Man, people talk about "pokemon clones" a lot, but Pokemon, Temtem, and Nexomon all hit different and I think that's really important in terms of the monster catching genre of gaming.
Idk, if anyone wants me to elaborate on this lmk
@magisakejin bro thank you so much, you have no idea how much I want to talk about these series
So Pokemon has been like the monster capturing game for as long as monster capturing games have existed. Franchises like Digimon and Bakugan are even called Pokemon ripoffs cause of the similar style even though they're nothing alike.
That brings me to the games that are alike though. Monster capturing is a GENRE of game. Pokemon doesn't own the idea of monster capturing. When what people consider “pokemon clones” are released they're often overlooked because of the immediate comparison to pokemon. To some point all monster capturing games are going to operate a bit similarly, thats just how they have to be designed to be effective.
Its like saying Overwatch and Call of Duty cant coexist because they both involve fps.
However as a long standing Pokemon fan I do want to point out that having the same franchise be in charge of an entire genre can wear that genre out, which is why I’m so thankful for Temtem and Nexomon.
I do want to get a bit into what these games are, where to get them, and what aspects of the games I enjoy both in comparison to Pokemon and on their own.
Temtem:
Temtem is an mmo style monster capturing game by Crema thats available on steam right now, and will be available on switch next year. The combat style in temtem is similar to that of double battles, though every battle occurs this way once you have at least two tem in your party.
This game can be played in co-op where two people can progress through story together, or you can battle and trade one on one.
This game does include a mechanic similar to gyms, in this game theyre called dojos, but the gameplay itself is much more difficult than that of pokemon. If you’re one of those fans thats been asking for a hard difficulty on pokemon then I definitely recommend this game for you.
We havent gotten all of the story yet, and I havent completed all thats been released, but from what I know there will be free updates in the future that contain more story, areas, tems, and other features.
The graphic choices are superb however when compared to Nexomon and Pokemon, giving us expressive 3D models, character customization, and even an option for preferred pronouns that include they/them.
Nexomon:
Okay, I just got into Nexomon recently following the release of Nexomon: Extinction for the Switch, PS4, and Steam a few days ago.
This game, while graphically a bit outdated, is phenomenal from what I’ve played so far. The characters are fun and energetic, the story is immersive, and while there are no trading or battling features yet for multiplayer, its not out of the question since the game is still open for future patches.
This game has no true starters, the first nexomon that you choose out of nine is one htat can be caught anywhere. Mostly it just represents the types that youll see later as you travelm and which you prefer to start your game with.
As you progress through story, the global level of nexomon in the wild around you rises as well, making for a near grind-less gameplay while still maintaining difficulty.
The nexomon themselves are widely varied in looks and with 381 in the latest game to choose from, the possibilities for trainer teams are endless.
I personally like the throwback to the ds era graphics, it most closely resembles Pokemon: Platinum, but with an updated flair to it. There are many different preset trainer looks to choose from and more to come by the looks of it.
The story has been amazing so far, I cant wait to see what happens next seeing as I havent beaten it yet. Nexomon: Extinction’s story seems to be a direct but standalone sequel to Nexomon (on steam) and I cant wait to get further into the lore of that one as well and see how the story all ties together. In my opinion so far the stories are much more intriguing than the ones found in pokemon main titles.
Both titles also offer side quests that can be completed during the game, and optional story quests for more in game lore. Both are also much cheaper than Pokemon games by a long shot (Nexomon being $10, Nexomon: Extinction being $20, and Temtem being $30).
I wish people would give these games a chance instead of just calling them clones, theyre really brightening up the monster capturing genre and I cant wait to see more from them.
I highly recommend both of these for people who enjoy games like pokemon
