The Pokemon franchise is a crucial mainstay for many, naturally, but for those who don’t actually have a Nintendo console at hand to enjoy them, things get complicated quickly. If you’re not particularly keen on emulation and whatnot, finding the best Pokemon-like games is the obvious next-best option.
While the niche of Pokemon-alikes may have been fairly slim just a decade ago, things have changed for the better as of late. Right now, not only do you have a wealth of creature-hunting and training games to choose from, but many of them are truly compelling experiences in their own right. Some are exceedingly similar to Pokemon proper, while others deliver something entirely new.
Whatever the case may be, all the games featured on this list will sate your thirst for Pokemon on a non-Nintendo gaming device, and you won’t even need to pretend that you’re dumping your own ROMs for emulation. Neat!
The best Pokemon-alikes on the market right now
#12: Palworld
While the gameplay systems of Palworld completely differ from Pokemon in many ways, you’re still collecting all kinds of creatures throughout this unique take on the genre. The graphics are beautiful as you explore the world, try to find unique and wild Pals, and take on bosses. You can even attack these creatures and get them to work for you, like crafting Pal Spheres (Palworld‘s own version of Pokeballs). Creating your own base and evolving your character’s abilities and Pals is fulfilling.
What’s even cooler is that you can ride your Pals and glide through the air or float on the sea. Palworld‘s one of the best monster-collecting RPGs because it’s so strange to have these creatures with guns at their and your disposal.
“At some point, midway through crafting an Assault Rifle upgrade for my Grass-Type Pal Tanzee, I had to pause and reflect on what I had done,” said our hands-on impressions for Palworld. “I was about to put a military rifle in the hands of a somewhat-sentient animal, a seemingly innocent and adorable creature, hoping it spraying bullets in a general direction would be the ace-in-the-hole I needed against a particularly tough boss trainer.”
#11: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a beautiful Pokemon-like RPG you can get on your PC or console. You’re collecting creatures called familiars and training them but you’re also playing as Oliver, a 13-year-old boy that can use magic in battle alongside the familiars. He isn’t just on the sidelines. The stellar combat system is complimented by a wonderful fantasy storyline as Oliver tries to save his mother and ultimately the world from evil. It’s also animated and inspired by the works of anime studio Studio Ghibli, who have previously worked on Howl’s Moving Castle and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. It’s certainly a hidden gem in monster-collecting RPGs.
#10: Nexomon: Extinction
While the original Nexomon might’ve been as straightforward of a Pokemon wannabe as it gets, the Extinction sequel does several key things to separate itself from this legacy. From the tall grass to the turn-based battles, any Pokemon fan will know what they’re about here, and that’s the game’s strongest suit, really. Even though Nexomon: Extinction doesn’t intend to rock the boat, as it were, its story and dialogue still try to pick apart some engrained genre tropes, and its open world does enough to make it well worth playing. The art style is also quite beautiful and fills that void of the modern Pokemon games forgoing the traditional 2D look.
#9: Ooblets
Ooblets is a monster-taming game, yes, but it is also a farming title and a bit of a life sim, to boot. What you’re getting here, then, is a millennial’s dream combination of Animal Crossing and Pokemon that still successfully sets up a unique identity all of its own. Ooblets should’ve been exceedingly cringeworthy in more ways than one, but the end result is delightfully charming and funny instead, and it’ll be a great choice for those who want something a tad bit different. This indie title is worth a look.
#8: Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Monster Hunter Stories is a Pokemon-like game set in the Monster Hunter universe. Its combat and exploration are both more compelling than they’ve ever really been in a mainstream Gamefreak game, however, which helps make up for the smaller and more focused roster of creatures to choose from. Wings of Ruin is not a perfect game by any means, but its solid gameplay loop and great co-op multiplayer oꦫptions help it stand out from the bunch.
