Highlights

• Palworld allows players to collect creatures called Pals and use them not only in battle but also for tasks like construction and resource gathering.
• Nights Of Azure lets players summon demons to assist in battle, with each demon having different actions and abilities.
• Monster Sanctuary is a side-scrolling creature collecting game that closely resembles Pokemon, with turn-based battles and a skill tree to improve monsters.

The idea of using monsters to fight on the player’s behalf in a role-playing game was not started by the Pokemon franchise. However, the Pokemon franchise certainly took that concept to the next level by having the player catch and train the creatures they encounter along their journey.

To make this list, a game must allow the player to use creatures/entities to fight for them and also be collectible (in some way or another). The fighting does not have to be the traditional type — the creatures players collect must be used in a competition of some sort or be used in battle in some way. Some games have similar game mechanics, like the character from Final Fantasy 6 (Final Fantasy 3 in North America) named Gau who can “leap” onto enemies to learn one of their moves but does not allow the player to actually capture the enemy creatures. Here are ten games that play similarly to the games in the Pokemon series.

Updated February 9, 2024, by Jeff Drake: The Pokemon series started something. Not so much the creature collecting genre itself, but certainly its popularity. There were several immediate imitators; some were good, and others not so good. At this point, the genre is saturated with new entries. Many newer Pokemon clones try to add a new dimension to the formula set by the main Pokemon games. Some allow players to use captured creatures outside of battle for various tasks. Others allow the player to summon their creatures from a pool during battle. In a few of the games listed below, the player engages in battle alongside their captured creatures rather than allowing them to fight in their stead.

25 Palworld

Lets The Player Assign Pals To Various Tasks

This ambitious game takes the formula set by Pokemon to the next level. In Palworld, the player collects creatures using "Pal Spheres," but weakening the Pal is almost always necessary. Players must try to survive on a tropical island through managing such factors as hunger and base construction.

Pals can be given weaponry to assist them in battle; however, Pals are not only used in battle in Palworld. Players can also have their Pals assist them with construction and resource gathering. Some Pals can be used as mounts, while others can be eaten to avoid starvation.

24 Nights Of Azure

Summon Demons To Assist In Battle

• Release Date: March 2016
• Developer(s): Gust
• Platform(s): PS3, PS Vita, PS4, Windows

Instead of cute little animals and fearsome titans to summon in battle, in Nights of Azure, the player uses demons. During battle, the player can use SP to summon demons for assistance. These demons can perform a variety of actions; some of these actions give a buff to Arnice (the protagonist) or the party, while others simply assist her on the battlefield.

The player actively participates during battles in Night of Azure. The battles take place in 3D environments, and the player can summon demons during battle to suit their current needs. Arnice is armed, allowing the player to damage enemies, rather than wait for summoned creatures to win the fight.

23 Spectrobes

A Sci-Fi Creature Collecting Game From Disney

• Release Date: March 2007
• Developer(s): Jupiter
• Platform(s): Nintendo DS

Spectrobes was fairly well-received when it appeared on store shelves back in 2007 for the Nintendo DS. Most critics gave the game average scores, but the game sold well according to publisher Disney Interactive. Instead of a modern or fantasy setting, Spectrobes' setting is more sci-fi.

Instead of the static battle screens popular in JRPGs like Pokemon, Spectrobes' battles are in real-time. The player and their chosen creatures engage the enemy in a battle zone that limits movement. There are three games in the Spectrobes series, with the last being developed by Genki.

22 Fossil Fighters

Reassemble Fossils To Create New Creatures

• Release Date: August 2009
• Developer(s): Nintendo SPD, Red Entertainment, M2, Artdink
• Platform(s): Nintendo DS

Fossil Fighters is incredibly similar to Pokemon, but there are some differences - a few, anyway. Creatures in Fossil Fighters are collected as fossils at dig sites. The collection of bones is then reassembled to create Vivosaurs; which function much like Pokemon. Vivosaurs can be customized by using different fossil combinations.

The turn-based battles in this game also function much like those in the Pokemon games. The fire, water, earth, and air elements are used in the typical rock-paper-scissors fashion. Players can use up to three Vivosaurs in battle; one is upfront in the attack position, while the other two are in flanking support positions.

21 Monster Sanctuary

A Side-Scrolling Creature Collecting Game

If Pokemon was originally designed as a side-scroller, the result would have been very similar to Monster Sanctuary. Nearly every feature found in the Pokemon series is present in Monster Sanctuary. There are numerous creatures to catch and train, and the three-on-three battles are turn-based.

There is a similar elemental system to Pokemon; fire beats water, water beats earth, and so on. One big difference from the Pokemon series is when improving one's monsters. A skill tree is used to select new skills, with some moves only being made available after selecting the skill above.

