Pokémon fans or fans of the genre it created - monster collecting - tend to eat well nowadays. There are some great creature-collecting games out there whether they’re from Nintendo or not, and while we wait for Pokémon Legends Z-A, there are some brilliant experiences to take in before it launches.
Of course, we can’t ignore the Pokémon franchise, but this is a great opportunity to highlight some indie darlings that tap into what makes Pokémon such an endearing formula, with plenty of amazing design choices and new features that change up the genre.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
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Unarguably, the Pokémon game to play on Nintendo Switch given the performance issues of Pokémon Violet and Scarlet. Pokémon Sword and Shield featured some great Pokémon designs and stuck to the formula we all know and love from past games, keeping the on-rails open world and the usual setup for the story. There’s plenty of fun to be had and a gorgeous world to explore, the latter of which felt like a refreshing step forward for the series.
Cassette Beasts
Cassette Beasts takes a retro approach to monster collecting utilising a portable cassette player to catch the critters throughout its colourful, pixel-based world. With a cast of great creatures this title would be a great experience as you first see it, but when you take into account the ability to combine beasts and transform them, the game steps up and excels. With some great NPCs and a diverse world to explore, this is a brilliant leap forward for the genre and establishes some cool new features.
Monster Sanctuary
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Usually, monster-catching games rely on the base of RPG mechanics, but Monster Sanctuary does things a little differently and establishes itself within a Metroidvania. Expect lots of side-scrolling exploration, platforming moments, with turn-based monster fighting sprinkled throughout. The monsters themselves are pretty damn adorable and take their inspiration from a wealth of games and pop culture creatures. It’s a happy mix of several genres and it excels in every area.
Monster Hunter Stories
For the first time in the Monster Hunter series, players were able to catch and hatch the series’ best monsters as ‘monsties’ which is pretty adorable. These little monsters will accompany you through a deep and engaging story, delivering a full narrative and turn-based RPG. Monster Hunter Stories is a delightful change of pace for the franchise featuring some terrific characters built from colourful visuals and backed by a wonderful soundtrack and both English and Japanese voice cast.
TemTem
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Before Pokémon went fully open-world, TemTem, a game initially exclusive to Epic Games Store and PlayStation, went all in on the concept while including MMO elements. What came out the other end was a great, if sometimes very grindy, experience. TemTem revelled in multiplayer moments, allowing players to team up and tackle difficult moments together. Seeing other people roaming around while you’re catching the cute critters is an exciting addition and the monsters, while obviously inspired by Pokémon, are brilliant too.
Coromon
Coromon is perhaps the closest game to the traditional Pokémon experience. While it does begin to differ the further you get into the game (there are lots of puzzles to solve), this feels like playing Pokémon on Game Boy Advance. You have the lovely monsters, the turn-based battles, and a whole world to explore. With lots of personalisation options and different game modes to transform your playthrough, this is a brilliant Pokémon to play if you don’t have a Nintendo console.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
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While you’re waiting for the new Legends game, you might as well play the old one. Arceus is perhaps the prettiest of all the Pokémon games and its setting, during an earlier age, really delivers bags of personality. From using old-school equipment and seeing towns built up from basic materials, everything in this Pokémon outing makes it stand apart from everything else we’ve seen in recent years. Arceus also delivers a wonderful story and it makes catching and hunting for Pokémon feel fresher than ever.
Ooblets
Gosh, I loved Ooblets when it first came along. The creatures in this light-RPG are just ridiculous and wonderful. Funny little mushroom guys, bizarre critters that are adorably ugly. This feels more like a cosy-farming sim than an RPG, but there are definitely still elements from the popular genre. You’re more likely to find yourself growing plants, having dance battles, and finding rare materials in this surreal and eccentric monster-taming game.
Topics: Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Pokemon, Indie Games, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox