Looking for games like Pokemon?
There’s a reason why the series is so popular. While the basic gameplay structure of each game can feel a little similar, with players catching and battling Pokemon, training them up, and taking on gym leaders, there’s a lot more to the franchise than a formulaic structure.
Sure, there are plenty of other RPGs like Pokemon out there, but what would happen if the Pokemon games took on other genres? We’ve already seen how the RPG formula can be applied to turn-based strategy games with Pokemon Conquest, but what else? There are so many exciting genres that Pokemon could explore, so we’ve picked out the best games like Pokemon to make the case for Pokemon taking a break from its favorite genre.
Here are the best games like Pokemon:
Pokemon MMORPG
The Pokemon games work so well as an MMO because of the structure. The wild areas are fully interactive, so they could easily translate into MMO zones where players can battle each other. The best part would be the world bosses that require multiple teams to team up against. The Pokemon MMO could cover more ground than just the standard regions, too, with new areas and generations of Pokemon being introduced regularly.
Pokemon visual novel
A Pokemon visual novel would be the perfect opportunity to explore new areas of the franchise. Academies have never been properly explored, and the backstory of the “bad guys” could be fleshed out. Not every game has to feature combat, and focusing on character development and interactions would give the series a warm, cozy vibe. Imagine being able to visit a Pokemon café and maybe even walking around a Pokemon Tower or University.
Pokemon battle royale
A Pokemon battle royale would see players battling against each other in a city setting. The aim would be to come out victorious and become the Pokemon Champion. This would be a little different to the standard formula and could offer a more tactical experience. Not only would players be able to use their Pokemon to their advantage but also the environment, such as throwing opponents into water or chucking rocks at them.
Pokemon farming/life simulator
The farming/life simulator would be a perfect opportunity to expand upon the cozy vibes that the series often exudes. Imagine being able to move to a sleepy village and live a quaint life working on the farm, growing crops, making friends with the locals, and maybe even finding wild Pokemon. Each village could have its own unique Pokemon, too, and the farming could be simple yet satisfying, with the planting and harvesting requiring a few button presses.
Pokemon tower defense
A Pokemon tower defense game would see individual Pokemon taking the place of “towers” as they use their unique powers to attack. These Pokemon could range from the standard roster, such as Pikachu and Charizard, to regional Pokemon, such as the Alolan forms. The Pokemon would act as buffs or provide powerful attacks that can deal significant damage, depending on how you set up your defense. You’d have to defend against evil team grunts or runaway Pokemon, but if you fail, the consequences could be dire.
Legendary Pokemon would provide buffs, but the really powerful Pokemon would be able to unleash devastating attacks on the enemies. In addition to the standard Pokemon you can recruit to your defense, there would be a lot of rarer Pokemon that you can use to bolster your defenses, too, but they’d be pretty expensive.
Pokemon roguelike
A Pokemon roguelike would see trainers exploring dungeons and acquiring Pokemon partners along the way. The dungeons would be fairly simple, maybe even a little sparse, but every dungeon would have a large disruptive Pokemon at the end. Some dungeons could be simple caves, while others could be more complex – maybe even branching into separate routes, each with its own distinctive large disruptive Pokemon.
The Pokemon partners could be companions along the way, offering advice and support. Each dungeon would have a large disruptive Pokemon at the end, and once you defeat it, that Pokemon becomes your partner. These Pokemon would be with you on your travels, offering support and advice. Each dungeon would get progressively more difficult, and your partner would have additional powers that you can use along the way, too.
These dungeons would take time to complete, so there would be a lot of downtime for your Pokemon to interact with you and each other. Each dungeon would have a large disruptive Pokemon at the end, and once you defeat it, that Pokemon becomes your partner.
A first-person horror Pokemon game
Imagine playing as one of the researchers in a group of trainers that explore dungeons in order to acquire Pokemon partners. Each dungeon would have a large disruptive Pokemon at the end, and once you defeat it, that Pokemon becomes your partner. These Pokemon would be with you on your travels, offering support and advice.
The game would have a darker, more realistic aesthetic compared to the bright colors and playful atmosphere of the typical Pokemon games. The atmosphere would be tense and unnerving. The trainers would be a group of people with a wide range of personalities, each with their own motivations for exploring the dungeons.
There would be hostile Pokemon within the dungeons themselves, and the researchers would have to use their Pokemon to fight against them. Along the way, they’d unearth the facility’s dark secrets. Every step of the way, there would be the threat of discovery – both by the researchers and by the facility.
