Monster taming is one of the biggest pillars in RPGs as a sub-genre. Even though most only know about Pokémon, there are tons of other fan games and titles that seek to tackle the kind of game design in the indie game space.
In the list below, we shall be taking a look at some of the monster taming titles that are releasing this year and beyond. Hopefully, we are able to help you pick up at least one game out of everything here.
Best Upcoming Monster Taming RPGs
Photogeist Albums: Stayfer River Saga
Indie developer Impending Notion is doing some very interesting things with the Monster Taming genre by not going with the traditional approach of creature collecting. As the name suggest the game implements cunning mechanics one may find in certain horror titles.
Players take pictures of these poltergeist creatures to either tame them or completely banish them. The game does not have a set release date, but the interesting premise sure brings a new kind of flavor to the genre that is worth waiting for.
Tomo: Endless Blue
Tomo: Endless Blue, at first glance, may look like any other monster taming title that is trying to make room for itself in the genre. But once you dip your toes in the details, it looks like it’s doing this differently by putting more focus on the world.
Players find themselves in a procedurally generated world that is completely ocean, where they are introduced to survival crafting mechanics. This game also does this unique thing, where it gives full control of the monsters in real time to the players. Not much is known beyond the given info, but interested people can wishlist it right now.
Critterrupters
If Nintendo-styled visuals like in The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker and Animal Crossing titles matter to you a lot, then Critterrupters is something you should watch out for. The game comes from an indie developer who is already experienced in working with the monster-collecting genre, due to their previous game, Isle of Swaps.
Critterrupters takes everything that was great about the developer’s previous game but dials it up with a new setting. The game takes place in Nikkolo Island, where you, as the player, get to collect Critterbytes if certain conditions are successfully fulfilled.
Trinity 64
Trinity 64 is a game that at first glance looks like something straight out of a Zelda title from the N64 era. That exact kind of low texture and poly count visual. With the playable character looking like Link, and puzzle platforming.
Beyond that, the game actually takes inspiration from titles such as Dark Souls as well, and we haven’t yet gotten to the part where this turns into monster collectors. But let’s just leave that one for you to figure out.
We guess if you were looking for a completely different kind of creature tamer, we have definitely piqued your interest.
Yami Kids
Moving away from the flow of 3D styled monster collectors, we go back to the different kind of retro era handhelds in Yami Kids. This game looks like it’s ripped straight from the times when the Game Boy Color was getting popular.
Inspired by Pokémon titles from those times, Yami Kids follows a premise that may not be as fun and loving as it’s inpspirations. The plot takes a dark turn when the Yami twins set out on a journey to uncover a murderous mystery.
Players make contracts with Oni, which are the universal names for the monsters you tame in this game. The battles play out in good old turn-based fashion but are heavily inspired by Shin Megami Tensei’s Devil Children instead of Pokémon.
Aniimo
Palworld, which was released back in 2024, really shook the hierarchy in monster collecting game genre. Introducing a new way to have fun while creature collecting, with the morbidity of gunplay to shoot them.
Aniimo seems like a game that seeks to recreate something similar. It is going to be a free-to-play monster collector with ARPG elements. One of the big reasons to ride behind it is that the designs for the creatures actually seem like they aren’t seeking to be plagiarists.
Palworld was hit with the plagiarism stamp at frame one when the whole world saw the monster designs. Even Nintendo had to come out for themselves in order to pursue lawsuits.
Bagdex
This is a visually cute game that is being developed by Caramelo Games, Dumativa and is being published by Critical Link. It’s an isometric-style Monster collector that stays pretty much 2D and reminds us of the Digimon Dawn and Dusk titles from the Nintendo DS era.
That said, Bagdex is not a game that does anything out of the ordinary in terms of introducing new inventions to the genre. But that is exactly why this is a great entry to keep an eye out for. Sometimes, we monster taming fans want the game designs to stay intact while preferring new titles.
Disc Creatures: World
We have been talking about games that are going to debut as fresh new additions to the monster-collecting genre. But here’s a game that is on its way as a sequel to another title. Disc Creatures: World is a new entry to the 2019 title by Picorinne Soft called Disc Creatures.
Visually, the game looks to emulate the style of GBA-era Pokémon titles. Meanwhile, the previous game sought it’s looks from the Game Boy Color style games, and both of them look really charming.
Disc Creatures: World does not have any particular release date in 2026, as of yet, but if you want to wait and check it out, the first game is still an option in the meantime.
Monster Crown: Sin Eater
This is another game that stands out as a sequel to a previous title. The original Monster Crown may be a super charming game to look at due to its visuals, but the game was marred by glitches and bugs.
Monster Crown: Sin Eater seems to be taking feedback to heart and working on the game design from the ground up. It already has a demo that you can go check out, and so far, feedbacks have been super positive.
LumenTale
Mixing 2D with 3D assets doesn’t always work out well, but if done right, they can look beautiful. Square Enix is super popular for their works on the HD2D game genre because, even though the appreciation for these types of games, visually have been on the decline.
LumenTale does not seek to appeal to the same art style, but it does mash 2D with 3D art really well, making it look absolutely beautiful. The developers of this upcoming game, Behive Studios, are also well known in the community for their work on Pokémon Xenoverse, a fangame.
So you bet we are on for some good monster taming title in our hands with this one. There is already a demo out that may interest you.
