The Pokemon series is one of gaming's true juggernauts. It's the best-selling video game series of all time and has been adapted into just about every medium known to man. Pokemon Sword and Shield are the most recent entries in the franchise and are its best selling since Gold and Silver back in 1999. They're also the first Pokemon games to feature paid DLC packs, the second of which was released in late 2020.

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The Crown Tundra added both new and old legendary Pokemon to the game as well as Galarian forms for many Pokemon. It's sure to keep players busy for quite some time, but with no further content announced as of yet, it's only a matter of time before players have Pokemon sized hole in their lives. Thankfully, there are plenty of titles just like Pokemon, and while none have been able to match the series in terms of success, many have come close when it comes to gameplay.

Updated June 18, 2021, by Tom Bowen: With the Diamond & Pearl remakes and Pokemon Legends: Arceus looming large on the horizon, there's plenty to look forward to for fans of the Pokemon series. Until the new games finally arrive, though, there are plenty of similar titles that will likely appeal to fans of the franchise. Whether they're looking for a way to pass the time between now and their next Pokemon adventure or just curious about what some of the games that are similar to Pokemon have to offer, these excellent creature collecting games are definitely worth a look. Some may lack polish, but they more than make up for it in charm, passion and enjoyable gameplay moments.

15 Ooblets

Available on Xbox One and Windows, Ooblets is a life simulation game that combines the farming mechanics found in games like Stardew Valley and My Time at Portia together with the creature collecting aspects of the Pokemon series. It may sound a little like mixing together chalk and cheese to some, but the end result is surprisingly satisfying and definitely worth a glance.

The art style is a little reminiscent of some of the more recent Pokemon games too, although is arguably a lot more colorful, which may appeal to some players. The animations are great too and although there are nowhere near as many Ooblets to collect as there Pokemon, those that can be found in the game are typically incredibly well-designed and offer a great amount of variety.

14 Monster Hunter Stories

First released back in 2017, Monster Hunter Stories offers a completely different twist on the series' classic formula. Players take control of a rider who is able to steal and hatch eggs from monsters' nests and then use them in battle against other monsters. Unlike other Monster Hunter games, combat is turn-based and so is fairly similar to the battles found in Pokemon games in that respect.

Sadly, the game was never porter to the Nintendo Switch, but it can still be played on the 3DS and was also brought to Android and iOS devices in 2018. For those who've already completed the game or really don't enjoy mobile titles, a sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, is due out in July of 2021 and will be available on both Switch and PC.

13 Ark: Survival Evolved

Following a fairly underwhelming launch, Ark: Survival Evolved has slowly but surely grown into a fantastic action-adventure game. Gameplay is typically a lot more gritty than the Pokemon series and the storytelling is a lot more hands-off. Even without a traditional narrative, however, there's still an interesting story on offer for those willing to seek it out.

Rather than cute little creatures, players are able to tame and train ferocious dinosaurs and can ride them into battle against their foes or other prehistoric predators. Occasional glitches do tarnish the experience a little, but players who are able to look past them will likely find a lot to like about Ark. The game also supports both crossplay and split-screen co-op on certain platforms, making it a great game to play with friends.

12 Monster Crown

Though its retro art style may be reminiscent of some of the classic 16-bit games of yesteryear, there's nothing dated about the gameplay mechanics found in Monster Crown. The game features more than two hundred monsters for players to tame and collect, as well as a fully fleshed out breeding system which allows for countless combinations. Its biggest strength, however, is its dark and thought-provoking narrative.

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The story told throughout Monster Crown is not too dissimilar to the one found in Pokemon X & Y, at least when it comes to tone, anyway. The battle and trading systems are also fairly similar to the ones on offer in the Pokemon series, meaning that it should be relatively simple for fans of the Game Freak franchise to make the transition over to Monster Crown.

11 Digimon World: Next Order

The lack of recent updates regarding Digimon Survive will perhaps be a cause for concern for some, particularly as there's still no solid release date. That said, it looks like it's shaping up to be an excellent game. In the meantime, however, there are plenty of other great Digimon games for players to sink their teeth into, one of which is the 2017 title, Digimon World: Next Order.

The game features over 200 creatures for players to collect and is one of the largest games in the series to date. The battle system is solid too and there's a strong emphasis placed on the importance of the bond between players and their Digimon. Like many of the other games in the Digimon World series, there is quite a bit of grinding, although not quite enough to ruin the experience.

10 World Of Final Fantasy

World of Final Fantasy is one of the many Final Fantasy spin-off titles released by Square Enix. It's often compared with the Pokemon series, although the similarities are fairly limited beyond the game's monster catching mechanic. Granted, this is one of Pokemon's defining features, but the training and battling elements that supplement it in Pokemon just aren't there in World of Final Fantasy.

For those who simply have to catch them all though, World of Final Fantasy certainly won't disappoint. There are plenty of familiar faces in the monster lineup as well as some new and unique designs. This one will probably appeal to Final Fantasy fans more than anyone else. Even then though, the Chibi art style may not be to everyone's tastes.

