Upcoming Monster Catching Games to Watch in 2026

Some believe that Pokemon is the only true monster collector game, and there has been a lot of turmoil about this franchise reigning supreme, even after Palworld dared to dispute their dominion. But monster-catching and training mechanics are already out there in the wild, and some of the upcoming games with these gimmicks are ready to claim a spot amidst all the controversy.

This list of upcoming games like Pokemon might shed some light on how this particular niche of the game industry is quickly changing. With old franchises like Digimon stepping hard and new ones like Aniimo gaining terrain slowly but steadily. One thing is for sure: 2026 is going to be a great year for fans of Monster Catching Games.

Aniimo

A New Contender Appears, With Next-Gen Graphics And Colorful Designs

Ever since its announcement, Aniimo has been making waves in the stale puddle of the monster-catching niche. What makes this game so interesting is that it will be the debut of PawPrint Studios alongside Microsoft, into a terrain that traditionally belonged to Japanese publishers (Like Bandai Namco and Nintendo). Aniimo has not only improved next-gen graphics, but also breathtaking world design, and fun mechanics to support it.

The game’s proposal is slightly different than the regular ‘summon character and let it fight‘ gimmick that is causing such controversy. Aniimo‘s core mechanic consists of befriending and increasing the ‘bond’ with the creatures, then embodying their power through something called ‘Twining.’ This is what distinguishes Aniimo from the usual monster catcher game, allowing players a level of control during battle that increases as they gain mastery over their skills and the monster’s abilities as well. Aniimo is already opening its pre-registration, and players want to check how the game is for themselves; they can line up to wait until it releases in 2026.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

A New Story Begins In The Digital World

Players will soon be able to return to the Digital World with Digimon Story: Time Stranger, which is not a sequel to Cyber Sleuth but an entirely different story with its own characters and settings. In this new game, players will assume the role of an ADAMAS agent named Yuki (female or male, depending on the players choice) and their counterpart, who will become their sidekick as they try to solve the mystery of how they were catapulted back in time after investigating an incident related to Digimon.

Besides the gorgeous designs and the inclusion of hundreds of Digimon in the game, Digimon Story: Time Stranger will allow players to ‘capture’ stray Digimon data and convert them into companions, or combine them to create an entirely new species. Digivolution will also be a key factor in this new game, and while the players investigate the source of this incident that left them stranded, they will need to evolve their companions into more powerful Digimon, to face increasingly difficult challenges that stand between them and the truth. Digimon Story: Time Stranger will arrive on October 3, 2025.

Tomo: Endless Blue

A Combination Of Exploration And Monster Catching

• Developer: Onibi
• Release Date: TBA
• Platforms: PC (Steam) and Consoles

Tomo: Endless Blue is an open-world game with a beautiful voxel design, where players need to capture and train creatures to aid them in their journey across land and sea. The game uses procedural generation, though the developers haven’t revealed if it uses a seed system similar to games like Valheim. Tomo: Edless Blue is a cool proposal that will offer endless hours of fun alongside friends (both monsters and humans alike).

For those familiar with games like Minecraft, Tomo: Endless Blue offers a familiar experience of collecting resources, crafting, and exploring the depths of ruins and caverns. Players can either settle down and build, uncover the remains of a lost civilization, or use their monsters to fight and win battles. They will be free to choose their own play route, similar to games like Palworld and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

Honkai: Nexus Anima

The Hoyoverse’s Own Monster Catcher Game

Honkai: Nexus Anima is the Hoyoverse’s attempt to set foot in the Monster Collector niche, and the result is a game with bright anime-style visuals, and tons of cute creatures that players will be able to befriend and train. Exploration happens in a full third-person view, but combat, unlike most Monster Collector games, will be set in an ‘auto-chess-like’ board, where players have limited control of what their companions do.

An audacious proposal, and one that has yet to reveal more details like launch date, type of in-game economy, and other gimmicks. Players can already visit miHoYo’s official site to pre-register in Honkai: Nexus Anima.

Monsterpatch

One Of The Coolest Indie Monster Catcher Games Seen In Ages

Monsterpatch is a crowdfunded INDIE monster collector cozy game that merges exploration with homesteading and RPG-style combat. Players will be mages in their path to learning incredible spells, all while exploring a beautifully designed 2D floating continent, inspired by the classic monster catcher games. Monsterpatch has mechanics that resemble games like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, while also retaining all the charm and adventure-inspiring style of Pokemon.

There’s no release date for this beauty of a game yet, but developers have mentioned that they planned for a late 2025 release. So, if readers are interested in going back to the roots of the genre, Monsterpatch is their safest bet.