The twelve best creature collector games that aren't called "Pokémon" or "Digimon"

Cassie Mammone

3/12/2025

Translation: machine translated

"Pokémon" and "Digimon" are not the only games in which you can experience adventures with cute creatures. Many of them are even more creative.

October 2025 was a wild month for fans of creature-collecting games. First, «Digimon Story: Time Stranger», a promising instalment in the role-playing game series, was released. This was followed by «Pokémon Legends: Z-A» introduces a brand new battle system to the franchise.

If, after playing through the two games, you're still in the mood for similar adventures with cool creatures, I've got some tips for you.

«Palworld»

«Palworld» became known as «Pokémon with weapons». This is probably one of the reasons why the indie game is a thorn in the side of Nintendo and the Pokémon Company. To this day, legal disputes are ongoing.

Behind all the headlines is a solid survival game with sometimes more, sometimes less original creatures. Alone or with my friends, I land on a world and make friends with the native Pals. Then I send them into battles or make them work for me.

In contrast to «Pokémon» and «Digimon», the focus is not on the story or levelling up my troop. Instead, exploring the open world and optimising work processes such as crafting take up the majority of my playing time.

Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5

«Temtem: Swarm»

The «Swarm» spin-off from «Temtem» shows how collectible creatures can be integrated into genres other than role-playing games. «Swarm» plays like «Vampire Survivors», «Brotato» and co. I manoeuvre my character over hordes of monsters. My character strikes automatically while I concentrate on dodging and collecting experience points.

The creature collector aspect complements the gameplay: as my level increases, I can develop the Temtem and strengthen their attacks. The creatures allow for different play styles. Do I want to comfortably deal light damage from a distance or do I prefer to smash everything in close combat? This is especially fun when I'm playing in co-op with friends.

Platforms: PC

«Ooblets»

«Ooblets» is «Pokémon», but «Cozy». This means that my goal is not to be the best ever. Instead, I leisurely tend to my farm, collect the Ooblet creatures and organise dance parties with them.

The dance parties replace the battle system of «Pokémon». They work via cards that I use to select the actions of my creatures, but remain turn-based. The relaxed main story, which lasts around 30 hours, makes the time just melt away.

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One

«Monster Hunter Stories 2»

Famous franchises have also made use of the creature-collecting formula. One of these is «Monster Hunter», which has already produced countless beasts thanks to its focus on monster hunting.

In the «Stories» spin-offs, I don't slay monsters to collect materials for my fancy weapons and armour. Instead, I make friends with them by stealing their eggs and hatching them. Doesn't exactly sound harmonious, but luckily the monsters aka «Monsties» don't take offence. A short time later, I have a team of cute, but also gross critters at my side.

«Stories» attracts both long-time fans and newcomers. The designs of «Monster Hunter» are impressive even without any knowledge of the series and the turn-based battle system based on the rock-paper-scissors principle is fun. The story, on the other hand, is weak, just like its role model «Pokémon».

A third instalment is currently in development at «Twisted Reflection» and is expected to be released in March 2026.

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS4

«Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX»

«Monster Rancher» is similar in age to «Pokémon» and «Digimon», but was never able to assert itself against its competitors.

«Monster Rancher» has a lot of charm and, above all, soul, which some modern games - even «Pokémon»! - lack. As a monster breeder, I want to take part in tournaments. That's why I hatch the best critters and take care of them - like some kind of overcomplicated Tamagotchi or «Digimon World».

The remake brings new functions, such as online battles against monsters or the high-speed mode, which makes breeding much faster.

Platforms: PC, Switch

«Cassette Beasts»

Fuzzy music, pixel visuals and monster fusions: That's «Cassette Beasts». In the indie game, I embark on an adventure journey to an island. New monsters allow me to explore more and more of it. I don't breed the «Beasts» myself and I don't capture them in the traditional way. Instead, I record the creatures with my tape recorder.

As with «Pokémon» and «Digimon», there are monster types with individual strengths and weaknesses. With «Cassette Beasts» the effect of the elements on each other is more complex. If I attack a water monster with a fire attack, for example, this is not only effective, but also produces a healing vapour. In addition, the monsters can fuse during a battle and create new creations. With 120 specimens in the game, this offers thousands of possibilities.

The complexity can seem daunting at first. But once you really get into it, the game really blossoms.

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

«World of Final Fantasy Maxima»

«What if we took Pokémon and just collected real people instead of monsters?» A similar question was probably on Square Enix's mind when the company jumped on the creature collector bandwagon. In addition to the iconic Chocobos or Bahamuts, I also collect popular characters from the series such as Sephiroth in this game.

