Donut worry, this DLC is A-mega-zing
By Paul Hunter
I've already put a lot of hours into Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and I genuinely enjoyed my time in Lumiose. Now Nintendo and Game Freak are back with Mega Dimension DLC on Nintendo Switch 2 (and Nintendo Switch), and it’s given me fresh reasons to load my save again. Since I've already reviewed the base Pokémon Legends: Z-A game, this review will cover what's new in the DLC.
Mega Dimension once again has us roaming around Lumiose, only now there are distortions across the city that open into Hyperspace Lumiose, a parallel desatured version of familiar streets with a timer hanging over every trip. To enter these distortions, you'll meet Ansha, a child who befriends Hoopa, the ring-making Mythical Pokémon, and together they bake special donuts that let you enter in the distortions, at least for a period of time. These donuts also lets you power up your Pokémon beyond the level cap of 100, which is needed to challenge powerful Pokémon inside the distorations, including all-new Mega Evolutions, and a big wave of returning Pokémon that can also exceed the level cap.
So, is Mega Dimension a Mega-powered must play add-on? Let’s find out!
The storyline is built around simple missions you can track against at all times. Find out why the distortions are spreading, figure out what is driving them, and keep Lumiose from getting swallowed up by something it was never meant to touch.
Along with the new mysterious portals, Mega Dimension expands the cast with a couple of big additions. You meet Ansha, a kid with a huge spark for adventure, and her bond with Hoopa gives the DLC its heart. Hoopa’s ring powers tie directly into why Hyperspace Lumiose portals have appeared, and Ansha is determined to help through her unique ability to craft donuts with Hoopa's help. Korrina also returns and fits naturally as a specialist in fealing with Mega Pokémon who can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest threats.
There are also standout moments built around Legendary Pokémon encounters that give the DLC some real punch. Corbeau and Mabel show up along the way too, keeping this story connected to the wider Lumiose crew and your original adventure through the city.
The DLC’s biggest system is the new donut mechanic. Ansha bakes special donuts, and feeding one to Hoopa is what lets you enter a distortion. The donut you pick sets your time limit and can add bonuses, like better capture odds, a higher Shiny appearance rate, or a power bump that helps your team hang in the tougher zones. At first you'll create donuts uses berries foubd in the base game but as you get deeper in, you start mixing in Hyperspace berries, which are more potent and help you stay in the distortions longer.
Progress is tied to research points, so runs reward you for completing tasks while you chase wild Pokémon, battle other trainers, and tackle a wealth of Side Missions. Rogue Mega battles are the big tests, and I love how prevalent they are in this DLC. The rogue targets love to move around, putting pressure on your own positioning, and punishes sloppy dodges, so you can’t just coast through on stats alone.
The other major shift is the level cap breaking past 100. Mega Dimension asks you to fight and catch Pokémon in a higher tier, with encounters climbing well beyond 100, sometimes up to 150 or even higher, and it changes the whole feel of the post-game. I had one run where I went in underprepared, got destroyed by a hard hitting high-level group, and spent the next few trips rebuilding my team around better matchups and stronger donuts until I finally succeeded.
That stripped-back style makes Pokémon and trainers stand out clearly against the lighter backgrounds, and it gives battles a new look. I also liked how the pocket dimensions can make familiar landmarks feel a little uncanny, even when you know the route by heart. New Mega Evolutions help a lot here too. Their designs and special moves effects really stand out in this pale world.
The soundtrack keeps the same overall quality as the base game and adds extra music for Legendary Pokémon moments that helps those encounters feel like huge events. I also still enjoyed how the sound changes depending on your actions, like how the music becomes more muted when you sneak, then it swells again when a Mega battle kicks off.
UI presentation stays straightforward, with one big change you’ll notice inside Hyperspace. You do not get a map for those runs, so navigation can be more about memory and landmarks. Voice acting still isn’t part of the package, though, and I found myself imagining how fun a few character scenes would be if there was a full voice cast.
Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Genre: Action Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
I've already put a lot of hours into Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and I genuinely enjoyed my time in Lumiose. Now Nintendo and Game Freak are back with Mega Dimension DLC on Nintendo Switch 2 (and Nintendo Switch), and it’s given me fresh reasons to load my save again. Since I've already reviewed the base Pokémon Legends: Z-A game, this review will cover what's new in the DLC.
Mega Dimension once again has us roaming around Lumiose, only now there are distortions across the city that open into Hyperspace Lumiose, a parallel desatured version of familiar streets with a timer hanging over every trip. To enter these distortions, you'll meet Ansha, a child who befriends Hoopa, the ring-making Mythical Pokémon, and together they bake special donuts that let you enter in the distortions, at least for a period of time. These donuts also lets you power up your Pokémon beyond the level cap of 100, which is needed to challenge powerful Pokémon inside the distorations, including all-new Mega Evolutions, and a big wave of returning Pokémon that can also exceed the level cap.
