where Mega Evolution was a major mechanic.
The Sushi High Roller is another location that fans have noticed. In Legends: Z-A, the Sushi High Roller is a restaurant where players can interact with NPCs who mention Azure Bay, a location that was first introduced in X and Y. Azure Bay was a place where trainers could visit and catch rare Pokémon, and in the new game, it’s mentioned as a popular spot for trainers to relax and enjoy the city’s nightlife.
An NPC inside the Sushi High Roller also mentions Zygarde and its relation to Z-Moves, a special mechanic introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Zygarde was closely tied to Sun and Moon, even though it was first introduced in X and Y, and in Legends: Z-A, it plays a key role in the story. The collection of Zygarde Cells is mentioned in the game, which is a reference to the events of Sun and Moon, where players had to collect Zygarde Cells to unlock the Pokémon’s full power.
The game’s side quests also include references to the Pokémon Fan Club, a group that appears in multiple Pokémon games but was first introduced in Laverre City in X and Y. In Legends: Z-A, the Fan Club is still active, and players can interact with members who mention the club’s history and its role in the region’s past.
The game’s developers have also included references to the Striaton City Gym, which was the first gym in Pokémon Black and White. In Legends: Z-A, players can encounter a character named Rintaro the Waiter, who brings the evolved forms of the “Elemental Monkey” trio into battle. These Pokémon were first introduced in Black and White, and their appearance in the new game is a clever Easter egg for fans of the fifth generation.
The game’s museum also features a painting of Diancie, a mythical
