Monster seize video games have definitely captured the eye of gamers for generations, with Pokemon being essentially the most outstanding and beloved sequence throughout the style. Due to its reputation, it isn’t any shock that video games of an identical vein have popped up to 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 fashionable sequence. Both manner, there’s a large world of monster seize video games for all you Pokemon followers on the market.
Beneath are an inventory of video games that reside throughout the huge monster seize style, or dabble within the mechanic in some significant manner.
Cassette Beasts
Whereas it was a really busy 12 months for main sport releases, under-the-radar Cassette Beasts was among the best video games to launch in 2023. A classy mix of 2D and 3D artwork, Cassette Beasts is visually comparable to a few of the finest Pokemon video games within the sequence, however with some mild traversal components and enormous give attention to 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 manner via the island of New Wirral whereas they search for a manner to return house. Nevertheless, the sport is a bit more advanced in the way in which that you simply work together with varied main characters, as you possibly can improve your affinity with them and even undertake their quests. What Cassette Beasts presents 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 contemporary tackle the style, and one it is best to take a look at.
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is a mixture of the monster seize style and your par for the course Metroidvania. Gamers catch monsters to interact in 3-vs-3 battles in addition to to open up exploration in attractive 2D pixel environments.
The sport extends past the usage of monster varieties as only a means to get a bonus on opponents, as assault varieties are simply as essential. However what actually saved me glued to Monster Sanctuary was its traversal mechanics and actually nailing these 2D platforming components. Going again and uncovering new shortcuts and secrets and techniques made the sport totally addicting to me as well as to how battles have been structured. This can be a sport I extremely suggest for individuals who like monster seize video games, 2D platformers, or each.
Digimon World: Subsequent Order
The Digimon sequence is successfully the progenitor of the monster seize style, even predating Pokemon — it simply by no means rose to the identical sort of success internationally. Digimon World: Subsequent Order takes the entire enjoyable from the primary Digimon World sport on the PlayStation (bar the scuffed localization) and makes it extra approachable. The Digimon World sequence have functioned as kind of “open world” exploration video games the place gamers can elevate a Digimon from beginning to its eventual loss of life, with how they’ve handled them taking part in into their evolutions, as they expertise distinctive tales set throughout the Digimon universe.
These video games have usually all the time 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 prepare their Digimon and unlock distinctive Digivolutions however in a extra story-focused expertise. That mentioned, you possibly can nonetheless grind out and prepare 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 record thanks to its give attention to its narrative and the wealth of assorted Digivolutions gamers can uncover.
Monster Rancher
An oldie however a goodie, Monster Rancher is considered one of a number of monster seize video games that was launched within the 1990’s alongside the Pokemon sequence. Like different monster seize video games, gamers will elevate monsters and prepare them via a sequence of mini-games to compete in tournaments that can enable them to elevate their ranks.
Nevertheless, you aren’t actually capturing monsters in Monster Rancher, as you kind of generate them via varied strategies relying on which variations of the sport you have been taking part in. Koei Tecmo re-released Monster Rancher 1 & 2 for the Nintendo Change, making these video games obtainable to a wholly new viewers. Sadly, these variations have executed 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 check their mettle in 1-vs-1 fight.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Darkish Prince
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You could also be questioning why a Dragon Quest sport has any enterprise being on this record. Nicely, the Dragon Quest Monsters sub-series, first launched in 1998 to capitalize on the Pokemania, are all about capturing monsters to use in turn-based fight towards your foes. Sound acquainted? The Darkish Prince is the most recent entry within the sequence, 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 somewhat extra in-depth than Pokemon video games. Nonetheless this sport will certainly satiate any cravings you’ll have for capturing some monsters. Followers of Dragon Quest and monster seize video games, and even followers of each, will take pleasure in this entry within the sequence.
Monster Hunter Tales 2: Wings of Break
Ever needed to elevate monsters as a substitute of searching them in Monster Hunter? Monster Hunter Tales gives that actual expertise. As a substitute of slaying monsters for beneficial elements, gamers as a substitute accumulate monsters by acquiring their eggs — which sounds dangerous in observe. However the narrative all the time makes it clear that these video games are kind of concerning the conservation of monsters and cultural practices, so it form of rubs off no matter reservations gamers may need.
You assume the position of a budding monster coach who has been paired with one of many sequence most iconic monsters, a Rathalos. Issues start to go awry as monsters start to rampage via areas surrounding your village. Fight is relegated to strategic turn-based battles that have in mind the kinds of monsters you resolve to make a part of your group. You may use your monsters as means to traverse varied landscapes, comparable to what trendy Pokemon video games have carried out. Monster Hunters Tales 2: Wings of Break gives a decently balanced expertise by way of narrative and gameplay, and can occupy an honest period of time if you happen to resolve to accumulate the entire 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 throughout the sport that kind of mirrors what you get in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. In Palworld you possibly can seize and use Buddies in fascinating methods, both to assist them automize development, present assets to your base, and even for traversal. You can try this 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 assets 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 significantly because the launch and subsequent reputation of Pokemon within the 1990’s, those included on this record 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 get hold of monsters, these video games are greater than value trying out.
Kazuma Hashimoto is a contract author for IGN.