So, is Mega Dimension a Mega-powered must play add-on? Let’s find out!
Story and Narrative
The story for Mega Dimension directly follows the Pokémon Legends: Z-A ending, and it gives Lumiose City a fresh emergency to deal with. Time-space distortions start appearing across the city, and the situation escalates quickly once Team MZ realizes these rifts connect to Hyperspace Lumiose. It is a parallel version of the city where Mega Evolution energy is unnaturally concentrated, and that detail becomes central to the story.The storyline is built around simple missions you can track against at all times. Find out why the distortions are spreading, figure out what is driving them, and keep Lumiose from getting swallowed up by something it was never meant to touch.
Along with the new mysterious portals, Mega Dimension expands the cast with a couple of big additions. You meet Ansha, a kid with a huge spark for adventure, and her bond with Hoopa gives the DLC its heart. Hoopa’s ring powers tie directly into why Hyperspace Lumiose portals have appeared, and Ansha is determined to help through her unique ability to craft donuts with Hoopa's help. Korrina also returns and fits naturally as a specialist in fealing with Mega Pokémon who can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest threats.
There are also standout moments built around Legendary Pokémon encounters that give the DLC some real punch. Corbeau and Mabel show up along the way too, keeping this story connected to the wider Lumiose crew and your original adventure through the city.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Mega Dimension’s gameplay centres on one big idea: you jump into pocket dimension Hyperspace sections of Lumiose for timed runs, then you come back out, prep, and go again. Those runs happen inside familiar parts of Lumiose, so the layout stays recognizable while the Pokémon you'll enounter and objectives change.The DLC’s biggest system is the new donut mechanic. Ansha bakes special donuts, and feeding one to Hoopa is what lets you enter a distortion. The donut you pick sets your time limit and can add bonuses, like better capture odds, a higher Shiny appearance rate, or a power bump that helps your team hang in the tougher zones. At first you'll create donuts uses berries foubd in the base game but as you get deeper in, you start mixing in Hyperspace berries, which are more potent and help you stay in the distortions longer.
Progress is tied to research points, so runs reward you for completing tasks while you chase wild Pokémon, battle other trainers, and tackle a wealth of Side Missions. Rogue Mega battles are the big tests, and I love how prevalent they are in this DLC. The rogue targets love to move around, putting pressure on your own positioning, and punishes sloppy dodges, so you can’t just coast through on stats alone.
The other major shift is the level cap breaking past 100. Mega Dimension asks you to fight and catch Pokémon in a higher tier, with encounters climbing well beyond 100, sometimes up to 150 or even higher, and it changes the whole feel of the post-game. I had one run where I went in underprepared, got destroyed by a hard hitting high-level group, and spent the next few trips rebuilding my team around better matchups and stronger donuts until I finally succeeded.
Presentation and Audio
Mega Dimension’s presentation is all about contrast. You return to familiar Lumiose, which looks as lively as ever with trainers and Pokémon sharing streets, balconies, and rooftop routes. The DLC then flips the vibe when you step into Hyperspace Lumiose, which takes familiar spaces and drains them down into a pale, desaturated look that feels strange on purpose.That stripped-back style makes Pokémon and trainers stand out clearly against the lighter backgrounds, and it gives battles a new look. I also liked how the pocket dimensions can make familiar landmarks feel a little uncanny, even when you know the route by heart. New Mega Evolutions help a lot here too. Their designs and special moves effects really stand out in this pale world.
The soundtrack keeps the same overall quality as the base game and adds extra music for Legendary Pokémon moments that helps those encounters feel like huge events. I also still enjoyed how the sound changes depending on your actions, like how the music becomes more muted when you sneak, then it swells again when a Mega battle kicks off.
UI presentation stays straightforward, with one big change you’ll notice inside Hyperspace. You do not get a map for those runs, so navigation can be more about memory and landmarks. Voice acting still isn’t part of the package, though, and I found myself imagining how fun a few character scenes would be if there was a full voice cast.
The Verdict
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension is a focused DLC that got me excuted to revisit and explore a new version of Lumiose City. Its timed Hyperspace structure keeps missions feeling intense, while the level cap limit breaking past 100 raises the stakes for some exhilarating big battles. Extra Mega Evolutions and a larger Pokémon roster make team building even better, and finally defeating that level 150 Pokémon (or even higher level) is immensely satisfying. The music is as good as ever and a bold visual contrast wothin the Hyperspace carries the mood. If you enjoyed Pokémon Legends: Z-A and are looking for more action, Mega Dimension is an easy recommendation.Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Genre: Action Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.