Pokémon is one of the most recognizable franchises in all of media, and it’s largely responsible for popularizing the creature-collecting genre (also known as monster-taming or monster-catching). But it’s not the only game doing it.

Here’s a list of 12 games that revolve around the core mechanics of creature collecting—only this time, you’re not catching Pokémon.

1

Palworld

Commonly referred to as “Pokémon with guns,” Palworld is arguably the biggest competitor to Pokémon since Digimon. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo seemed to think so too—they filed a lawsuit in 2024 against Palworld (that’s still ongoing) for alleged patent infringement.

But despite the controversy, Palworld hardly plays like a Pokémon copycat. Sure, you can capture creatures in Pal Spheres and use them in battle, but the game places a heavy focus on survival, crafting, and base-building. You’ll need to manage resources, keep your Pals (and yourself) healthy, and explore a massive open world—either solo or with up to 32 players online. For now, Palworld remains available and continues to evolve, offering a creature-collecting experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Palworld

Released

January 19, 2024

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Violence

Developer(s)

Pocket Pair, Inc.

Publisher(s)

Pocket Pair, Inc.

2

Temtem

Temtem is essentially Pokémon reimagined as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The world is teeming with unique species to discover, and your journey will take you across several distinct biomes. Along the way, you’ll frequently encounter other real-player tamers and their Temtem, and you can choose to team up with them or battle competitively.

There’s a whole story campaign featuring eight Gym Leaders—well, Dojo Leaders—that you’ll need to conquer. But the main draw of Temtem is its always-online world, which makes the experience feel more alive and interconnected. It also features a fairly in-depth breeding system that adds to its long-term replayability.

Temtem

Released

September 6, 2022

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Language, Mild Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol

Developer(s)

Crema

Publisher(s)

Humble Bundle

3

Digimon

Digimon launched around the same time as Pokémon in the late 1990s, and for years, the two franchises went head-to-head for the monster-taming crown. Both had video games, TV shows, movies, and trading cards—but while Pokémon ultimately became the global juggernaut, Digimon has carved out a lasting legacy of its own. It may not be as mainstream as it once was, but the franchise is still going strong nearly 30 years later.

There’s a huge catalog of Digimon games to explore, but some of the most recent entries include Digimon World: Next Order, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, and Digimon Survive. Together, these titles offer a great sampling of what the series has to offer. And good news: a brand-new game, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, is set to release this October.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

Released

October 3, 2025

ESRB

Teen / Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol

Developer(s)

Media.Vision

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Prequel(s)

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory

4

Dragon Quest Monsters

The Dragon Quest franchise actually predates Pokémon. It featured monster-catching mechanics before Pokémon existed. The Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off series took that concept even further. In the mainline Dragon Quest games, your character participates in battle, but in Dragon Quest Monsters, you fight exclusively using the creatures you capture, breed, and raise—much like Pokémon.

The character and monster designs in Dragon Quest come from Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, so if you’re a fan of both Dragon Ball and Pokémon, the Dragon Quest Monsters series is basically tailor-made for you.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

Systems

Released

December 1, 2023

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

Developer(s)

Tose, Armor Project

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

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5

Siralim Ultimate

If you ever wished that Pokémon was more in-depth, Siralim Ultimate is calling your name. It’s a monster-catching, dungeon-crawling RPG with over 1,200 different creatures, and the systems surrounding them run impressively deep. This is the kind of game you could easily sink triple-digit hours into.

The developers describe Siralim Ultimate as Pokémon meets Diablo, or Dragon Quest Monsters meets Path of Exile. If that sounds like your type of game, it’s absolutely worth a look.

Siralim Ultimate

Systems

Released

December 3, 2021

ESRB

Everyone 10+

Developer(s)

Thylacine Studios

Publisher(s)

Thylacine Studios

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6

Cassette Beasts

Cassette Beasts is like Pokémon—if the trainers themselves could transform into monsters. Think something closer to Ben 10, except instead of using a watch, characters in Cassette Beasts rely on, you guessed it, cassette tapes.

One of the game’s biggest draws is its fusion system. Any of the 120+ monsters can be fused with one another to create brand-new forms. It’s ripe for experimentation, encouraging you to mix and match creatures just to see what you’ll get. The battle system is expansive as well, drawing clear inspiration from Pokémon with elemental typing. Add in an open world and the option for local and online co-op, and Cassette Beasts is undoubtedly one of the best Pokémon alternatives out there.

Cassette Beasts

Released

April 26, 2023

ESRB

E10+ For Everybody 10+ due to Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Bytten Studio

Publisher(s)

Raw Fury

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7

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX

Monster Rancher and Monster Rancher 2 were cult hits in the ’90s, particularly in Japan, though they’ve maintained a loyal following elsewhere. Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX remasters both games for modern platforms, breathing new life into these more-than-20-year-old titles.

While it’s often compared to Pokémon, Monster Rancher puts more emphasis on raising and breeding monsters than catching them. You raise creatures from birth: training them, keeping them healthy, and managing their daily routines. Over time, you’ll form a real attachment, and how you raise them will shape their behavior and performance. Eventually, though, they grow old and die.

The ultimate goal is still to create powerful monsters that can win turn-based battles, so it shares some DNA with Pokémon. But Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX offers a very different emotional and mechanical experience. It’s worth revisiting, or discovering for the first time.

8

Moonstone Island

Moonstone Island blends several genres in a uniquely charming way. It might have more in common with Stardew Valley than Pokémon, but it also incorporates creature collecting and even deck-building elements. It’s a cozy life sim where you can build a home, befriend villagers, fall in love, and become part of the community, all while collecting cute creatures to fight alongside you as you navigate the wilderness and dive into procedurally-generated dungeons.

It’s a creative mashup of genres that come together to form something genuinely fresh.

9

Monster Sanctuary

Monster Sanctuary is a monster-taming Metroidvania where the creatures you collect aren’t just for combat—they’re essential to exploration. You’ll need them to solve puzzles and traverse the environment. Maybe a flame-enhanced monster lights your way through a dark cavern, or a flying companion lifts you to a previously unreachable path.

There’s classic turn-based combat here too, and it’s deeper than you might expect. You can also battle other players online if that’s your thing, or test your skills in alternative modes like Randomizer or Permadeath.

Monster Sanctuary

Released

August 28, 2019

ESRB

t

Publisher(s)

Team17

10

BeastieBall

BeastieBall is easily the biggest oddball on this list, but despite its ridiculous premise, it’s well-made, deceptively complex, and a lot of fun. You play as a coach, leading a team of beasts to victory in turn-based volleyball matches.

It’s a one-of-a-kind spin on the creature-collecting genre, but it still checks all the boxes of a classic Pokémon-like experience: thoughtfully designed creatures, strategic gameplay, an open world, a compelling story, and boss battles that will no doubt remind you of Gym Leaders.

BeastieBall is technically still in early access, but it already feels polished enough for a full release. And that means it might be even better by the time it’s done.