20 Starbound

Terrerria Meets Pokemon

Starbound is an interesting game. At first glance, it resembles a Terraria clone and it kind of is, but at least it's a good Terraria clone. This game allows players to customize their own starship. With this starship, the player can visit alien worlds for missions, trading, or just to boldly go where no one has gone before.

On their travels, the player can capture alien creatures and tame them to act as Pokemon-like pets. Pets can also be purchased and unlocked by performing missions. Most of these pets have a special ability of some kind, even if it's just illuminating dark caves.

19 Coromon

As Close As A Game Can Get (Legally) To Pokemon

Coromon is clearly designed to lure in Pokemon players who have grown tired of Sword and Shield and want something similar but also new. This game could easily be mistaken for the Pokemon: Ruby and Sapphire games. There are 114 Coromon for the Pokemon to collect; though, as with Pokemon, many of the Coromon can be evolved into a stronger form.

This is one of the best new creature-collecting games. Coromon does almost everything well. It has bright, colorful 2D graphics with pleasing animations, great music, and sound effects, plenty of creatures to collect, and an engaging story. The only real common complaint about Coromon is that it requires a lot of grinding and makes grinding a little more of a hassle than necessary.

18 Slime Rancher 2

A First-Person Shooter With Creature Collecting

Slime Rancher is not the typical creature-collecting game franchise. For starters, the game is played from a 1st-person perspective. This is, oddly, pretty rare for creature-collecting games that usually use a top-down or 3rd-person view. The player is free to explore the game world.

While exploring, the player can use their weapon to catch the various types of slimes. Slimes produce plot, which can be sold. The money can then be used to upgrade the player's equipment and base. Plort can also be fed to slimes; feeding a plort to a different type than that which produced it results in mutations.

17 Planet Centauri

A 2D Pokemon Clone With Several Biomes To Explore

This is another game currently in early access on Steam. Planet Centauri is yet another Terraria clone. Starbound has earned a large, devoted following; time will tell if Planet Centauri will also become as beloved. The developer of Planet Centauri, Permadeath, is always introducing patches to fix problems and add new content.

Planet Centauri gives the player several biomes to explore and has a monster-collecting game aspect. Each biome has different native monsters the player will encounter. By hitting these monsters with a soul gem, the player can trap them and use them as a companion in battle. These monsters can also gain levels and become more fearsome combatants.

16 Kartia: The Word Of Fate

A Pokemon-like Game That Incorporates Card Collecting

If it's one thing developer Atlus is known for, it's hardly ever releasing a bad game. This has been true since the days of the NES. Karti: The World of Fate is a PlayStation exclusive that deserves more attention. In terms of gameplay, this game resembles games like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics more than Pokemon.

The player collects cards called Kartia, with which they can summon phantoms to assist in combat. The Kartia can be combined for various purposes - like new spells and phantoms. This is not the easiest game to track down, but worth a playthrough for any fan of the Fire Emblem games. The graphics in Kartia have held up well and could be mistaken for a more modern game.

15 Digimon World: Next Order

One Of The First Pokemon Clones

Gamers have been comparing the Digimon games to the Pokemon games since they both debuted in the 1990s – with the first Digimon game being released in 1999, three years after Pokemon Red and Blue. There have been many Digimon games over the years, with one of the most recent being Digimon World: Next Order for the PlayStation 4.

The player starts with a choice of two out of ten starting Digimon, but there are a total of 232 Digimon the player can collect. There is a Digimon game set to release in 2020 titled Digimon Survive which will blend survival and role-playing elements.

14 The Yo-Kai Watch Series

Collect Spirits To Fight By Your Side

• Release Date: November 2015 (first Yo-Kai Watch game)
• Developer(s): Level-5
• Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS, Switch, Android

The Yo-Kai series of games definitely gives the impression that they were inspired by the Pokemon games. The player collects spirits called Yo-Kai; for example, one of these Yo-Kai is the spirit of a cat (named Jibanyan) that hangs around the intersection where it was hit by a truck.

The player uses their captured Yo-Kai to fight the evil spirits attempting to conquer the world. The Yo-Kai use moves called "Soultimates" to fight each other, make friends with other Yo-Kai and perform tasks for the player. There are currently four games in the Yo-Kai series, with the fourth being released in 2019.

13 Ark: Survival Evolved

A Creature Collecting Game Very Different From Pokemon

Ark: Survival Evolved is a highly acclaimed creature collecting game. Though, for those wanting a Pokemon-like experience this game might not be what players are looking for. Creature collecting in Ark: Survival Evolved is limited to dinosaurs, and they are not used as soldiers but rather they are primarily used as mounts. Over time, updates to the game have added mythical creatures - like griffins.

