10 SHAMELESS Pokémon Knock Off Games

10 Shameless Pokemon Knock Off Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we are looking at some pretty damn bad rip-offs of the much beloved Monster Hunting series... No, not Monster Hunter. These are 10 Shameless Pokemon Knock Off Games. Not all of these are terrible, some are actually quite bloody good, but all are pretty open about what they’re doing: Stealing an idea. Let’s do it!

“Little Masters” (2012)

We’re starting off with a proper hardcore rip-off. Little Masters is basically a carbon copy of Pokémon, but without any of the charm or depth. Available on the iPhone, it shamelessly borrows from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire on the Game Boy Advance, right down to its monster designs and naming. One creature, “War Mander,” is literally a lizard with a flame on its tail—sound familiar? Honestly, I half-expected it to start singing “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” in MIDI. The game mimics Pokémon’s elemental types and mechanics, requiring you to catch, train, and battle monsters to become champion. But unlike Pokémon, it lacks a story and severely limits play with stamina restrictions, making progression painfully slow, so slow I think my phone aged five years just watching me wait. By the end, the only thing you’ll be mastering is patience… or rage-quitting.

“Dragon Warrior Monsters” (1998)

Dragon Quest may predate Pokémon by a decade, but the developers must have been Pokémon fans when they came up with their totally original spin-off: Dragon Warrior Monsters. The game truly is basically Pokémon, but with fewer snacks and more random warp nonsense. The story centers on reuniting with your sister by winning a monster tournament and raising the strongest team possible, because nothing says family bonding like blood sport. One of the biggest differences is actually quite annoying. Neglected monsters resent you and disobey commands, especially against final bosses, leaving you wondering if your monsters are plotting a coup while you blindly figure out weaknesses and deal with no health bars.

“Monster Rancher” (1997)

As you’ll see, Monster Rancher is one of several monster-capture games released in the 90s alongside Pokémon. Like other monster-raising titles, players train their creatures through a series of mini-games to compete in tournaments and climb the ranks. I hate to make the same joke as the last entry... BUT it’s basically Pokémon with slightly more paperwork... Okay, no more ‘basically Pokemon but’ jokes. The difference with Monster Rancher and the previous two entries is that it’s actually quite fun! What makes Monster Rancher truly enjoyable is the focus on bonding and training your monsters outside of battle, because apparently monsters need therapy, too.

“Nexomon: Extinction” (2020)

Labeling Nexomon: Extinction as just a Pokémon clone doesn’t quite do it justice. Calling it a clone is like calling a smartphone a “fancy calculator.” While it borrows nearly all the familiar mechanics from Pokémon, there’s a case to be made that it delivers a more engaging take on the formula. Its stamina system encourages players to rotate their team instead of relying on a single core lineup. The lively cast of characters adds depth and energy to the story, though a few of them feel like they were pulled straight from a Saturday morning cartoon. The Nexomon themselves are thoughtfully designed and the witty dialogue injects plenty of humor. Don’t be surprised if your new companion makes better jokes than you... Or me, I guess? Please don’t fire me, Mojo.

“Monster Crown” (2021)

With over 200 creatures to tame and a robust breeding system that allows for endless combinations, you could spend hours creating monsters in Monster Crown that look like they were designed by a committee of caffeine-fueled toddlers. It’s been shown that Monster Crown isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the familiar Pokémon mechanics like battles and trading make it easier to digest. Well, at least easier than explaining to your friends why you just fused a slime with a dragon.

“Pixel Monsters Go” (2019)

Pixel-style Pokémon? Hmmm, makes sense! Mix a little Minecraft with a little Pokémon and sure enough kids would eat it up. But then came the avalanche of imitators: Pocket Pixelmon! Pocket Pixelmon Go! Catch Pixelmon Go! Pixel Monster GO! Pixelmon: Craft GO!, and countless more. At this point, it felt less like a trend and more like a global naming contest for “Who Can Add ‘Go’ to Everything?” That’s when it became painfully clear: just about everyone had jumped on the same idea, and creativity had clearly gone on vacation because Pixel Monsters Go doesn’t do ANYTHING special.

“World of Final Fantasy MAXIMA” (2018)

World of Final Fantasy shares plenty of similarities with the classic Pokémon RPGs. The story follows twins Lann and Reynn, who suffer from amnesia and conveniently have no memory of their past. Feels VERY Pokémon. Now, it’s on this list, so obviously creatures much like Pokémon can be captured and trained for battle. First released in 2016, the game later received an enhanced version, World of Final Fantasy Maxima, in 2018. This upgrade added even more Mirages to collect and brought in famous Final Fantasy characters. It fleshed it out to give it a bit more Final Fantasy in its World-of.

“City Spirits GO” (2016)

When Pokémon Go launched in July 2016, it took the world by storm. Nothing says exercise like running chin-first into lamp posts. Meanwhile, China never got the official release, so what was the solution? A blatant clone, of course. City Spirit Go is free to download but packed with microtransactions, features a mascot suspiciously similar to Pikachu, and offers plenty of “unique” creatures to catch—minus the AR. It’s basically Pokémon for people who like their monster hunting 100% virtual and 0% fun.

“Cassette Beasts” (2023)

Let’s finish our list with some shameless knock offs that are pretty good. First we have Cassette Beasts. Cassette Beasts introduces fresh ideas and mechanics that set it apart within the creature-collecting genre, offering impressive depth with 120 monsters and over 14,000 possible fusions. Let me say that again so it sinks in... 14,000. Its charming art style pairs perfectly with an inventive co-op battle system, making battles feel both familiar and slightly less likely to make your neighbors call the cops.

“Palworld” (2024)

Palworld exploded onto the scene in early 2024 and continues to enjoy massive popularity. Though it was first marketed as “Pokémon with guns,” the game quickly proved to be much more, blending in base-building, crafting, and survival mechanics. Now our cute little monster might also be plotting to steal our shotgun. For players without a Nintendo console, it serves as a fantastic alternative to Pokémon. With its mix of familiar creature battles and survival elements, Palworld appeals not only to Pokémon enthusiasts but also to anyone who’s tired of their starter Pokémon politely waiting for orders instead of, you know, blowing things up.