The ATB system from the main series returns for the spin-off's battle system. The «Maxima» upgrade offers additional content: more bosses, creatures and a New Game Plus.

It's creature collecting in the world of «Final Fantasy» - what more could you want?

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PS Vita

«Yo-kai Watch 3»

One of the few reasonably modern franchises that can really compete with «Pokémon» and «Digimon» is probably «Yo-kai Watch» from development studio Level-5.

The collectable creatures here are the eponymous creatures from Japanese folklore: the Yokai. These are demons or spirits that are often behind inexplicable events in everyday life.

«Yo-kai Watch» gives the mythical figures a clever twist and makes them child-friendly. I make friends with them to help people with their everyday problems or thwart the plans of evil Yo-kai. There is also a large portion of charm, as I have come to expect from «Professor Layton»-creator Level-5.

Although the games often receive solid ratings, the fourth and final instalment to date has never been released here. It is reserved for audiences in Japan and China. To enjoy «Yo-kai Watch», you'll have to unpack your old 3DS.

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS

«Ni no Kuni: The Curse of the White Queen»

«Ni no Kuni» is a video game-turned Ghibli film. For this game, the legendary film studio from Japan even collaborated with the Level-5 studio. The result is a game with a beautiful style, an emotional story and chaotic creature battles.

After the death of his mother, the protagonist Oliver finds himself in a magical world. As «the pure-hearted», Oliver has the special gift of helping the creatures of the strange world. At the same time, he travels back and forth between his home world and the parallel world in the hope of getting his mother back.

Oliver has numerous monsters at his disposal, which he discovers on his adventures. In an unusual twist, the battles take place in real time - almost: I move Oliver and his creatures freely around the playing field, but when I want to use an attack, a defence stance or items, the action comes to a standstill. In «Ni no Kuni», the story takes precedence over the creature collecting aspect.

Platforms: PC, Switch, PS3, PS4

«Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince»

As a role-playing franchise with numerous well-known monsters such as the slime mascot, «Dragon Quest» also wants a lift on the creature-collecting bandwagon. «The Dark Prince» is the seventh instalment of the «Monsters» spin-off.

The game should be of particular interest to «Dragon Quest» fans because it introduces the antagonist Prince Psaro from the fourth instalment as the main character. He has been cursed by his father and therefore wants to defeat him in battle - what better way to do this than with a horde of monsters at your side?

The turn-based combat system of the main games returns, but instead of humans, I control monsters and watch them grow stronger and gain new abilities. I compete against other monster tamers in tournaments.

Platforms: PC, Switch

«Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance»

Although I don't complete a Pokédex, I also collect quirky creatures in «SMT» and use them in battles. That also makes it a creature collecting game for me.

«Shin Megami Tensei V», like the rest of the games in the series, is hard as nails. As I explore the fictional world of Da'at, I encounter many demons. To defeat them, I have to memorise their battle patterns and types - and prepare my team accordingly. If I skilfully exploit my opponents' type weaknesses, I can perform an extra round. This is key to my success.

I recruit the demons in battle by answering questions to their satisfaction. Alternatively, I can add new monsters to my team by merging two existing ones. The options are varied and, above all, relevant in order not to get lost in the tough difficulty level.

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5

«Monster Sanctuary»

The indie game «Monster Sanctuary» takes the «Pokémon» concept and transforms it into a two-dimensional side-scroller. My monsters become real companions on my adventure. I ride on them, hold on to them under water and float with them over abysses.

My journey is not linear, because «Monster Sanctuary» is a Metroidvania. By acquiring new abilities, I can explore new paths in places I have already visited. My monsters and their abilities remain the centre of attention - after all, they help me in turn-based battles against other creatures.

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS4

«Come and grab it»

It's not just big franchises that want a slice of the creature-collecting success of «Pokémon» and «Digimon». Since indie games have become big, many games have seen the light of day that are a kind of other «Pokémon».

«Pokémon» creator Satoshi Tajiri should be right. His initial aim was to pass on his childhood love of collecting insects to other people. He seems to have more than succeeded.

Header image: Raw Fury

Cassie Mammone

Freelance Editor

cassie.mammone.freelance@gmail.com

I wrote my first text about video games when I was eight years old. I haven't been able to stop since. The rest of my time is spent on my love for 2D husbandos, monsters, my cats and sport.

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