- Quick Summary: A list of the best games like Pokémon to play in 2026, featuring Palworld, Temtem, and Monster Sanctuary, covering their unique creature-collecting mechanics, combat systems, and exploration features.
If you enjoy catching monsters, building a team, and battling with your favorite creatures, Pokémon is the first game that comes to mind.
Pokémon is one of the best when it comes to the creature-collecting RPG genre. But it isn’t the only game out there, as, nowadays, there are plenty of alternatives, each offering its own spin on the tried-and-tested Pokémon formula.
Some of these games stick to the old traditional turn-based battles, while others offer open-world exploration, survival mechanics, fusion systems, roguelite gameplay, or even real-time combat. Ultimately, if you are someone looking for something similar to Pokémon but outside of Nintendo's franchises, here are some of the best alternatives to play in 2026.
Best Games Like Pokémon
Are you ready to catch, train, and battle, but with titles outside the Nintendo ecosystem? Here are the best games like Pokémon to play.
Palworld
Hands down, Palworld is one of the best choices when it comes to Pokémon alternatives. It takes the creature-collecting formula in a very different direction, though, as you'll not only get to explore a large world and capture "Pals", but also build bases, craft equipment, and fight enemies with weapons.
Interestingly, you can use your Pals to not only help you in battle, but also to help you with exploration, resource gathering, farming, and base management. Plus, Pocketpair is continuously developing and adding new features to the experience, keeping the game fresher than your typical Pokémon release.
So, if you are someone looking for a similar Pokémon experience but more on open-ended adventure, Palworld might be the right choice for you.
Temtem
Temtem is another solid Pokémon alternative. Developed by Crema, you can adventure together, trade, and battle other tamers on the road. However, it features more competitive battles, which gives the creature-collection system more depth, requiring more thought than building your team in Pokémon.
With this multiplayer creature-collection adventure, you'll explore Airborne Archipelago, capture Temtem, and build teams for said battles. Plus, there's more role-playing involved, though if you want something more action-packed, then we highly recommend Temtem: Swarm.
With the increasing popularity of the Temtem franchise, the devs have also announced a new title, Temtem: Pioneers, so stay tuned for that as well.
Cassette Beasts
Ever wondered what happens when you capture Pokémon on cassette tapes rather than the traditional Poké Ball? Well, that's Cassette Beasts: you record creatures onto cassette tapes and transform into them during battles.
This slightly different option offers an open-world, turn-based combat system plus a variety of monsters to record. But experimentation is key, as it has a fusion system to combine two monster forms to create entirely new creatures.
There are more than 100 monster forms to discover, while the upcoming Cassette Beasts 2002 expands the series with more than 250 beasts and online multiplayer. Announced in 2026, it is being developed by Bytten Studio and will be published by Raw Fury in March 2027.
Coromon
Want a more traditional monster-taming RPG? Coromon is a fun game that focuses on catching and training creatures, building a balanced team, and battling through a classic turn-based system. It offers a classic visual style with modern features and quality-of-life improvements.
Coromon was originally released back in 2022 by TRAGsoft. But in 2026, the studio launched Coromon Remastered, bringing new updates and improvements. With this, it remains a solid alternative to Pokémon in 2026 and is probably best for those who want to stick closely to the creature-catching RPG formula.
TRAGsoft has also announced a new title, Coromon: Rogue Planet, which is currently under development. It will be a turn-based roguelite monster-taming game set in the Coromon universe, but no release date has been announced yet.
Nexomon: Extinction
If you are done with Nintendo and seeking something a little fresher than Pokémon's classic narrative, then Nexomon: Extinction is worth checking out. It features more than 300 Nexomon to catch, train, and evolve, plus you can build teams around different elemental types, strengths, and weaknesses to maximize your success.
Despite being different, it still offers similar exploration to Pokémon. You'll encounter creatures on your travels and use strategic turn-based battles to progress through the story. However, Nexomon has created its own unique world and creatures within it, making it a fun game if you are someone looking for the classic Pokémon experience with a fresher twist.
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary takes the Pokémon-style formula in a completely different direction by combining monster taming with Metroidvania exploration. The goal is to collect, hatch, and train monsters to use them in turn-based battles.
Each monster has its own unique abilities, like damage, healing, buffs, debuffs, protection, and more. You will then use these abilities to reach and explore new areas, overcome obstacles, and discover hidden sections of the world. But don't forget, team synergy is the most important aspect, as the combat is based on three-monster teams and combo-focused battles.
Final Thoughts
So, looking for the best Pokémon experience outside Nintendo? And want to enjoy the creature-collecting formula that made Pokémon so popular? These titles are the best of the best. Our final verdict would be:
- For monster collecting in open-world - Palworld
- For multiplayer features - Temtem
- For creature fusion - Cassette Beasts
And that's it for this list! But if you want more top title alternatives, be sure to check out our list of the best games like Gear Solid to play next.
Stick with us here at Gfinity Esports for more gaming news, guides, and reviews.