Pokémon might be the most famous name in monster-taming games. After all, the franchise includes dozens of games, a card game, many TV series, manga, and more. But franchises like Pokémon and Digimon aren’t the only ones where people can tame creatures.
Plenty of modern gamers know all about games like Monster Hunter: World. But people who have played video games for two or three decades will remember classic titles that originally launched on platforms as old as the SNES.
What makes a monster-taming game memorable? Is it the character design, the combat, an active or passive playstyle, or simply nostalgia over time? Luckily for fans, Metacritic took out the guesswork when it comes to rating the games.
10 Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride (And Series) – 90
Curiously, this title for iOS has the highest overall Metacritic score of 90 and a user score of 8.8. The same title on the Nintendo DS has a lower Metascore of 84 and a user score of 8.6. However, Dragon Quest VI and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King rate 86 and 89 respectively.
This RPG title is the second of the Zenithian Trilogy that originally released on the SNES in 1992. Though it features a basic JRPG setup, gameplay includes decking out a wagon full of unique monsters.
Players will enjoy classic turn-based combat, an orchestrated soundtrack, and 16-bit graphics.
9 Monster Hunter World (And Series) – 90
With a movie on the way and a leaked release window for a new game, the Monster Hunter series has returned to the forefront of gaming. Despite the incredible Metacritic score of 90 for Monster Hunter World, but another game in the series better fits the monster-taming criterion vs. monster hunting.
Monster Hunter Stories, with a 79 Metascore and an 8.3 user score, allows players to collect and hatch eggs. From there, they can create teams, chain combo attacks, and even ride their pets around. The game also features a historic “rock, paper, scissors” combat system.
Fans of new and classic monster-taming games should definitely check this one out. After all, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin releases next year.
8 Pokémon Y (And Series) – 88
If this list focused solely on games with the highest scores, Pokémon would dominate also every spot in the top ten. In fact, there are 20 games that all score above 80 on Metacritic including Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire.
But the series continues to post amazing Metacritic and user scores because Nintendo has the formula down to a science. Each generation of Pokémon features new and exciting creatures for trainers to capture and bond with.
Unfortunately, the latest entries, Pokémon Shield & Sword, rank at just 80 on Metacritic. Pokémon Y ranks the highest of all the games with a Metascore of 88.
7 Monster Rancher 1 (And Series) – 86
Monster Rancher embraced technology in a unique way in that the lore said that every CD has a monster inside it. Also called Monster Farm in Japan, the franchise contains many games and an anime TV series. But the original game released for the PS1 in 1997.
It bridged the digital and the real worlds in a unique, visceral way. Monster designs were original and compelling and players could breed them, too. Players could raise monsters for tournament fighting but needed support to perform at their best.
The first game in the series maintains a Metascore of 86, while others range from the low 80s to the high 70s.
6 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered (And Series) – 86
Level-5 developed this game for the PS3 to be released in 2011 in Japan and 2013 in Western regions. The remaster released for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Windows PCs in 2019. Many fans have called it the best way to experience the game.
The game owes its fantastic Metacritic and user score (8.1) to its beautiful and nostalgic animation style. It contrasts many AAA games out today that focus on combat, action, and darker storylines.
The Ni No Kuni series delivers a relaxing, traditional RPG experience sure to bring a smile to the face of new players and veterans alike.
5 Viva Piñata – 84
Fortnite isn’t the only video game to leverage the innate joy of piñatas. Viva Piñata merges monster-taming, resource management, and a sim game into one intuitive and fun experience. Though it released in 2006 for the Xbox 360, it maintains a Metascore of 84 and a user score of 8.0.
The game was a bit ahead of its time with customizable elements in the hundreds. Players needed to foster a garden ecosystem in real time to attract piñata species. The game included more than 60 species with infinite ways for players to design their gardens and attract piñatas.
A title called Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS and also has favorable reviews.
4 Yo-Kai Watch (Series) – 83
Level-5 also created this series that features yōkai or spirits from Japanese folklore. Despite being an iOS title, Yo-Kai Watch Wibble Wobble has the highest Metascore of any game in the series with an 83. However, it is more of a puzzle game in the vein of Candy Crush than it is a true Yo-Kai game.
Fans looking for a more traditional monster-taming game should pick up Yo-Kai Watch 3. The original game series focuses on battling, befriending, and helping the Yo-Kai.
3 World Of Final Fantasy Maxima – 81
Somewhere between Kingdom Hearts, Pokémon, and Final Fantasy lies the World of Final Fantasy Maxima game. It released in 2018 for all 4 major platforms (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC) having originally come out in 2016. The game features Champions who tame Mirages (monsters) mixed in with classic JRPG writing.
The game features floating islands that are settings from past Final Fantasy games. It also features many characters from past games like Quistis Trepe (FFVIII), Terra Brandford (FFVI), and Vivi (FFIX).
It is a wonderful experience for new players and a trip down memory lane for long-time fans of the franchise.
2 Slime Rancher – 81
Slime Rancher puts players in the shoes of Beatrix LeBeau — a young rancher traveling to the Far, Far Range. She wants to wrangle some slimes and make some money in the region a thousand lightyears from Earth.
Developer Monomi Park has supported the indie title with dozens of free updates. The dual slime collector and farming sim was even named “Best Simulation Game” by Game Informer in 2017.
Players can discover new slimes, create new gadgets with Slime Science, and explore all the regions of the Far, Far Range.
1 Nexomon: Extinction – 80
Nexomon are the monsters in Nexomon: Extinction and there are more than 300 of them to encounter. The tyrant Nexomon seeks dominion over monsters and people. So a guild of tamers must journey to restore balance to the world. This, of course, includes capturing, taming, and training a team of Nexomon.
This game, released in late 2020 for all major platforms, ticks every box for a great monster-taming game. It has unique monster designs, colorful graphics, cute monsters, and addictive gameplay.
This one, despite having the lowest Metascore on this list, may be the best Pokémon substitute for diehard fans.
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