The game becomes more fun when you collect new monsters in the game, which is important. “Monster acquisition is crucial for traversal, as only some creature types can say, climb ivy, swim, or leap across gaps,” said our review. “It’s a lot like HMs in Pokémon, but you’re mostly in control of when you gain control of them, and outside of a few critical-path requirements, they lead to optional content.” It does suffer from frame drops, however, on Switch, so maybe consider picking this game up on a different platform like the PC or PS4.
#7: Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition
Digimon games have always been very different from what Pokemon has offered. While the same could be said about Cyber Sleuth, for sure, the game actually plays like something you’d get if you blended Pokemon with Shin Megami Tensei. What you’re getting here is a fairly believable and grounded Digimon experience that lea🥀ns just enough into its immense roster of creatures to be a proper monster collec🦋tion game.
If you’re a bit tired of the childish antics in the storyline of recent Pokemon games, this Digimon title might be worth looking into as it𝓀 has a beefier♍ plot.
#6: Temtem
For those who want a true Pokemon MMO but aren’t all that interested in the various (unofficial) free-to-play renditions of the franchise, Temtem is the way to go. This is a huge and sprawling Pokemon-like game that does most things very well, but its MMORPG core also means you’re getting a very grindy, community-focused experience. It’s a great game, to be sure, with the caveat that it’s also a true MMO with everything that entails. For those who are only into battling, the Temtem: Showdown offshoot may be the way to go.
For those who want more of a challenge to their monster-collecting adventures that Scarlet & Violet arguably lacked, TemTem might be for you. It’s certainly tough, especially in the beginning.
#5: Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is a creature-collecting sidescroller that is, coincidentally, also a true Metroidvania title. There’s lots of depth to every disparate gameplay system present in Monster Sanctuary, but what really makes it special is how it all comes together. The game has ample personality and style, and whether you’re into it for the combat or the creature collection, you’re sure to get more than you bargained for.
#4: Siralim Ultimate
Unlike most other games on this list, Siralim Ultimate won’t be to everyone’s tastes. In fact, it’d be easy to say that it won’t be to most people’s tastes, but that doesn’t take away from the sheer breadth and scope of the game. Once you look past its simplistic graphics and old-school UI, you’re getting the biggest, most comprehensive creature collector-made yet, and it leans extremely heavily into the theory-crafting portion of the niche. For those who are into this sort of thing, Siralim Ultimate is the game to play.
#3: Bugsnax
Bugsnax is a bizarre Pokemon-like game that absolutely revels in its weirdness. True enough, it is a creature collecting title, but it places heavy emphasis on its narrative, which we highly recommend you do not spoil for yourself. In fact, its strong narrative slant is good enough to more than make up for gameplay that could’ve certainly been better. As it stands, though, Bugsnax is a delightfully unique game that’s going to thrill players looking for something a bit out there in all the right ways.
#2: Coromon
Coromon is about as close to being an unofficial mainline fourth-gen Pokemon game as one could possibly get, albeit with a wealth of quality-of-life improvements included by default. If you feel like playing Pokemon natively on, say, a Steam Deck, this is arguably the best option you’ve got. What’s really important here, though, is that Coromon features creature designs that genuinely wouldn’t feel out of place in a Pokemon title, even though they’re all fully original.
Those who like Nuzlocke runs would also be happy to know that Coromon has a setting for this particular game type. There’s a toggle that lets you release fainted monsters automatically and limits the number of items you use per battle to increase the difficulty.
#1: Cassette Beasts
If Coromon is the best Pokemon-like game to embrace its niche, Cassette Beasts is the one that isn’t afraid of tastefully nudging the entire sub-genre forward in meaningful ways. Described as “strange but exciting” ahead of its release, Cassette Beasts is incredibly fun and engaging throughout, and it’s going to be particularly interesting to those who want a slightly more difficult monster-hunting experience. Expect nothing short of a genre evolution from this game, with an open world to explore to your heart’s content. To understand just how deep Cassette Beasts‘ gameplay systems go, !
Published: Jan 27, 2025 11:37 am