While it’s easy to think that the creature-tamer genre started withPokémon, that’s not strictly true. It’s been around for a while, at least since Dragon Warrior Monsters came to the Game Boy Color.
This goes to show that something is appealing about marshaling an army of critters to gamers.
Pokemon TCG - Surging Sparks Hands-On Preview
With an abundance of Pikachus, now might be the time to jump back into the TCG.
As such, we decided to put together a list that does a deep dive into the genre. Not necessarily games you’re familiar with, and perhaps several you’ve never even heard of.
From traditional creature-tamers to rogue-likes and more, here are several games that are a monstrously good time.
11Abomi Nation
Abominable Rogue-like Fun
PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
DANGEN Entertainment
Orange Pylon Games
Release Date
July 14, 2025
When you’ve been playing Pokémon games for long enough, you tend to look for various ways to increase the challenge. One such method is called the Nuzlocke Challenge, wherein you’re not allowed to use a Pokémon after it faints.
Furthermore, you have to capture the first wild creature you find, instead of waiting for the ones you might prefer.
There’s a lot more to it than this, but the point is that Abomi Nation is sort of like if the Nuzlocke Challenge was a built-in experience. This rogue-like monster catcher adventure by Orange Pylon Games distinguishes itself from the pack with a quirky, simplistic visual style. Your goal is to reach the big bad and defeat it, but doing so will take a lot of work.
Battles are also 1v1, with two benched creatures on the sidelines. Basically, though, it’s Pokemon if it were a rogue-like, which is certainly a novel way to approach the genre, albeit one with mixed success.
10Nexomon: Extinction
Raising the Stakes
Nexomon: Extinction
Creature-tamers don’t always have big stakes, but it’s certainly exciting when they do. So the fact that Nexomon: Extinction is about you and your team fighting against annihilation is a great start.
When you factor in fourth-wall-breaking humor and lush visual style, you find a creature-tamer that holds up pretty well.
The only issue is that Nexomon: Extinction overstays its welcome in the late game, but that doesn’t detract from what it does before all that bloat. One of the best things is how you can face off against trainers who have souped up their teams after you first encounter them.
Like many examples of the genre, Nexomon: Extinction also uses a rock paper scissors-styled system where you need to focus on enemy weakness to thrive. Throw in a pretty reasonable price tag, and you have a worthy addition to your library.
Greetings From France!
Much like Abomi Nation, French team TRAGsoft took players' expectations into account when crafting Coromon. This is a creature-tamer made for fans, and it does a wonderful job of streamlining things.
One example is how each Coromon has three variants - Standard, Potent, and Perfect. Not only do they have different visual styles, but they have a wider threshold for stat gains.
So, if you’re a competitive gamer, you don’t have to spend hours and hours hunting for Shiny creatures.
Cassette Beasts: Trembling Ground Quest Guide
From locating the station entrance to the Archangel Poppetox battle, here’s how to complete Trembling Ground in Cassette Beasts.
Another wonderful thing about Coromon was the boss battles against the epic Titans. These are god-like Coromon creatures, who will put you through your paces.
Better yet, the combat in the game is quite easy to pick up and lets you spend a turn to recharge, heal, and recover some energy to use more attacks.
Then, when you add the game’s attractive SNES visual style, puzzles to solve, and an interesting plot, you have a great example of the genre.
8Digimon Survive
Digital Monsters, Digital Champions
One name that brings creature-taming to mind for many is Digimon. Whereas Pokémon had its hooks in players for the gameplay, Digimon arguably has a more engaging story, told effectively through various television series. But withDigimon Survive, we have a game that can stand up to the iconic series.
Digimon Survivedistinguishes itself in a couple of ways. One is that it’s a more tactical adventure with grid-based combat. More fascinating is that it’s part visual novel and set in a mysterious and dangerous world.
Perhaps best of all, your choices will affect how the game progresses, and how bright or grim the ending turns out.
7World of Final Fantasy: Maxima
Time for Adventure, Kupo!
Final Fantasyisn’t necessarily the first series you think of when considering the creature-tamer genre. Sure, plenty of great monsters are in the series, but you usually fight against them, not with them by your side.
But in this turn-based, classically styled JRPG, you’re able to gather and utilize monsters called Mirages.
World of Final Fantasy: Maximatook the original game’s popularity and tweaked it to make things even juicier. You’ll not only use your Mirages for combat (both to boost your stats and battle foes), but you’re able to also use them on the world map to solve puzzles.
