Pokémon is largely an ongoing phenomenon which - barring some downtime here and there - has pretty much been going full steam starting with Red/Blue in the late ’90s. While the series has been getting a steady stream of new releases on Nintendo’s handheld consoles since then, it’s been a relatively slow trickle. Now that the anticipated Sword/Shield is a mere month from release, Pokémon fans are itching to catch some new monsters and become Poké-masters once again.
Yet, there is a certain charm about the old Game Boy Pokémon iterations that’s rarely matched these days, even with some of the newer efforts from Game Freak themselves.
With this list, we’ll take a look at ten of the games that most resemble the mainline Pokémon titles, particularly the older classics on Game Boy.
10 Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
If there’s one franchise that screams “Pokémon,” it’s the Akiyoshi Hongo/Bandai creation, Digimon. This IP is a similarly huge series featuring a similarly vast number of unique, colorful monsters that reside in a digital parallel universe. And just like Pokémon, a variety of games were spawned from this charming franchise, with one of the most prominent being Cyber Sleuth, a semi-modern RPG released for the PS4, and more recently, PC and Switch.
The game’s system of turn-based battles (often hinging on elemental moves) and map navigation feel very “classic Pokémon,” with some more aesthetic flair in a full 3D space and appealing cell-shaded visuals.
9 Pocket Mortys
Fans of either Pokémon or the hit comedic animation Rick and Morty should get a kick out of this little mobile game, while those that happen to be fans of both will find an amusing romp essentially made for them.
The game really adheres to classic-style Pokémon almost to the point of being a blatant spoof, though this is part of Pockey Mortys’ charm. The game’s backstory mainly follows the particularly trippy episode of Rick and Morty, entitled “Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind,” in which the two protagonists meet a large group of endless Rick and Morty variants of parallel universes. Naturally, instead of fighting Pokémon, you fight an endless array of goofy “Morty” types.
Other than this funny novelty, the game essentially plays out like a stripped-down version of Red/Blue. Still, it’s a good way to get some Poké-nostalgia, and have some laughs in the process.
8 World Of Final Fantasy Maxima
This underrated RPG takes on some basic Final Fantasy themes, while adding a cuter charm to its aesthetic, and injects some Pokémon-esque concepts for good measure. Basically, you and your party go around exploring a number of colorful environments in Grymoire, batting and occasionally capturing “Mirages.” The game even comes with the obvious equivalent of Pokéballs, which are glowing cubes fittingly named “Prisms.”
Despite its cutesy exterior, World of Final Fantasy actually comes with a pretty elaborate and deep campaign, which can take in the ballpark of 35 hours - and this doesn’t even factor the added content with the Switch’s enhanced “Maxima” version.
7 Digimon World DS
Yes, we’ve already got the inclusion of another Digimon title; though this DS iteration actually takes on quite a different, more classic feel, to the point where it almost feels like a different series than Cyber Sleuth. Even the game’s narrative is relatively self-contained in that it’s mainly a separate entity from the popular anime series.
The goal, as you traverse the game’s charming retro-laced isometric environments, is to be the best Digimon master, erm, “tamer” as you battle and capture an array of digital monsters numbering 230. The game feels reminiscent of the older Pokémon titles, from the old-school visuals to the traditional turn-based battles. At the same time, the game’s system of evolution proves impressively in-depth and innovative.
6 Golden Sun
One of the best RPGs on the DS, Golden Sun is somewhat of the “best of both worlds.” One the one hand, it’s very much an epic, more traditional role-playing experience, while also injecting some of the more charming traits of classic Pokémon with its collectible creatures which can supplement your fights.
Golden Sun’s version of these pocket monsters come in the form of Djinn, which are unique creatures that lean heavily on elemental attributes like Mars (fire) and Jupiter (wind). Finding these monsters is somewhat like stumbling upon a legendary Pokémon, as they’re both exclusive and powerful. What they lack in quantity - numbering just over 2 dozen in the first Golden Sun game - they more than make up for with their flashy, powerful abilities in battle.
5 Spectrobes
Given that this colorful DS game adheres to many classic Pokémon sensibilities - and is backed by publishing giants, Disney Interactive Studios - we know we’re in for a pretty enduring RPG.
This Disney version of Pokémon from 2007 is a nice fusion of older RPG concepts coupled with more fleshed-out mechanics and prettier visuals. Contained within are a palette of cool alien monsters with their own dynamics and powers. Spectrobes keeps things interesting with its variety of planetary environments, each of which feels relatively distinct. This journey proves surprisingly complex with its myriad of stats, upgrades, and “mineral extraction.” The DS helps alleviate some of this complexity too, with its multiple screens allowing to display more information at once.
4 Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
DS gamers looking for a Pokémon varient that’s both familiar and unique - look no further than this charming Dragon Quest take on the classic games.
As it happens, this isn’t just a basic Pokémon knockoff for Nintendo’s dual/touch screen handheld - it’s actually an even more robust sequel to this DQ spinoff on Game Boy, which was already pretty innovative and deep. Just as the original Dragon Warrior Monsters pioneered monster creation through breeding, this game is one of the first of its kind to utilize online connectivity. You can match up with other players and earn rewards in the form of items or monsters, creating a ton of replay value.
This cell-shaded RPG romp is a nice blend of old and new - as it uses a more classic battle style while avoiding those bothersome random encounters.
3 Nexomon
Much like Pocket Mortys, Nexomon feels almost blatant in its adherence to the classic Pokémon formula, though this is by no means a bad thing for those who yearn for this largely abandoned style of RPG. This enjoyable iOS adventure has players embark on a quest to catch various “Nexomon” as they aim to take down the Team Rocket equivalent villain - a spikey-haired punk known as “The Nexolord.”
Aside from its highly vibrant, colorful aesthetic, this game feels very much like the classic Game Boy series, right down to the basic turn-based battles, overhead view, and movement locked to a grid. The game is simplistic at its core - as the success rate of captures is totally random - but Nexomon makes up for it with its classic charm and diversity of fun items and monsters.
2 Monster Hunter Stories
DS sure seems to get the bulk of the notable Pokémon-style RPGs. In yet another example that’s perhaps the most prominent, we have Monster Hunter Stories; a game that blends these two popular Japanese franchises, resulting in an enduring handheld adventure of over 50 hours.
Flashy cinematics aside, this game manages to feel old-school in many of its traits, while also offering a modern charm that’s easy to get into for fans both young and old. MHS sticks with semi-typical turn-based battles, while amping up the excitement by throwing in satisfying quick time events and a myriad of skills to unleash. The method of collecting “Monsties” is particularly fun here, as you’ll be gathering eggs with hatch into a variety of random, customizable creatures.
1 Dragon Warrior Monsters
This 1999 Game Boy epic, which blends Dragon Quest themes with rewarding Pokémon-style gameplay, is really a classic in its own right. It’s also about the closest you’ll get to emulating that old-school Pokémon feel and addictive gameplay, with its grid-based movement, random battles, and nostalgically pleasing 8-bit visuals.
At the same time, Dragon Warrior Monsters is still interestingly unique.
NEXT: Pokémon: The 10 Best Games (According To Metacritic)
