With the highly anticipated Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games set for release on Nintendo Switch in the latter half of 2022, many fans of the Pokémon game franchise could find themselves searching for similar games to play while waiting for this latest title to be available to play.
Many Pokémon games feature a lot of fun exploration mechanics, as well as raising creature-like companions and participating in battles or combat of some form. These games on the Nintendo Switch emulate these aspects in similar ways and bring an enjoyable gameplay experience that Pokémon fans will love.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a JRPG game with a captivating story and wonderful characters. The story revolves around a boy named Oliver, who sets out on a journey to save his mother.
Players can capture and tame creatures known as 'familiars', which can then be used in battle alongside magical abilities. Ni No Kuni has a similar combat system to what is so well-loved in Pokémon games but elevates it with the unique aspect of players being able to control the human characters and have them fight alongside their familiars in battle.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is an RPG that earned much popularity and has become known as one of the best video games that allow the player to raise an in-game creature. The game features over 200 different Digimon that players can fight against, obtain and train.
Similar to Pokémon, players can pick from three starter Digimon at the beginning of the story, and encounter more as they explore new areas throughout the story. The game also features a turn-based combat system and brings an overall similar feel to many mainline Pokémon games.
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is a monster collecting game that features an exploration system, turn-based combat, and a beautiful pixel art style, bringing back the familiar nostalgic feeling of many elder Pokémon games.
Monster Sanctuary brings a customizable playstyle, a large world, interesting puzzles, unique creature designs, and an engaging combat system to the table. With endless strategy options in combat including buffs, de-buffs, and unique monster talent trees to consider, Monster Sanctuary is an addictive alternative on the Nintendo Switch for fans of the Pokémon games.
Yo-Kai Watch 1
Yo-Kai Watch For Nintendo Switch is a fun monster-based game that is a remastered version of the original game released on Nintendo 3DS. Yo-Kai Watch follows protagonists Nate/Katie and their new Yo-Kai friend, Whisper, as they travel around town befriending, battling, and dealing with mischief caused by other Yo-Kai.
Yo-Kai Watch allows the player to build a party of their favorite Yo-Kai companions and has a fun and engaging combat system that is a fresh take on the turn-based combat found in the Pokémon games. Though Nintendo Switch games are region-free, Yo-Kai Watch For Nintendo Switch has only been released in the JPN region. So, if players pick up this title, they may need an English-translated guide to help them with their playthrough.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is the second title in the Monster Hunter Stories spinoff series, and is known as one of the best Monster Hunter games of all time. Unlike other Monster Hunter titles, this game focuses on befriending monsters and using them to aid the player in combat and quests, rather than just hunting them down.
Wings of Ruin incorporates a fun battle system that resembles a blend of JRPG and turn-based elements, like Pokémon games. By battling alongside monsters and hitting special combo attacks, the battle system also brings a new sense of satisfaction. Wings of Ruin also features a beautiful world that the player can explore, filled with roaming creatures, much like the more recent Pokémon titles.
Digimon Survive
The Digimon franchise has many successful video game titles, and Digimon Survive is a highly anticipated title that will likely be a welcome addition to this collective. Set for release on 28th July 2022, Digimon Survive has earned a lot of excitement from fans with the previews it has shown thus far.
Digimon Survive has shown it incorporates a traditional tactical battle system, bringing a fresh take to the turn-based combat that many monster-based games, such as Pokémon, fall into. Digimon pairs this with an engaging Visual Novel aspect for the storytelling side of the game, creating an enjoyable and relaxing gameplay experience for the user.
Pokkén Tournament DX
Pokkén Tournament DX is a fighting game that lets players control Pokémon in combat, rather than play as a trainer, and is considered one of the best Pokémon spin-off games in existence. Pokkén Tournament DX uses both 2D and 3D movement in its combat, and has 21 Pokémon available to play, with even more Pokémon featured as support characters/abilities, or DLC.
Pokkén Tournament DX is an enjoyable, fast-paced game with great graphics and effects that really bring the Pokémon creatures to life in a way that hasn't been done in other Pokémon games. It also has features that allow online battle against others, or local PVP matches. With an all-around enjoyable gameplay experience, this spin-off is worth a try for fans of the Pokémon games.
Coromon
Coromon is a monster-taming JRPG game that allows players to explore a beautiful pixel word and tame monsters known as Coromon while encountering interesting puzzles and thrilling turn-based battles.
Coromon brings back the nostalgic charm that many older Pokémon games carry, with its endearing top-down pixel art style and extremely similar combat system. However, Coromon does a great job modernizing the mechanics that those Pokémon games used, including an engaging storyline, engaging puzzles and tricks, and well-written characters and NPCs.
Nexomon: Extinction
Nexomon: Extinction is a 2D monster taming game that is the sequel to the original Nexomon game. Nexomon: Extinction offers a relaxing and endearing 2D art style, over 350 unique creatures to tame and battle, as well as a leveling and evolution mechanic similar to the Pokémon games.
Nexomon: Extinction brings a well-written and engaging story featuring lovable characters with relatable personalities. The world the player can explore is beautiful and features many different locations including haunted woods, large forests, tropical beaches, large cities and so much more. The combat mechanics in Neoxmon are straightforward and easy to learn, and the creature designs are beautifully done, making it a great option for Pokémon fans to consider.
Temtem
Temtem is a highly anticipated upcoming game set for release on multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch. Temtem has gained a large following throughout its development, with many fans of the Pokémon game series noting that it brings the inclusion of mechanics and ideas that players have been desperately longing for over many years.
Temtem is not only an eye-catching monster-catching and battling game, but also allows Tamers to connect online and explore the world and participate in combat alongside each other. It has charming graphics, unique monster designs, fun turn-based combat, character customization, and different exploration mechanics, such as vehicles and interactive items. With cross-play confirmed, Temtem allows players endless opportunities to enjoy the game with their friends and brings a new multiplayer aspect that fans of Pokémon desperately hoped for over the years, and are yet to receive.