There’s a genre that seems to defy decline, gathering fans from around the world since the days of Pokémon on the Game Boy—or maybe even earlier, though I’m not entirely sure. We’re talking about RPGs typically known as Monster Taming games, where the core idea is to find and capture creatures, then battle other collectors or monsters.
Pokémon is undoubtedly the benchmark, but then there are Digimon and pretty much anything ending in “-mon.” The formula often stays the same, but the urge to hunt down monsters—especially snagging that rare one to add to your collection—never gets old. Over the years, I’ve played several games from this genre, and one of the latest was Nexomon, which I completed together with my daughter.
Well, just recently, a festival kicked off to celebrate these games, featuring tons of new announcements and discounts, so I thought I’d share some highlights from the Steam Creature Collector with you.
First of all, this festival is the perfect chance to get your hands on some AAA titles in the genre, like Shin Megami Tensei V and its brand-new Vengeance Edition, which adds a wealth of new content and an alternative storyline. There are also several Digimon titles available at steep discounts, making them just a few bucks—a deal worth mentioning.
Then there are some must-try indie gems, like the excellent Monster Sanctuary, which blends 2D platforming with turn-based combat and features a Metroid-style map progression and exploration. Also worth checking out are Coromon, Nexomon, and Cassette Beasts. If you’re into indie games, there’s an incredible selection to dive into, but I’ll leave the thrill of discovery to you.
Speaking of upcoming titles, you definitely can’t miss Aethermancer, an RPG with Roguelite progression from the creators of Monster Sanctuary. It features beautiful pixel art and some unique concepts woven into the gameplay. Plus, there’s a demo available for you to try out.
And don’t overlook the latest addition to the Nexomon series—specifically, the third entry, which moves from the classic top-down view to a fully 3D world, following in the footsteps of recent Pokémon games on the Switch. I really enjoyed Nexomon: Extinction, so I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out once it’s released. For now, the release date is still listed as “to be announced.”
If you’re craving a visual style reminiscent of the early Pokémon games, check out Risimon, which also has a demo available. Another interesting pick is Coromon: Rogue Planet, the Roguelite spin-off of the well-known Coromon game—perfect for those who regularly dive into Monster Taming titles.
Another recent debut with a demo, featured in this festival, is Bagdex. It stands out with a distinct style and the option to build and upgrade your own training center, which acts as your main base. And then there’s LumenTale, a game I’ve been keeping an eye on for a while. It features exploration, turn-based battles with multiple monsters on the field, and just the right amount of pixel art flair. Unfortunately, while it’s part of the event, the only thing you can do for now is add it to your wishlist.
Instead, below I’ve listed some titles that are heavily discounted during the event:
- Bloomtown: A Different Story – 50% Off
- Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition – 90% Off
- TemTem – 70% Off
- World of Final Fantasy – 60% Off
- Siralim Ultimate – 50% Off
- Nexomon: Extinction – 90% Off
- Monster Sanctuary – 75% Off
- Dice Folk – 50% Off
- Beyond Galaxyland – 40% Off
- Epic Battle Fantasy 5 – 60% Off
These are just a few suggestions—the event is packed with intriguing content. If you have any recommendations of your own, reach out on my social channels or my brand-new Reddit community. Just a heads-up: the Creature Collector Fest runs until May 19. Ciao
