Best mon collectors that aren’t Pokémon

Aside from the nostalgia players get when reliving their Pokémon journeys, the Pokémon franchise is popularly known for its large range of collectible creatures. Each Pokémon has its own unique design and abilities that make the game worth replaying time and time again. However, there are more games that do this than simply Pokémon, and a lot of the great ones are overlooked because of Pokémon’s popularity. If you love collecting and battling with creatures, then you’ll definitely want to check these games out as well:

Best mon collectors that aren’t Pokémon

6. Shin Megami Tensei (Persona, Demi Kids, Devil Survivor, etc)

Shin Megami Tensei is a massive franchise that expands across a number of different series. Persona is probably the most popular of these, but there are many others within the franchise as well. One of the commonalities between all the games in the franchise, however, is their demon collection features. In each of these games, you fight with demons and gain new and more powerful ones as you go. It’s much darker than Pokémon, and you typically don’t use the same demons for very long, but it has a similar collect-a-thon feel.

From: AMAZON

5. Yo-kai Watch

You may already know this franchise as the “new Pokémon”, as that’s how it was marketed and talked about when it first came out.  This game is perfect for anyone with kids trying to find something as sweet and inviting as Pokémon was. Yo-kai Watch games are all based around collecting creatures by helping them with problems. The game focuses much more on cute aesthetics compared to other mon collectors.

From: Amazon

4. Monster Hunter Stories

Fans of the Monster Hunter series will adore this addition to the franchise, as these games actually let you play with the monsters of the series that you usually have to fight. The game is a condensed version of the normal Monster Hunter games, while featuring a new turn-based style of combat.

From: Amazon

3. Dragon Quest Monsters

As far as actual gameplay goes, Dragon Quest Monsters is probably the most similar to the Pokémon franchise. Combat is essentially a constant Pokémon triple battle, featuring adorable and memorable monsters from the main Dragon Quest franchise.

From: Amazon

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2. Digimon

Everyone who knew about Pokémon when it came out, also knew about its rival mon collector: Digimon. Not everyone knows, however, that this series is still going strong, with a new Nintendo Switch game coming out next year. It’s still an exciting time to battle in the digital world, and Cyber Sleuth for the PS4 is worth checking out if you haven’t already.

From: Amazon

1. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Ni no Kuni 2’s recent release has made some people forget about the first game. Some may not know this, but the two games actually have incredibly different game styles. The first Ni no Kuni was actually an incredible mon collector that brought the same thrill and excitement as Pokémon. Unlike games in the genre, Ni no Kuni let you control your familiars, instead of featuring the standard turn-based combat. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of Studio Ghibli.

From: Amazon

If you’re looking for a new Pokémon game instead of a similar mon collector, then be sure to check out Pokémon Quest for iOS and Android.