The Pokémon series is one of gaming’s true juggernauts. It’s the best-selling video game series of all time and has been adapted into just about every medium known to man. Pokémon Sword and Shield are the most recent entries in the franchise and are its best selling since Gold and Silver back in 1999. They’re also the first Pokémon games to feature paid DLC packs, the second of which has just been released.
The Crown Tundra added both new and old legendary Pokémon to the game as well as Galarian forms for many Pokémon. It’s sure to keep players busy for quite some time, but with no further content announced as of yet, it’s only a matter of time before players have Pokémon sized hole in their lives. Thankfully, there are plenty of titles just like Pokémon, and while none have been able to match the series in terms of success, many have come close when it comes to gameplay.
10 World Of Final Fantasy
World of Final Fantasy is one of the many Final Fantasy spin-off titles released by Square Enix. It’s often compared with the Pokémon series, although the similarities are fairly limited beyond the game’s monster catching mechanic. Granted, this is one of Pokémon‘s defining features, but the training and battling elements that supplement it in Pokémon just aren’t there in World of Final Fantasy.
For those who simply have to catch them all though, World of Final Fantasy certainly won’t disappoint. There are plenty of familiar faces in the monster lineup as well as some new and unique designs. This one will probably appeal to Final Fantasy fans more than anyone else. Even then though, the Chibi art style may not be to everyone’s tastes.
9 Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
There are nowhere near as many, but it’s hard to look at the Higgledies found in Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and not be reminded of Pokémon. Each has their own elemental affinity and a set of four moves that can be used in battle. There’s also a ‘catch ’em all’ type feeling to them, although there aren’t quite as many.
Collecting Higgeldies might not be the central focus in Ni No Kuni II‘s story, but the creatures play an integral role in its gameplay. What’s more, deciding which four Higgeldies to take into battle requires similar planning to selecting a team of Pokémon. There may not be as much depth, but there’s just as much charm.
8 Jade Cocoon: Story Of The Tamamayu
Jade Cocoon: Story Of The Tamamayu is one of the most underrated RPGs on the PlayStation. It’s starting to show some cracks visually, but its story and gameplay are top-notch. The game shares more than a few similarities with Pokémon, but also has some great ideas of its own.
In Jade Cocoon, players catch and obtain Minions which can be used in battle. Players can breed and fuse them together and there are 175 of them in total. One of the more interesting mechanics in the game is the catch level, which makes it easier for players to catch Minions based on how many they have already caught. It’s a nice idea and one that wouldn’t feel at all out of place in a modern Pokémon game.
7 Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary began life as a passion project before its creator decided to take his ideas to Kickstarter. After a successful campaign, the game was picked up by publisher Team17 and has grown into something far beyond its original scope. Although the game’s official release isn’t until December, it’s been available as an early access title on Steam for just over a year and is shaping up to be a fantastic game.
Players build teams of monsters to take on wild monsters and other monster keepers. Wild monsters can be tamed and, like many of the Pokémon titles, one monster can be chosen to follow the player around outside of battle. Unlike Pokémon, however, each following monster has a unique ability to help players traverse the game’s world. This adds a new layer of depth to the follow mechanic and another reason to be excited about the game’s full release.
6 Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy Of The Duelist: Link Evolution
The Yu-Gi-Oh! series should need no introduction given its popularity and how long it’s been around. Although many may be familiar with the concept though, some might be surprised by just how good Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy Of The Duelist: Link Evolution really is.
It’s more like playing with the Pokémon trading cards than it is a Pokémon game, but the strategy involved is incredibly similar. Likewise, the depth of the combat and the huge variety of monsters make this the perfect title for those who love the tactical elements of the Pokémon series.
5 Yo-Kai Watch 3
There’s still no word on when exactly Yo-Kai Watch 4 will be released in the West, so anybody interested in checking out what the series has to offer will have to settle for playing Yo-Kai Watch 3 instead. Thankfully, it’s one of the series’ best titles and features multiple playable characters and intertwining stories.
The Yo-Kai Watch games allow players to befriend supernatural creatures known as Yo-Kai and fight with them in battle. They can evolve into more powerful versions of themselves and there are even legendary Yo-Kai for players to befriend. It’s similar enough to Pokémon to feel familiar but different enough to feel like a brand new adventure.
4 Dragon Quest Monsters
When Dragon Quest Monsters first released in North America, many critics were quick to compare it to Pokémon – and for good reason. As time has passed though, the series has evolved into something that can stand firmly on its own two feet rather than leaning on the success of other IPs. It’s incredibly popular in Japan and is slowly beginning to develop a following in the West as well.
Those similarities to Pokémon are certainly still there, but they’re complemented by some very different mechanics and, of course, Akira Toriyama’s signature art style. It’s a fairly simple game to pick up and play, but those who take the time to fully explore the game’s systems will be rewarded with a much more fulfilling experience.
3 Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
The rivalry between Digimon and Pokémon is almost as iconic as the one between Ash and Gary. The two series duked it out in the late 90’s and, although Pokémon came out on top, Digimon has never truly been down for the count. It’s still incredibly popular in Japan and there are plenty of Western gamers with fond memories of the franchise.
The similarities between the two series are too numerous to list, but there’s a strong likelihood that anybody who likes Pokémon will take some enjoyment from the Digimon video games. The pick of the bunch is definitely Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth although many of the older Digimon titles are pretty good as well.
2 Nexomon: Extinction
To call Nexomon: Extinction a Pokémon clone would perhaps be doing the game a disservice. Sure, it features pretty much every element found in Pokémon, but there’s certainly an argument to be made that it’s a better Pokémon style game than Pokémon itself.
Its stamina system forces players to rotate their parties regularly rather than just focusing on a core team whilst the game’s fantastic cast of characters really help to bring its story to life. All of the Nexomon are well designed and the dialogue provides plenty of humor too. It may be a little rough around the edges, but its elements fit together seamlessly.
1 Temtem
Although Nintendo has become a little more relaxed in recent years when it comes to adult themes, Pokémon is still very much a family-friendly experience. As such, the series’ writing and difficulty can often feel a little underwhelming to more mature players. While Temtem is still a far cry from something like GTA, its themes and the challenge it presents should be a lot more fitting.
It’s an incredibly well-balanced game and is visually striking. To look at it now, it’s hard to believe that this is a Kickstarted title and with each update it becomes even more impressive. It’s still in Early Access at the moment but has already sold more than half a million copies. With a full release expected sometime next year, Temtem could very well provide the Pokémon series with some real competition.
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