With millions of copies of its main RPG collection of titles and numerous spin-offs selling each and every year, the Pokemon franchise is, hands down, the most popular on the planet. Developed by Game Freak, the series was first introduced back in 1995, and literally took the world by storm.
Since then, dozens of Pokemon video games have been developed and released.
Whether you’ve played every title in the Pokemon or you’re fan of the series and you’re looking for other games that offer a similar experience, yet switch things up a bit, keep on reading.
Below, you’re find a collection of video games that closely resemble the Pokemon series.
Pokemon Series Game Features
 Release Date: | February 27, 1996 |
 Developer: | Game Freak ILCA |
 Publisher: | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
 Platforms: | Game Boy Game Boy Color Game Boy Advance Nintendo DS Nintendo 3DS Nintendo Switch |
 Genre: | Role-playing |
 Setting: | Fantasy World |
 Game Modes: | MultiPlayer |
1. Digimon World: Next Order
First up on our list is Pokemon’s top competitor: Digimon. There are several Digmon titles, but in our opinion, Next Order is the best – and the most similar – to the Pokemon series.
Developed by BB Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Digimon World: Next Order was released in March of 2016 on PS4 and PSVita. Raising and training Digimon, a massive collection of digital creatures, just like Pokemon, is the focal point of Next Order. It’s kind of like a modern spin on the Digital Monster game; kind of like Tamagotchi.
Like most games in the Pokemon franchise, you’ll play in an open world setting, where you can train up to two Digimons at the same time, using interactive mechanics; praising, feeding, disciplining, and giving presents to your virtual pets in an effort to bond with them. If you fail to meet the Digimon needs, your digital pets will collapse and die, and they will regenerate into a new egg.
As the game progresses, the Digimon level up. The game is played in the third-person perspective, and as you journey across the open world, you’ll face and will need to combat Digimon who are your adversaries.
Battles take place in real-time in circular arenas, and your companion digital creatures automatically move via an AI strategy, which you get to pick. You also get to issue particular commands, with the aim of winning.
2. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
Next up on our list of games that are similar to the Pokemon series is Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. Dragon Quest is a classic RPG series that is massively popular amongst those who enjoy turn-based combat games.
This title is the eleventh entry and the most recent addition to the series, which was developed and published by Square Enix and was released in 2017 on Xbox One, PS4, Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia.
Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition features designs from Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame, and music from the composer Koichi Sugiyama. It also features additional character quests, as well as more 2D and 3D graphic models and music, and voiceovers from famous Japanese voice actors. Furthermore, the Definitive Edition also affords you the opportunity to perfect the difficulty.
This title is a stand-alone experience, which means that you don’t need to be familiar with the series in order to play, as background knowledge isn’t necessary. The game is based on a coming-of-age story in which the main character, whom you play as, is a young man who is traveling with friends from his childhood.
During the journey, he finds a reincarnation of a legendary hero; however, he is viewed as an enemy by the kingdom. You’ll need to travel the open world and come face to face with – and defeat – an ancient evil and achieve redemption. While there aren’t any monsters to gather, there are lots to defeat.
All in all, this title of the Dragon Quest series is an engaging, moving story that is full of plot twists, is packed with plenty of adventure, and is told with cheerful graphics. It’s a quintessential open-world turn-based RPG game that is fun for all ages and features plenty of unique companions. There’s more than 100 hours of playtime to experience that’s jam-packed with loads of additional contend and mini-games.
3. Temtem
Temtem was developed by Crema, published by Humble Bundle, and the early access was released in January of 2020 on PSP5, Windows, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch.
While the majority of the games that are similar to the Pokemon series are family-friendly, as is the Pokemon series itself, Temtem offers a more mature spin on gathering virtual monsters. To be clear, the content itself isn’t more mature, but rather, the themes, the challenges, and the difficulties are more advanced.
Temtem is a 3D MMO creature-collection adventure game. The game takes you on a journey of the Airborne Archipelago islands, and you’ll discover and make friends with a variety of species.
You play as a Temtem tamer, and your job is to engage in turn-based combat against other Temtem tamers, as well as Dojo leaders. You can have up to five Temtem on your team, and your adversary has the ability to ban three of the eight Temtems on your squad.
You’ll journey across six different islands, and your mission is to use your Temtem to defeat the Clan Belsato. There’s a constant online world, too, and other players can see what you’re doing and join you to play in co-op.
You can purchase a house, and you can customize by purchasing furniture, by painting walls, etc. Additionally, you can use all types of apparel, such as shirts, pants, and hats, to customize your character.
4. Nexomon: Extinction
Next up on our list is a game that looks as if it could be a clone of Pokemon. Nexomon: Extinction was developed by VEWO Interactive Inc., published by PQube Limited and VEWO Interactive Inc., and it was released in the summer of 2020 on Windows, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
Though at first glance, it does look a lot like Pokemon, the developers have done a brilliant job of refining it. Additionally, new elements have been added to the combat mechanics, which makes it more challenging than Pokemon.
To illustrate how the combat mechanics are more challenging in Nexomon: Extinction, there’s a stamina system, which forces players to rotate their parties of virtual monsters. Therefore, rather than focusing on a core team, players need to manage a bigger roster of Nexomon.
