Skip to main content
PC Gamer PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
  • Hardware
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Video
  • Forum
  • More
    • PC Gaming Show
    • Software
    • Movies & TV
    • Codes
    • Coupons
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
    • Affiliate links
    • Meet the team
    • Community guidelines
    • About PC Gamer
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe to the world's #1 PC gaming mag
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$1
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Shadowheart, her face photoshopped onto a precocious creature trainer, throws a creature-collecting orb at a mindflayer.
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 modder adds legally distinct Poké Balls so you can 'capture non-player characters inside a ball and free them later (or don't)'
Aniimo - A player clasps their hands in a grassy field looking nervous
RPG A Pokémon-like gacha game should be such an obvious win that I'm shocked I can't find much to like about Aniimo
Chillet, the new Pal mount added to Terraria
Survival & Crafting How to get every Pal in Terraria's Palword crossover
Arc Raiders extraction characters
Games The best PC games to play right now
Monster Train 2 many units in a floor
Card Game The Monster Train 2 DLC is very good: the Railforged, a challenging new mode, and a mechanical spider factory
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Games The best co-op games to drag your pals into
Counter-Strike 2 header image
Games The best free PC games
An Average Day At The Cat Cafe
Games The best browser games
The War Within pre-expansion patch
MMO The best MMOs on PC
Survivors with guns and armor
Survival & Crafting The best survival games on PC
Honkai: Star Rail Silver Wolf build - Silver Wolf firing a beam
Games Gacha games are bigger than ever before—here are the best you can play right now
A grinning Henry and Capon ride proud-looking steeds.
RPG The best RPGs on PC
The game contained within an old CRT monitor
Horror This horror game built from the bones of an abandoned FPS server and an accidental ARPG might be one of the strangest puzzlers I've ever played
Games The best free games on Steam
Disgraced Yakuza lieutenant Michizane Sugawara crosses a waterway in his modified Kei truck/boat while his severed toe mascot partner sits in the back.
Games My 5 favorite 'cozy' games that don't actually look like cozy games
Popular
  • Arc Raiders
  • Best PC gear
  • Fallout
  • Helldivers 2
  • PC Gamer Quizzes!
  1. Games

Pokémon X/Y alternatives you can play on your PC right now

Features
By Nick Pino published 16 October 2013

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Minecraft 3

Minecraft 3

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
PCmon!

PCmon!

For Pokémon fans around the world, this weekend’s introduction of the sixth generation of games, Pokémon X and Y, was big. But just because Nintendo handheld owners got two new Pokémon games doesn’t mean that the rest of us have to wallow in the shadows while they soak up the sun—we’re PC gamers! We have dozens of monster-culling options that capture the feel of Game Freak’s prodigious franchise, and it doesn’t take a Pokémon Professor to see that you don’t need a console to catch ’em all.

Without further Bidoof, here‘s 10 games you can play to get that Pokémon experience without ever having to leave your keyboard and mouse behind.

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Minecraft Pixelmon Mod

Minecraft Pixelmon Mod

Minecraft and Pokémon go together like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff—two superb standalones that, when combined, meld into a sickeningly sweet amalgamate. The Pixelmon mod allows Minecrafters to discover, catch, and train 180 different species from the monster-collecting series all while exploring the biomes of Mojang’s open world.

What makes Pixelmon stand blocks above the competition, though, is the team’s commitment to updates, with new Pokémon, items, and skins dropping every week or two.

How much does it cost? The mod is free; Minecraft can be downloaded from Minecraft.net for $27.

Link: http://pixelmonmod.com/blog/

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Skyrim (DJSuperGenius’ Pokémon in Skyrim Mod)

Skyrim (DJSuperGenius’ Pokémon in Skyrim Mod)

Some slick coding by DJSuperGenius satiates that sick urge we’ve had since our youth, finally allowing us to catch Charizard-hued dragons and Pikachu-tone Skeevers and release them into an unwitting town. You can catch up to six minions at a time using a unique summoning spell and, once your Nintendo-inspired beasts start running low on health, you can return them to their red-and-white colored homes. Though the mod only sports 13 of the reimagined monsters, it’s an actually entertaining—if somewhat short-lived—batch of content.

How much does it cost? It’s free! (But a few too many glitches means you get what you pay for.)

Link: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=154083704

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria—Pet Battles

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria—Pet Battles

We could discuss the merits of Mists all day. Did the expansion re-ignite the fire in players’ hearts? Debatable. What I can say for sure is that Mists introduced the greatest meta-game in the history of the franchise.

Pet battles are Blizzard’s unabashed riffs on Japan’s largest monster export, and while it sounds like a feature-adding gimmick, it’s anything but. These battles are surprisingly deep and strategic, pitting Azeroth’s ambient animals in fight-to-the-death scenarios. They’re fun, engaging, and add one more reason to keep grinding away day after day.

How much does it cost? $40, but you’ll also need Wrath of the Lich King, The Burning Crusade, Cataclysm, and original World of Warcraft to play.

Link: http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/games/mists/

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
UnovaRPG

UnovaRPG

UnovaRPG is basically Pokémon Online, but without all of the fantastic visuals, tender training tutorials, and feel-good storyline. You can find dozens of these knock-offs in the dark reaches of the internet (MonsterMMORPG, PokéMMO, DelugeRPG, just to name a few). Direct copyright infringement is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

UnovaRPG and its half-dozen clones aren’t for the uninitiated in Pokéballs and monster battles—this is a bare bones version of Game Freak’s fiscal nest egg that has been built from the bottom up for a hardcore crowd and lacks a certain, uh, finesse, that its handheld progenitor has. Still, there’s no better way to get a quick fix of Nintendo’s monster-infested franchise.

