These monsters can then fight in place of or alongside your party members. Any creature you encounter can be beaten down and charmed into joining your team. Ni no Kuni also infuses this combination with a deep monster-catching mechanic. This PS3 title combines traditional JRPG gameplay with the colorful visuals of Studio Ghibli, which may be appealing enough by itself.

SMT’s demon-catching and leveling system also bleeds into the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series through the strengthening and fusing of different Persona creatures.

If you’re interested in the series, check out our review of the most recent 3DS entry, SMT IV. Varying boss encounters and endings open up depending on how chaotic or lawful you are throughout the game. The SMT series’ modern setting and mature tones strike a sharp contrast with Pokémon’s jolly nature. These dark entities can be leveled up and even fused together to create stronger beings. Some of these demons can only be persuaded to join your side through a show of force or careful conversation choices. The Shin Megami Tensei series predates Nintendo’s Pokémon debut and lets players capture and train demons instead of cuddly critters. Teaming up with a chocobo or behemoth is a fun treat for longtime fans of the franchise. Swapping between and leveling up creatures adds diversity to the otherwise static team of Serah and Noel. Extra paradigm options are unlocked in Final Fantasy XIII-2 ( read the review) by capturing monsters roaming around the world. In Final Fantasy XIII, players cycle between party blueprints that feature varying class types like spellcasters, mages, fighters, etc.

Square Enix’s latest Final Fantasy installment received criticism for its linear game design and confounding story, but its battle system stands as a point of pride. We’ve herded together a selection of other games that share Pokémon’s core collection hook but feature a different look and feel. On the flip side, potential monster hoarders may like the concept of Pokémon but be turned off by the kid-friendly aesthetic or threadbare story. Hunting down critters that also fight for you can be an enthralling prospect, so much so that some diehard fans of the mechanic may need to look to other series for satisfaction. The Pokémon series has tasked us with catching them all since its inception in the ‘90s, a tradition that continues with the solid Pokémon X and Y entries.

Monster collecting games