This game is available for most platforms. It was even given a release on the Stadia before the platform disappeared. However, the Nintendo Switch version was blasted by critics and players for being noticeably worse than the other versions. If fans are tired of the cuteness overload that comes with Pokemon titles, Ark: Survival Evolved might be a good break.

12 Dragon Quest Monsters

Hunt Iconic Creatures From The Dragon Quest Games

• Release Date: September 1998
• Developer(s): Tose
• Platform(s): GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS, Playstation, Nintendo 3DS

There are probably a lot of fans of the Pokemon games who wish they could catch one of the iconic blue slimes from the Dragon Quest games to add to their Pokédex and train. With the Dragon Quest Monster series, this wish has been granted. As a side note, it is incredibly amusing to watch a little smiling blue slime defeat an entire group of enemies single-handedly.

There are six games in the main Dragon Quest Monsters series, with the recent games being exclusive to the Nintendo DS and 3DS. The games in this series are a little more casual than the Pokemon games, but they also require a lot of grinding.

11 Pocket Mortys

Aw Geez, Collect The Different Mortys

Based on the Rick and Morty television series, Pocket Mortys is a creature collecting game for mobile devices. The player takes on the role of a Rick, who must catch various types of Mortys and train them to fight so he can stop the Council of Ricks’ plan. The game features many of the Morty types shown in the television series, including Reptile Morty and Voltamatron Morty.

The game is fun but, as it is a mobile game, it is severely lacking in some areas. The biggest criticisms are the lack of a true game world and little to no storyline. Had this been a full-fledged game, released for actual game consoles, this game could have been a major hit.

10 Shin Megami Tensei

The Persona Games Before There Were Persona Games

The Persona games are actually a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series. This franchise began in the late 1980s and never got North American releases - initially. The reason for this is the nature of the games. In the Shin Megami Tensei games the player recruits demons to fight at their side. This was considered a little too adult-themed for the North American market.

Luckily, some of the Shin Megami Tensei games have been translated into English and given a North American release. The developer of the series, Atlus, is known for producing high-quality games, and they have always tried to limit changes when their games are released outside of Japan.

9 Monster Hunter Stories

Steal Eggs From Monsters, Then Hatch Them

Monster Hunter Stories plays somewhat similarly to the main Monster Hunter games, but there are some differences. Instead of a hunter, the player controls a rider that travels the game world stealing eggs from creatures, hatching them, and training these creatures to fight with them.

The creatures the player raises can also be used as mounts as well. Like many games on this list, Monster Hunter Stories uses a rock-paper-scissors set-up in regard to attacks and resistances/weaknesses. The game was praised by critics and players alike for its colorful graphics and kid-friendly story. Apart from Android and iOS devices, Monster Hunter Stories was only released for the Nintendo 3DS.

8 World Of Final Fantasy Maxima

Collect The Famous Creatures Of The Final Fantasy Universe

This game’s release was intended to coincide with the thirty-year anniversary of the first Final Fantasy game. Because of this, World of Final Fantasy has the feel of an earlier Final Fantasy game – meaning a cuter, less serious presentation.

In World of Final Fantasy, the player controls two twins that catch creatures called mirages to fight for them. The player can stack the mirages to increase their effectiveness in battle. The game uses the chibi style for its character design, but the player can switch to a more realistic look if desired. The game also allows the player to collect items that unlock famous characters from previous Final Fantasy games to assist in battle.

7 Monster Crown

Over 1,000 Creatures To Capture

Monster Crown is an extremely fun creature-collecting game for those gamers looking for a modern Pokemon-like game with a retro look and feel. This game resembles (really, really resembles) Earthbound - the game world, with its overhead view, looks so close to Earthbound one would swear the same assets were used for both games.

Monster Crown boasts over one thousand creatures to collect and train. Battles are handled almost identically to those in the Pokemon games. This game is still in early access. Some of the reviews warn potential players that the game is clearly not finished. Almost all of the reviews comment on how this game is perfect for players looking for a Pokemon clone.

6 The Suikoden Series

Recruit Soldiers To Fight In Battle

The games in the Suikoden series are possibly the least like the Pokemon games among the ones mentioned on this list, but they also share a lot of similarities. Instead of creatures, the player recruits characters to join their force. Most of the games in the series feature more than fifty characters who are usable in battle as part of a team of four or six, depending on the game.

The last game in the main series was Suikoden 5, which was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. These games were praised by critics and players, so it’s a little surprising the series hasn’t been rebooted for modern consoles.