No matter how many Pokemon games we play, the hankering for some more Pokemon never goes away. If you’re one such person, you’ve come to the right place. After playing every Pokemon game multiple times, I got bored, but the urge to play more remained; it’s almost like a paradox.
Eventually, I decided to make a list of the best games that share the same Pokemon formula to a certain extent. But aren’t simply Pokemon clones. I was amazed to see the number of games that are out there that take inspiration from the Pokemon franchise.
The list contains the best 10 games like Pokemon, and we’ve put in something for every kind of player. We have some games with pixel art for those who love the original Pokemon pixel style.
We have games with complex strategy mechanics for those who love the competitive aspect. In short, you’ll indeed find a game that you’ll end up playing for hours.
Table of Contents
10. Ooblets (2020)
Ooblets is the embodiment of cuteness. The graphics, the music, the art style, everything is so wholesome in this game that your heart will be filled with joy. It is just like Pokemon; there is a lot of battling! But not the type of battle we’re accustomed to.
You see, in Ooblets, the creatures have to be grown from seeds, and they fought each other. They dance battle so that you can become the champion by b-boying your way through the competition!
The game’s unique mechanics make it a joy to play, not to mention the world this game creates. There will be terms and words that will sound out of this world to you, but soon you’ll get accustomed to them.
9. Monster Harvest (2021)
Monster harvests is what you get when you combine Pokemon, Minecraft, pixel art, and just a hint of Terraria in one game. It lets the players grow their own monsters on the farm, yes, just like the game mentioned above. Grow your farm, and grow your monster collection simultaneously, in a world with crazy good pixel graphics.
The game is probably the best pixel art game on this list, and rightfully so. The monsters and the locations in this game are top-notch. Even though it is an indie game, it doesn’t feel like it because of how nicely the developers have implemented the various mechanics.
If you like Pokemon and don’t mind crafting and growing some stuff, this is the game for you.
8. World of Final Fantasy (2016)
Those who love the beautiful fantasy world of Gymoire from Final Fantasy will surely love our next entry on this top 10 games like Pokemon list as well. Once you’re accustomed to the world of Final Fantasy and want to explore more of this world and its inhabitants, this game is the best way.
The entire game has chibi graphics, so you know you’re in for some cuteness overload. The game has an engaging plot that doesn’t drag, nor doesn’t end abruptly. Not to mention the variety of monsters or mirages as they call them, in this game that you can battle with.
The world of Gympoire is waiting to be explored, so go out there and start exploring (but finish reading the list first, thanks)
7. Ova Magica (2023)
Next up, the web has one of the best Pokemon-like Framing and Taming simulators out there, Ova Magica. Like the name suggests, the game is filled with magical creatures that need your attention and care to grow in the soil you plow for them. This game seamlessly blends the taming and farming aspect in a short sim.
With adorable characters, unique battle mechanics, and an engaging background score. This game will surely get you addicted to it for hours and hours. The world it creates is full of optimism and overall just gives off a positive vibe.
6. Ni No Kuni (2011)
If you like the spirited away anime, the chances are that you’re going to like this game as well. Nino Kuni builds a very similar world to that of spirited away. Wirth magical fictional creatures, weird fantasy locations, soothing music, and some of the best graphics on this list. This game deserves all the praise it gets.
The story it tells is incredible, to say the least. And if you’re left wanting more, there also is a sequel to it so that you can jump right into the universe created by this game. The magic this game creates is unlike anything on this list, and the story is way better than anything Pokemon has ever come out with.
On its top 10 games like Pokemon, this game stands out. It is actually better than a Pokemon game in some aspects.
5. Cassette Beasts (2023)
Cassette heads is the Digimon game that we all wanted. In the world of cassette tapes, you collect various different cassettes and monsters and get the power to fuse with them. And not only that, the monsters can further fuse with each other to create a brand new monster that will be more powerful and will have unique abilities.
The game has a very engaging storyline, pixel art that suits the thems, music that goes with the graphics, and enough events that’ll keep you coming back to the game again and again.
4. Chainmonsters (2022)
Chainmosnters is very reminiscent of the older Pokemon main series titles. The game has a good number of players already playing it, and the reviews are positive. It is a turn-based RPG just like Pokemon, but you can also indulge in the various features that the game gives you.
The stand-out feature of this game is its use of Blockchain tech. Now I know that the term ‘BLOCKCHAIN‘ has been thrown around everywhere to get additional clicks. But in Chainmonsters, there’s no mention of this, nor is there any cryptocurrency attached to the game.
Using blockchain tech allows the game to host a totally player-driven economy! It won’t have a very noticeable effect on your gameplay per se, but you should definitely give it a try as it is a first of its kind. The unique nature of this game is what enticed us to add this to this top 10 games like Pokemon list!
3. Monster Crown (2020)
Next up, we have yet another top-down RPG like Pokemon, which utilizes pixel art to its advantage. Monster Crown has a ton of different species that you catch and battle with. The battle system is unique, giving the game an edge over the other Pokemon-like games.
First and foremost, the game has a very different way of capturing the monsters. You have to make them sign a pact that’ll entail them to fight for you. And this may sound weird at first, but once you start playing this game, you’ll understand the reasoning behind this approach.
The game is much darker as compared to other titles on this list. Heck, one of the starter monsters that you get is literally a music note with a SCYTHE on it! So if you’re looking for a much grim version of Pokemon, this is the one.
2. Palworld
Out of nowhere a game called Palworld released to the public, with rumours that they stole designs from Nintendo.
That said, it has sold millions of units worldwide in its first few weeks of launch and saw an insane amount of interest thanks to its incredibly marketing… even if it was bending the copyright laws slightly.
Unlike Pokemon where you simply catch and battle, in Palworld you can do farm, build and work alongside your creatures.
It’s a unique way to play Monster Catching games, and there’s even guns that your creatures can use in battle, which goes against a lot that Nintendo stands for… but that’s what makes Palworld so great.
Many are saying its the Pokemon that Nintendo should have made in the first place, with an array of creatures, unique puzzles, and simulation stages that really makes it feel like you’re building a world, instead of walking through one.
1. TemTem (2020)
And the number one game on our list is TemTem. Now before you, hardcore Pokemon enthusiasts start leaving the page as TemTem is very much a Pokemon clone; just take a look at the new improvement that they’ve made to the game.
TemTem is a game that took Pokemons’ formula and executed it significantly. Not only is the world of TemTem a lush and magical place, but it also is an MMO. So you get to see other players roaming around as well. The TemTems, or the Pokemon of this game, is by far the best we’ve seen in the monster-collecting genre of games.
The quality of this game is unmatched, and ut even beats the Pokemon franchise in certain areas. As the game is not following the Pokemon structure of releasing mediocre games every 2 years, they have the freedom to polish every aspect of the game.
This makes TemTem overall a much better game in the long run. The competitive scene is also brewing up fast, so why not hop on this trend and ride the TemTem wave?
And with that last addition, we end our list of the top 10 games like Pokemon. Hope you found at least some contests that’ll give you the same amount of engagement as the Pokemon games.