The design, personalities, and dialogue of the digital creatures are all very well done, and there’s lots of humor throughout the game.
Nexomon: Extinction features an original storyline and there are more than 300 creatures. It features an open-world “Metroidvania” map, too, which contains graphics that look similar to an HD remaster of a classic Pokemon title. Finally, the combat in Nexomon: Extinction is turn-based, and there are tons of advanced mechanics.
The plot of the game is a bit dark, as it’s based on a world that is nearing extinction due to the Tyrant Nexomon. You’ll join a Tamer’s guild and will go on an epic adventure to put a stop to the evil entity.
All in all, Nexomon: Extinction is so similar to Pokemon that you could easily confuse it as a Pokemon game, just made by a different developer. As such, if you’re a fan of the Pokemon series, then this is a title that you’re definitely going to want to check out.
5. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
A spin-off of the Monster Hunter series, Wings of Ruin was developed by Capcom and Marvelous, published by Capcom, and released in the summer of 2021 on Nintendo Switch and Windows. In this spin-off, the mechanics and the gameplay has been completely changed, but the setting remains similar.
Rather than playing as a Monster Hunter. In Wings of Ruin, you’ll play as a Rider. Riders are able to make friends with amiable monsters, which are dubbed “Monsties”. Riders can fight along with Monsties, and then can explore the world together, and as they do, they will reveal an epic tale. You’re the grandson of Red, who was a legendary Rider.
Your story starts when you discover Ena, a Wyverian girl who is protecting a Rathalos egg. You team up and take care of the egg together as it awakens. Your job is to stop the Ratholos from turning into a menace that will harm the entire world.
The adventure takes place in an open-world, turn-based RPG. You can explore the world on your own accord. You can capture other monsters, and combat other creatures as you complete the main quest of the game. There are several side quests to explore, too. In regard to combat, you’ll use your Monstie party to fight, and the protagonist, Ena.
6. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Complete Edition
As mentioned in the first Digimon title featured on this list, Digimon is Pokemon’s biggest competitor, so it only stands to reason that we would include another title from the Digimon series on our list of games that are similar to the Pokemon series.
This entry in the Digmon series was developed by Media.Vision and was published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was released in March of 2015 on PS4, PSVIta, Nintendo Switch, and Windows.
Of the many title in the Digimon series, many fans contend that Cyber Sleuth is one of the best. The Complete Edition further enhances the game, as it incorporates events of the sequel, Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory. You’ll play as either a cyber detective or a powerful hacker.
Whomever you choose to play as, the objective is the same: solving an evil mystery that is centered on the Digimon. The adventure takes place between the real and digital worlds. You’ll be able to capture more than 300 Digimons and train them to use in battle.
The battles in this game features advanced RPG systems; however, they are easy enough for novice players to understand and navigate. All in all, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Complete Edition is one of the top games that are similar to the Pokemon series.
7. Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher has to be one of the cutest and most family-friendly games that are like Pokemon there is. It was developed and published by Monomi Park, and it was released in August of 2017 on macOS, Windows, Xbox One, Linux, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Like Pokemon, in Slime Rancher, you “gotta catch ‘em all”; however, the creatures are different in that they’re these slimy, blobby things.
You’ll play the game as a rancher named Beatrix LeBeau, and you’ll explore the world using a Vacpack. The Vacpack is both your tool and the primary mechanic; it’s basically a combo of a pack and a gun that can be used to both absorb and shot things.
Slime Rancher is an open-world game that features a vast array of creatures that you can collect, and there are several puzzles for you to solve, too. Slimes are found hopping throughout the world, and you’ll use your Vacpack to absorb them.
You’ll then empty the Slimes that you collected in your Vacpack onto your ranch, where they can happily live, bouncing about. The Slimes also drop the currency that is used in Slime Rancher, called “Plorts”.
Unlike Pokemon games, there isn’t any combat in Slime Rancher. Rather, the game is all about taking care of the cute, colorful, and friendly Slimes, similar to taking care of farm animals. The Slimes grow and evolve, and you can create Slimes, too, using your currency; however, it’s important to point out that some of the Slimes can turn on you and attack you. If that happens, you’ll need to use the gun feature of your Vacpack to save yourself.
Slime Rancher is a first-person sandbox game. The protagonist, a quirky rancher, comes up against several challenges, and there are lots of mini-games to play, as well as opportunities to collect currency and grown your farming business.
8. Ooblets
If you’re familiar with Animal Crossing, then Ooblets will be familiar to you, too. That’s because it’s kind of like a cross between Animal Crossing and Pokemon. The game was developed and published by Glumberland, and it was released in July of 2020 on Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.
In Ooblets, you will manage a farm and connect with NPCs in the town (similar to Animal Crossing), and you’ll collect Ooblets, which are quirky little creatures (like Pokemon).
You’ll train and evolve these small, cute creatures, and then can join you as you explore the strange land of Oob. The main mechanic of the game is that Ooblets can face-off with other Oobets in dance battles, which will earn you XP.
On the farm, you can design your home, customize your characters, and grow and harvest your land, and then sell whatever you harvest for profits. Ooblets is a farming simulator game, with the addition of the small, cute creatures, known as Ooblets, that you can take care of. In fact, you can even plant Ooblet seeds and grow your own baby Ooblets.
In this game, you’ll explore an open world, which is filled with a variety of biomes, unique locations, tons of plants, and plenty of interesting characters. You can join Ooblet clubs, purchase seeds, and buy furniture and machinery, too.
9. Yokai Watch 3
Yokai Watch is the most recent addition to the anima series of video games. Like Pokemon, Yokai Watch is an RPG, and all of the titles in the series are available for Nintendo consoles.
Like all games in the Pokemon series, each of the entries in the Yokai Watch series are introduced in a variety of versions; for instance, Yokai Watch 3 debuted in Japan with three different versions: Sushi, Tempura, and Sukiyaki.
The third installment of Yokai Watch was developed by Level 4 and was published by Level 5, JP, and Nintendo. It was released in July of 2016 for the Nintendo 3DS. Pokemon fans will be sure to enjoy it, as it is so similar to Pokemon that you might just forget that you’re playing a different game.
To elaborate, Yo-Kais are spirits, and they exist in a variety of shapes, sizes, and forms. These spirits roam about an open-world land, and you play as the protagonist, whose job is to collect these roaming spirits.
There are two protagonists in Yokai Watch 3: Hailey and Nate. Hailey operates a Yo-Kai detective agency, and together, she and Nate collect more than 600 spirits. In addition to catching the Yo-Kais, you can make friends with them after a battle.
You’ll then train the spirits for use in turn-based grid battles, and each one has unique commands and systems. As you play, you’ll explore a colorful, cheery world that is filled with interactive, friendly NPCs, main quests, challenges, and mini-games, in addition to combat.
Overall, Yokai Watch 3 is a family-friendly game that’s appropriate for all ages, with just a splash of difficulty.
10. World of Final Fantasy Maxima
Fans of the classic Pokemon RPGs are definitely going to want to check out World of Final Fantasy, as it is so similar. The game was developed by Tose and published by Square Enix.
It was released in October of 2016 for Nintendo Switch, Windows, PS4, Xbox One, and PSVita. The game incoproate elements from the Pokemon franchise and includes the addition of unique JRPG storytelling.
In this game, you’ll play as Lann and Reynn, twins who are suffering from amnesia. The pair are on a journey to recover the past that they have forgotten, but they soon discover that they’re in peril, as Gymoire, the land that they are exploring, is overrun by Mirages, monsters that are similar to Pokemon.
The adventure takes place in a cross-over tale that incorporates characters, as well as references, from other games in the Final Fantasy series.
World of Final Fantasy Maxima, which features cute and endearing graphics, is an open-world 3D map, which you’ll explore and your mission is to complete the adventure. You engage in battles, which come up at random, against other Mirages. You’ll have scripted encounters with other Mirages, too.
In the battles, you will control a cast of characters who are up against the monsters in the classic Final Fantasy turn-based system. The characters can use a variety of skills, as well as magic, melee attacks, and an assortment of items, in order to defend themselves from the Mirages. The monsters have class types, and each class type has specific resistances, as well as weaknesses.
There’s an upgraded version of this title, in which the graphics have been enhanced, additional Final Fantasy characters, such as Noctis and Lighting, among others, have been added; there are more Mirages, too. In all, the World of Final Fantasy Maxima is a great choice for young players who are fans of Pokemon, Final Fantasy, or who are enjoy turn-based or classic RPG titles.
11. Persona 4 Golden
While it isn’t exactly like Pokemon, we do think that if you’re a fan of Pokemon games, then Persona 4 Golden is a title that you will enjoy. It was developed by Atlus and published by Square Enix, and it was released in 2012 for PSVita, and in 2020 on Windows.
The way in which Persona 4 Golden and games in the Pokemon series are similar is that both rely on a core JRPG mechanics. Furthermore, Persona 4 features adolescent characters, making it appealing for younger audients. It’s a coming-of-age story in which the protagonist and his friends are trying to solve a string of murders. As the journey unfolds, you’ll easily see how Persona 4 Golden blends the traditional RPG systems with social sim elements.
Essentially, the gameplay of this title is based on the daily life of the protagonist, as well as the mysterious TV world. The main character mixes, mingles, and bonds with other characters, goes to school, and plays out scripted events on a daily basis. You’ll need to rescue victims, explore the murders that have taken place, and fight against the alternate world.
The Personas are the primary focus of this game, which are avatars that represent their inner selves. Every Persona uses a set of skills and stats to fight. The can level-up, too, and form your party of adventures.
The combat in the TV World occurs with a fast turn-based system. Finally, rather than an open world, like in Pokemon games, in Persona Golden 4, you’ll play through several dungeons, floors, and closed areas.
Summing It Up
If you are a fan of the series of Pokemon games and you are looking for other titles that offer a similar experience – be it that you collect, grow, and battle creatures, or you explore an open-world setting, or both – then you’re definitely going to want to check out the titles featured above.
