Everyone's gone crazy for Palworld over the past few days since its launch on Xbox and PC, and it doesn't look like the hype is going to slow down anytime soon! We had a chance to go hands-on with the game prior to release, and during that time we described it as taking inspiration from the likes of Pokemon, Ark, Valheim and even Zelda!
With that in mind, we thought we'd put together a list of seven of the best Pokémon and Palworld-like games on Xbox that you can play right now. Some of the titles in this list are reminiscent of both of them, while others lean more towards one or the other. There are plenty more out there as well - these are just some of our personal favourites!
Let's take a look at seven of the best games like Pokémon and Palworld on Xbox:
Temtem (Xbox Series X|S)
If we're talking "best Xbox games like Pokémon", we probably have to start with Temtem. This is a massively multiplayer online creature-collecting game that shares a lot in common with Nintendo's series, and the nice thing is that you can also play it cooperatively. There's a full story campaign, you can view other players embarking on their journey around you, and there are 164 Temtems in all for you to catch and train during the adventure.
Most Xbox fans would say it's not as good as Pokémon, but it should definitely scratch that itch for a while!
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Cassette Beasts (Xbox for PC)
Cassette Beasts originally made its Xbox debut as part of PC Game Pass in early 2023, but now this charming indie game is also available on console. It makes its way into our best Pokémon and Palworld-like Xbox games list because it's a fantastic open-world RPG that takes the Pokémon formula and adds some unique twists - such as a cassette tape system that "records" your monsters rather than catching them, and a Fusion System that allows you to combine two monster forms to create more powerful versions for battle.
At the time of writing, Cassette Beasts is still available on Xbox Game Pass, and it's definitely worth a download!
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Ark: Survival Ascended (Xbox Series X|S)
There's nothing massively Pokémon-like about Ark: Survival Ascended, but it's definitely got a lot in common with Palworld. If you really like the survival aspects of Palworld in particular, there's a lot for you to enjoy in the Ark games, and Survival Ascended is the best example as it's the "reimagined" version of ARK: Survival Evolved from 2015.
Regardless of which version you pick up, the idea here is to learn how to survive in a challenging environment populated by primeval creatures. There's a huge and dedicated community, and now is a great time to get started with it!
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Monster Sanctuary (Xbox One)
Monster Sanctuary is described as "monster taming meets metroidvania", and if that sounds like a fun concept to you, we think you'll have a really good time with this one! Again, this is another of the best Pokémon-like games on Xbox, featuring 111 monsters to collect, train and evolve as you play through its surprisingly long 30-hour journey. There's even PvP support so you can battle other trainers from across the world!
Monster Sanctuary is also an Xbox Game Pass title, so it's a no-brainer if you're subscribed to the service.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Nexomon: Extinction (Xbox One)
Just one look at Nexomon: Extinction and you'll immediately think "Pokémon". As you'd expect, it's very similar to Nintendo's series in terms of how it plays, but that's not necessarily a bad thing - in fact, plenty of its fans would argue that it's better than modern-day Pokémon! Featuring some beautiful artwork, an enjoyable story and over 300 Nexomon to collect, it's definitely worth grabbing this one on the Xbox Store if you like the look of it. Oh, and if you want something a bit cheaper, the original "Nexomon" is also available for just £7.99 / $9.99.
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Valheim (Xbox Series X|S)
We're going back specifically to the "Best Xbox Games like Palworld" part for this entry, and it's once again because of the survival and exploration aspects. Valheim began its life as a massively popular game on PC before eventually transitioning to Xbox a little while ago, and since then it's actually made its way to our best Xbox exclusives list! In Valheim, it's your job to explore a procedurally-generated world in which you'll struggle to survive against all kinds of enemies. Because of this, learning how to craft, build and fight effectively is crucial.
This is another one on Xbox Game Pass as things stand, and it's absolutely worth your time if you're curious.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Ooblets (Xbox One)
Ooblets isn't exactly like Pokémon by any means, but it does at least share similarities in how you collect creatures along the way. This is arguably the most relaxing game on our list, with a focus on making friends with Ooblets and NPCs, crafting, farming, running your own shop, playing minigames and even stepping onto the dancefloor! If you want a chill experience that's somewhat reminiscent of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, this is definitely worth looking into. It might be too laid back for some Pokémon and Palworld fans though!
- Xbox Game Pass? No