These indie monster tamers are ideal for those tired of Pokémon and Palworld
Creature feature
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Palworld’s mixture of open-world survival, supply chain management, and monster wrangling may havetaken the internet by storm. But, for all the similarities between itsensemble of critters and those found inPokémon, the game doesn’t follow in developer Game Freak’s footsteps when it comes to how it actually plays. At its heart,Palworldis a survival game.
In aninterview on the subject, the CEO ofPalworlddeveloper Pocketpair claimed that the game was designed to feel “completely different” from Pokémon. “I would even say that Palworld is a lot more similar toArk: Survival Evolvedin terms of game mechanics,” he added.
If you were one of the folks who went toPalworldlooking for a more conventional monster-taming experience, you may have come away feeling disappointed. Maybe you’re looking for an alternative after the letdown ofPokémon Scarlet and Violet?Maybe you want something that meaningfully builds on thePokémonexperience rather than justrepeating it? Either way, I’ve got good news: there are plenty of excellent indie titles that take thePokémonformula and meaningfully improve on it.
Cassette Beasts
Available forXbox Series X|S,Xbox One,Nintendo Switch, and PC, not only doesCassette Beastsunderstand the child-like wonder at the core of the monster-taming experience, but it also taps into nostalgia in a big way. An open-world role-playing game (RPG) in the mold ofPokémon,Cassette Beaststakes the formula further by adding a fully explorable world, monster fusions, and compelling writing - all wrapped in a charming 90s-inspired art style.
The premise is simple. Your custom avatar wakes up on the island of New Wirral, which is inhabited by strange creatures which can be captured through the use of (you guessed it) cassette tapes. There’s a lot of mystery here, too. The inhabitants of New Wirral have arrived from different time periods and versions of our real-world Earth. It’s a refreshingly grown-up take on the traditional monster-taming formula, forcing you to confront motes of darkness among the colorful monster-catching.
Contrary toPokémon, the characters consistently feel like real people. ThoughPokémondoes have its moments of strong writing, it can be quite hit-and-miss. This isn’t an issue thatCassette Beasts’ writing shares, as it carries a wit and poignancy reminiscent of some of thebest indie games.
Cassette Beasts feels designed for the adults who grew up with Pokémon as children
Cassette Beastshas you travel alongside companion characters, with whom you form bonds that allow you to fuse more powerful monsters. It helps convey a sense that the mysteries of New Wirral and the Cassette Beasts are bigger than just you, making for a world that feels fleshed out and lived in.
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This mature, sensitive, and charming outing feels as though it was explicitly designed for the adults who grew up withPokémonas children. It’s no coincidence thatCassette Beastsboasts ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’reviews on Steam. The game is also available onXbox Game PassalongsidePalworldif you want to give it a try.
Temtem
Temtemboldly takes the monster-tamer formula and transplants it into the massively multiplayer online (MMO) space. Available forPS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC,Temtemrealizes the dreams ofPokémonlovers everywhere by finally allowing them to capture and battle beasts as part of a bustling online community.
The game’s writing and world-building stick pretty closely to thePokémonformula. You pick a starter and journey around the world challenging gyms (known here asTemtemDojos). What the main story really amounts to, however, is onboarding for the game’s robust player vs. player (PvP) scene, which shines thanks toTemtem’s bold decision to depart fromPokémon’s combat mechanics in some key ways.
Besides being an MMO,Temtemdispenses with the randomness ofPokémon’s battles while also adding ameaningful action economy to the game. Every attack inTemtemhas a guaranteed chance to hit as well as a clearly signposted damage value and outcome. No longer do you have to charge up a risky Solar Beam only for the attack to frustratingly miss on the next turn.
Each turn, your critters build up ‘hold’, which can be spent for more powerful attacks down the line. Some moves don’t require ‘hold’ at all, while others need to be saved across multiple turns. It creates another layer of decision-making, adding a sense of ebb and flow thatPokémonbattles often lack.
WhileTemtem’sbattles do make generous use of traditional elemental weaknesses and strengths, the game’s departures fromPokémonorthodoxy do a great deal to elevate Crema’s ambitious MMO game. If you’re looking for satisfying monster battles, you’d be hard-pressed to find better thanTemtem.
Anode Heart
As much forDigimonfans asPokémonlovers,Anode Heartis a charming, if surreal, monster-taming RPG from Stove Powered Games. Available on PC and macOS,Anode Heartshines a welcome light on the tropes and themes often explored by many ofPokémon’s competitors back in the early 2000s, like the cult classicMonster RancherandJade Cocoonseries, as well as the aforementionedDigimon.
You play as an amnesiac robot called Seek. Your mission is to explore the mysterious Stack Island, partner up with the Tama, the cute pixel art monsters that make the island their home, and, ultimately, save the island from destruction.
The battle system is both an aesthetic and mechanical departure fromPokémon, too. Rather than politely taking turns to attack, your Tama’s actions are dictated by their relative speed and the type of attack they used the previous turn. This back-and-forth keeps battles fast-paced, tense, and engaging. With over 140 Tama to capture, there are plenty of pixel-art monsters for you to collect and enjoy, too.
There are plenty of fantastic indie titles out there that give Pokémon a run for its money
WhileAnode Heartmight seem strange from the perspective of aPokémonpurist, the distinctive blend of turn-of-the-Millennium nostalgia and gripping battles makes the RPG well worth a try. Plus, the game offers a free demo, meaning that you can tryAnode Heartfor yourself without committing any of your hard-earned cash.
BetweenCassette Beasts, Temtem,andAnode Heart,there are plenty of fantastic indie titles out there that givePokémona run for its money, offering fresh takes on what some may feel is a worn formula. WhilePalworldhas spiced things up with a liberal injection of survival mechanics, this trio of top-tier indies is more concerned with delivering on the more conventional monster-taming fantasy. Those looking to rekindle some monster-taming magic need to look no further.
Looking for more immersive titles? Check out our lists of thebest RPGsand thebest story games.
An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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