There are many iconic creatures, including Chocobo, Carbuncles, and Malboro, and even powerful Summons like Ifrit and Shiva.
If all that wasn’t exciting enough,this creature-tamer-focused JRPGalso has new story segments and boss battles to enthuse returning fans.
6Monster Sanctuary
Metroidvania Monsters
Monster Sanctuary
Typically, creature-tamers are top-down affairs. So when a game has elements of the 2D platformer and Metroidvania genres, you have to pay attention. One such title is calledMonster Sanctuary.
Published by Team17 and developed by Moi Rai Games, it succeeded by trying things with unique panache. As a Monster Keeper, your goal in life is to live in harmony with these creatures.
So, when several start rampaging, your only recourse is to take a team of tamed monsters and figure out what’s gone wrong.
Despite the 2D focus, combat is still turn-based, and you’ll make use of a diverse skill tree to unleash powerful attacks on your foes.
If you’re strategically efficient, you’ll get extra rewards during battle. Combined with rare eggs to hatch and a vast world to discover, you have quite a compelling case to try things differently inMonster Sanctuary.
5Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
On Glorious Wings
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
You’d be forgiven for only thinking of traditional examples when you hear the wordsMonster Hunter. Games where you team up with friends and allies to slay massive beasts in primarily online affairs.
Thankfully, for those of us who prefer enjoying stories and taking our time, there are games likeMonster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.
Following the success of the firstMonster Hunter Stories, Wings of Ruin takes place in a world of intrigue and dark fantasy. You’re a Rider, who bonds with powerful Monsties.
Not only will they join you in battles, but you’re able to also ride them around the map. Collecting eggs is a dangerous business, but it will allow you to discover some truly epic monsters, like Rathalos and others.
Hellblade Glavenus - How to Get Its Monstie Egg in Monster Hunter Stories 2 - Stats Explained
Here’s how to get the Hellblade Glavenus as a Monstie
You have a high level of control, from upgrading and empowering your Monsties, but also using monster parts to build new weapons and armor for yourself. Throw in a ton of optional content and a lengthy story, andMonster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruinis an adventure for all fans.
4Cassette Beasts
Play That Music One More Time
Cassette Beasts
This might sound like hyperbole, but I truly feel thatCassette Beastswas a better creature-tamer than the most recent Pokémon adventures. It took all the traditional creature-tamer mechanics, added a lush coat of paint and glorious music, and threw it together in a unique and memorable world.
Instead of capturing creatures in balls, you record them on cassettes and then use those cassettes to transform yourself into them. That by itself was pretty wild, but Cassette Beasts also went out of their way to throw in mechanics like side quests, bonding with other characters, and more.
Also unlike Pokémon, Cassette Beasts had a pretty enjoyable story and a hell of a villain. You’re fighting against gods in a strange world, and then something even more dangerous weaponizes them into something even stronger.
Not only was this an excellent adventure from Bytten Studio, but it needs a sequel desperately.
3Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
Wicked Good
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
One studio that instantly captures your attention is Studio Ghibli. So, you have to pay attention when they team up with acclaimed developer LEVEL-5 to make a JRPG. Together, they created something truly magical inNi no KuniWrath of the White Witch Remastered.
This game features stunning storytelling and the studio’s legendary visual style. It also mixes turn-based and real-time combat elements. you’re able to switch between your familiars and your hero on the fly, making everything that much more compelling.
Best of all, since this is the Remastered version of the game, everything is souped up and extra crisp, from the visuals to the gameplay. Throw in great audio design and voice acting, and you have a legendary adventure.
2Disc Creatures
Retro Style, Modern Flair
Creature-tamer
June 17, 2025
While it wasn’t planned to feature two games on this list published by DANGEN Entertainment, it’s not all that surprising. The prolific publisher puts out a lot of compelling indies, andDisc Creaturesis easily one of the best in recent years.
It might look like it belongs in the Game Boy era, but that’s wholly intentional. The game itself embraces the creature-tamer genre and expands on it in fun ways. You play a Disc Ranger, whose job is to tame a variety of powerful creatures. There are 200 to collect and command in battle.
What’s fascinating is that your creatures don’t evolve, but you can fuse them together, not unlike in Cassette Beasts. A really eclectic and surprisingly fun retro-styled adventure.
