Three decades after its debut in 1996, Pokémon remains one of video gaming’s most popular franchises. Main games, animated series, trading cards and merchandise have helped make these creatures a global phenomenon.
To mark this 30th anniversary, several events were organized in the Pokémon universe. One of them directly concerns Pokémon Legends ZA, a game released in 2025 that transports players to the city of Illumis, a metropolis inspired by Paris.
Pokémon Legends ZA offers a free gift to players
Players can currently collect a new Mystery Gift in Pokémon Legends ZA. This reward allows you to obtain a Mega Gem intended for Garchomp.
This item is necessary to trigger its special Mega Evolution called Mega Garchomp Z. Once equipped, this transformation can be used during battles to greatly strengthen the Pokémon’s abilities.
To collect this reward, players must access the city of Illumis and own the Mega-Dimension expansion. This condition means that only players with access to the additional content will be able to obtain the Mega Gem.
How to get the Garchomp Mega Gem
The process of obtaining the item begins by activating the Mystery Gift in the game. Once the reward is collected, a portal appears in the game world. Players must cross this portal in order to face Mega Garchomp Z.
After winning this fight, the Mega Gem can be collected and given to Garchomp. This improvement then allows the Pokémon to mega-evolve during battles. The transformation provides an important advantage when clashing against powerful opponents.
Pokémon Legends ZA marked the ninth generation
Released in October 2025 on Nintendo Switch before being adapted for Nintendo Switch 2, Pokémon Legends ZA is the second episode of the Pokémon Legends series. The game takes place entirely in the city of Illumis and offers a different approach to exploration compared to other titles in the franchise.
The combat was vastly improved from previous games and was well received by many players. On the other hand, some fans criticized the size of the map and the lack of varied environments.
Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary Marks a Milestone Year
Celebrating 30 years of Pokémon isn’t limited to this event in Pokémon Legends ZA. The franchise is also preparing to welcome the tenth generation with the planned release of Pokémon Wind and Waves in 2027. This new episode should offer a much larger open world than previous games.
At the same time, several rumors point to the possible return of certain classic games in the series as well as new derivative products celebrating the history of the franchise. After thirty years of existence, Pokémon continues to evolve while attracting a new generation of players.