Monster seize video games have actually captured the eye of gamers for generations, with Pokemon being probably the most distinguished and beloved collection inside the style. Attributable to its recognition, it isn’t any shock that video games of an identical vein have popped as much as occupy the identical area. However that doesn’t imply all of those video games are the identical, regardless of sharing an identical basis, and even contemplating a number of video games that predate this wildly standard collection. Both method, there’s a large world of monster seize video games for all you Pokemon followers on the market.
Under are an inventory of video games that reside inside the huge monster seize style, or dabble within the mechanic in some significant method.
Cassette Beasts
Whereas it was a really busy yr for main sport releases, under-the-radar Cassette Beasts was the most effective video games to launch in 2023. A classy mix of 2D and 3D artwork, Cassette Beasts is visually just like among the finest Pokemon video games within the collection, however with some mild traversal parts and enormous deal with the monster seize and fusion mechanics of the sport.
Like most video games that take heavy inspiration from Pokemon, Cassette Beasts stars a self-insert participant character as they make their method by means of the island of New Wirral whereas they search for a solution to return house. Nevertheless, the sport is a bit more complicated in the way in which that you simply work together with varied main characters, as you’ll be able to enhance your affinity with them and even undertake their quests. What Cassette Beasts provides is a mix of Pokemon-esque monster seize mechanics, a personality pushed story, and a singular fusion mechanic that retains them on their toes. General, it’s an impressed and recent tackle the style, and one it is best to try.
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is a mixture of the monster seize style and your par for the course Metroidvania. Gamers catch monsters to have interaction in 3-vs-3 battles in addition to to open up exploration in attractive 2D pixel environments.
The sport extends past using monster sorts as only a means to get a bonus on opponents, as assault sorts are simply as vital. However what actually stored me glued to Monster Sanctuary was its traversal mechanics and actually nailing these 2D platforming parts. Going again and uncovering new shortcuts and secrets and techniques made the sport completely addicting to me along with how battles have been structured. It is a sport I extremely advocate for individuals who like monster seize video games, 2D platformers, or each.
Digimon World: Subsequent Order
The Digimon collection is successfully the progenitor of the monster seize style, even predating Pokemon — it simply by no means rose to the identical form of success internationally. Digimon World: Subsequent Order takes all the enjoyable from the primary Digimon World sport on the PlayStation (bar the scuffed localization) and makes it extra approachable. The Digimon World collection have functioned as roughly “open world” exploration video games the place gamers can increase a Digimon from beginning to its eventual demise, with how they’ve handled them enjoying into their evolutions, as they expertise distinctive tales set inside the Digimon universe.
These video games have typically at all times been extra story centered than Pokemon video games as gamers befriend Digimon to fill out their cities and uncover what plagues the digital world. Gamers can nonetheless practice their Digimon and unlock distinctive Digivolutions however in a extra story-focused expertise. That stated, you’ll be able to nonetheless grind out and practice your Digimon to your coronary heart’s content material, however Digimon World: Subsequent Order positively has one of many meatier tales of the video games on this listing due to its deal with its narrative and the wealth of assorted Digivolutions gamers can uncover.
Monster Rancher
An oldie however a goodie, Monster Rancher is one in all a number of monster seize video games that was launched within the 1990’s alongside the Pokemon collection. Like different monster seize video games, gamers will increase monsters and practice them by means of a collection of mini-games to compete in tournaments that may enable them to lift their ranks.
Nevertheless, you aren’t actually capturing monsters in Monster Rancher, as you roughly generate them by means of varied strategies relying on which variations of the sport you have been enjoying. Koei Tecmo re-released Monster Rancher 1 & 2 for the Nintendo Change, making these video games out there to a wholly new viewers. Sadly, these variations have carried out away with what made the monster seize mechanic so distinctive, and that was swapping out CDs in your Sony PlayStation to generate a random monster. What makes Monster Rancher so enjoyable although is that there’s an enormous emphasis on bonding and coaching your monster outdoors of battling them within the area. Monster Rancher is a superb sport for these trying to construct up their monsters and actually take a look at their mettle in 1-vs-1 fight.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince
You could be questioning why a Dragon Quest sport has any enterprise being on this listing. Effectively, the Dragon Quest Monsters sub-series, first launched in 1998 to capitalize on the Pokemania, are all about capturing monsters to make use of in turn-based fight in opposition to your foes. Sound acquainted? The Darkish Prince is the newest entry within the collection, and regardless of launching with some main technical points which have since been patched on sure platforms, it carries this custom onwards. Nevertheless, capturing monsters is a bit more intensive than in Pokemon and success charges are determined by some variables that gamers can flip of their favor, which makes it a bit of extra in-depth than Pokemon video games. However this sport will certainly satiate any cravings you might have for capturing some monsters. Followers of Dragon Quest and monster seize video games, and even followers of each, will get pleasure from this entry within the collection.
Monster Hunter Tales 2: Wings of Wreck
Ever needed to lift monsters as an alternative of searching them in Monster Hunter? Monster Hunter Tales offers that precise expertise. As an alternative of slaying monsters for invaluable components, gamers as an alternative gather monsters by acquiring their eggs — which sounds unhealthy in observe. However the narrative at all times makes it clear that these video games are roughly concerning the conservation of monsters and cultural practices, so it type of rubs off no matter reservations gamers might need.
You assume the function of a budding monster coach who has been paired with one of many collection most iconic monsters, a Rathalos. Issues start to go awry as monsters start to rampage by means of areas surrounding your village. Fight is relegated to strategic turn-based battles that take note of the varieties of monsters you determine to make a part of your staff. You may also use your monsters as means to traverse varied landscapes, just like what trendy Pokemon video games have applied. Monster Hunters Tales 2: Wings of Wreck offers a decently balanced expertise when it comes to narrative and gameplay, and can occupy a good period of time should you determine to gather all the monsters within the sport.
Palworld
Whereas Palworld’s similarities to Pokemon start and finish with its colourful monster design, a monster capturing mechanic does exist inside the sport that roughly mirrors what you get in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. In Palworld you’ll be able to seize and use Friends in fascinating methods, both to assist them automize development, present sources to your base, and even for traversal. You are able to do that in most Pokemon video games, with it way more tangible in Scarlet and Violet as you utilize Koraidon or Miraidon to scale mountains, glide, and extra. That’s successfully the place the similarities finish, since Palworld is kind of about acquiring sources to construct up your base like most survival video games are.
Whereas there are nonetheless a plethora of different monster seize video games that exist, because the style has expanded vastly for the reason that launch and subsequent recognition of Pokemon within the 1990’s, those included on this listing construct upon these foundations in some really distinctive methods. Whether or not or not it’s an engrossing story, a extra fleshed out battle system, and even the way you acquire monsters, these video games are greater than price testing.
Kazuma Hashimoto is a contract author for IGN.