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
#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.
#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 who want something a tad bit different.
#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 options help it stand out from the bunch.
#7: Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition
Digimon games have always been very different from what Pokemon‘s 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 leans just enough into its immense roster of creatures to be a proper monster collection game.
#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.
#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.
#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, check out the web-based creature fusion system!
Published: Nov 5, 2023 10:31 am