9 Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

There are nowhere near as many, but it's hard to look at the Higgledies found in Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and not be reminded of Pokemon. Each has their own elemental affinity and a set of four moves that can be used in battle. There's also a 'catch 'em all' type feeling to them, although there aren't quite as many.

Collecting Higgeldies might not be the central focus in Ni No Kuni II's story, but the creatures play an integral role in its gameplay. What's more, deciding which four Higgeldies to take into battle requires similar planning to selecting a team of Pokemon. There may not be as much depth, but there's just as much charm.

8 Jade Cocoon: Story Of The Tamamayu

Jade Cocoon: Story Of The Tamamayu is one of the most underrated RPGs on the PlayStation. It's starting to show some cracks visually, but its story and gameplay are top-notch. The game shares more than a few similarities with Pokemon, but also has some great ideas of its own. Even when its ideas don't quite land, it's easy to see what the developers were going for.

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In Jade Cocoon, players catch and obtain Minions which can be used in battle. Players can breed and fuse them together and there are 175 of them in total. One of the more interesting mechanics in the game is the catch level, which makes it easier for players to catch Minions based on how many they have already caught. It's a nice idea and one that wouldn't feel at all out of place in a modern Pokemon game.

7 Monster Sanctuary

Monster Sanctuary began life as a passion project before its creator decided to take his ideas to Kickstarter. After a successful campaign, the game was picked up by publisher Team17 and has grown into something far beyond its original scope. Although the game's official release isn't until December, it's been available as an early access title on Steam for just over a year and is shaping up to be a fantastic game.

Players build teams of monsters to take on wild monsters and other monster keepers. Wild monsters can be tamed and, like many of the Pokemon titles, one monster can be chosen to follow the player around outside of battle. Unlike Pokemon, however, each following monster has a unique ability to help players traverse the game's world. This adds a new layer of depth to the follow mechanic and another reason to be excited about the game's full release.

6 Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy Of The Duelist: Link Evolution

The Yu-Gi-Oh! series should need no introduction given its popularity and how long it's been around. Although many may be familiar with the concept though, some might be surprised by just how good Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy Of The Duelist: Link Evolution really is.

It's more like playing with the Pokemon trading cards than it is a Pokemon game, but the strategy involved is incredibly similar. Likewise, the depth of the combat and the huge variety of monsters make this the perfect title for those who love the tactical elements of the Pokemon series.

5 Yo-Kai Watch 3

There's still no word on when exactly Yo-Kai Watch 4 will be released in the West, so anybody interested in checking out what the series has to offer will have to settle for playing Yo-Kai Watch 3 instead. Thankfully, it's one of the series' best titles and features multiple playable characters and intertwining stories.

The Yo-Kai Watch games allow players to befriend supernatural creatures known as Yo-Kai and fight with them in battle. They can evolve into more powerful versions of themselves and there are even legendary Yo-Kai for players to befriend. It's similar enough to Pokemon to feel familiar but different enough to feel like a brand new adventure.

4 Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

The rivalry between Digimon and Pokemon is almost as iconic as the one between Ash and Gary. The two series duked it out in the late 90's and, although Pokemon came out on top, Digimon has never truly been down for the count. It's still incredibly popular in Japan and there are plenty of Western gamers with fond memories of the franchise.

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The similarities between the two series are too numerous to list, but there's a strong likelihood that anybody who likes Pokemon will take some enjoyment from the Digimon Story video games. The pick of the bunch is definitely Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth although many of the older Digimon Story titles are pretty good as well.

3 Dragon Quest Monsters

When Dragon Quest Monsters first released in North America, many critics were quick to compare it to Pokemon - and for good reason. As time has passed though, the series has evolved into something that can stand firmly on its own two feet rather than leaning on the success of other IPs. It's incredibly popular in Japan and is slowly beginning to develop a following in the West as well.

Those similarities to Pokemon are certainly still there, but they're complemented by some very different mechanics and, of course, Akira Toriyama's signature art style. It's a fairly simple game to pick up and play, but those who take the time to fully explore the game's systems will be rewarded with a much more fulfilling experience.

2 Nexomon: Extinction

To call Nexomon: Extinction a Pokemon clone would perhaps be doing the game a disservice. Sure, it features pretty much every element found in Pokemon, but there's certainly an argument to be made that it's a better Pokemon style game than Pokemon itself.

Its stamina system forces players to rotate their parties regularly rather than just focusing on a core team whilst the game's fantastic cast of characters really help to bring its story to life. All of the Nexomon are well designed and the dialogue provides plenty of humor too. It may be a little rough around the edges, but its elements fit together seamlessly.

1 Temtem

Although Nintendo has become a little more relaxed in recent years when it comes to adult themes, Pokemon is still very much a family-friendly experience. As such, the series' writing and difficulty can often feel a little underwhelming to more mature players. While Temtem is still a far cry from something like GTA, its themes and the challenge it presents should be a lot more fitting.

It's an incredibly well-balanced game and is visually striking. To look at it now, it's hard to believe that this is a Kickstarted title and with each update it becomes even more impressive. It's still in Early Access at the moment but has already sold more than half a million copies. With a full release expected sometime next year, Temtem could very well provide the Pokemon series with some real competition.

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