How much does it cost? Free with registration.

Link: http://www.unovarpg.com/

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Spore Creature Creator

Spore Creature Creator

Will Wright, you brilliant, brilliant man, you. You built a game that not only let us re-create the monsters that we love in the finest detail, but used your world-crafting powers to allow us to form a city-state of Charizards and eventually send them into the farthest reaches of space to kill, maim, and capture every citizen of the known universe. You sly dog.

Want all of Pokémon’s eponymous monsters the minute you boot up the game? Search Spore’s user-created content page, Sporepedia, for your favorite pokémon.

How much does it cost? $20

Link: http://www.spore.com/

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

If you only try one game on this list, make it Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. This surprisingly brisk card battling game, based off those ’90s-era relics collecting dust in your attic, is a wildly entertaining strategy CCG that rivals Magic 2014 in its ability to engage and delight.

My only real qualms with the nostalgia-inducing card battler revolve around the lack of available modes for non-paying players and lack of diversity to the game’s starting decks, which realistically, I’m hard-pressed to disqualify the game for. If you have a younger brother/sister /son/daughter lying around who plays CCGs, PTCGO might be a great gateway for them into PC gaming.

How much does it cost? It’s free to try, but cards are obtained from real-world booster packs that cost $4.99 each.

Link: http://www.pokemontcg.com/

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Penny Arcade’s On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 4

Penny Arcade’s On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 4

OK, I’ll admit, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness series wasn’t perfect. But after investing three episodes worth of time into the tetralogy, it’s hard to stop cold turkey. Episode 4 vastly improved the turn-based role-playing mechanics of the third entry, Poké-fying them to perfection. Tossing Gabe, Tycho, and the ineffectual antagonist Dr. Blood into the cartoonish Underhell served as the perfect plot device to integrate PA’s misguided mythos with an outlandish, faux-Pokémon training mechanic.

While PAOtRSPoD:Ep4 may not be as mechanically sound as Game Freak’s monster collector is, it’s a hell of a lot funnier.

How much does it cost? $5

Link: http://www.rainslick.com/

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
Mystic Guardians

Mystic Guardians

Why Mystic Guardians? ‘Cause it wouldn’t be a list of offshoots for the ’90s’ most fiscally profitable game if it didn’t include one Facebook cash-in attempt. That said, Mystic Guardians is the best micro-transaction fueled rip-off this side of the iPhone’s Tiny Monsters. You’ll train “Guardians” (read: Pokémon), go to “Guardian Centers” (Read: Pokémon Centers), “collect badges from local gym leaders” (Read: Wait. Seriously?), all while enduring the friends’ and peers’ judgment when your Mystic Guardians activity pops up on their news feeds.

This level of blatant plagiarism and complete disregard for another developer’s work is impressive. I tip my hat to you, Mystic Guardians. Now where’d I leave my wallet?

How much does it cost? Nothing! (Other than your dignity.)

Link: https://apps.facebook.com/guardians/

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Pokémon Tower Defense

Pokémon Tower Defense

So far this list has covered the monster-collecting portion of Pokémon almost exclusively. “What about the gratifying strategy section of the series that I like so much?” you ask.

Do yourself a favor and check out Pokémon Tower Defense. The perfect silver bullet for boredom, this tower defense game has you leveling up your defenders and upgrading skillsets, all while growing your stationary monster militia. It may not beat Pokémon Conquest as a strategy game, but for a Pokémon-inspired tower defense game it can’t be beat. Not that there’s much competition in that category.

How much does it cost? Free!

Link: http://samdangames.blogspot.com/p/play-ptd_16.html

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Digimon Masters

Digimon Masters

It’s time we admit it: Pokémon won the great monster war of the ’90s. But just because Pokémon gets a new game every two years and Digimon hasn’t been relevant since before Black Eyed Peas was “the next big thing” doesn’t mean you should count it out.

And, thanks to Korean developer Joymax, the series based around building bonds of friendship, rooting for the underdog, and whatever the hell this thing is, will keep fighting the good fight. You’ll tame monsters, form parties, and generally lose your life to the Digimon-skinned version of World of Warcraft. Just don’t play it so much that you turn into <a href="http://digimon.wikia.com/wiki/Numemon"one of these.

How much does it cost? Free-to-play

Link: http://www.joymax.com/dmo/

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
PRODUCTS
Minecraft Spore The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim World of Warcraft
Nick Pino
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
PC Gamer
Get the PC Gamer Newsletter

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O&#039;clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Digimon Story: Time Stranger RPG
This year's Digimon Story Time Stranger may have looked like a traditional JRPG, but its commitment to raising weird little guys gave it an anarchic, constantly surprising energy that Pokémon couldn't match
 
 
Cassette Beasts - a viper monster uses a poison attack
The best indie Pokémon-like on PC is free on Epic for a limited time
 
 
Honkai: Star Rail Silver Wolf build - Silver Wolf firing a beam
Gacha games are bigger than ever before—here are the best you can play right now
 
 
An Average Day At The Cat Cafe
The best browser games
 
 
Aniimo - A player clasps their hands in a grassy field looking nervous
A Pokémon-like gacha game should be such an obvious win that I'm shocked I can't find much to like about Aniimo
 
 
Counter-Strike 2 header image
The best free PC games
 
 
Latest in Games
Stardew Valley wedding screenshot
Good news, Stardew Valley enthusiasts: the 1.7 update will make children 'a little more interesting' and add two new marriage candidates
 
 
Effy, the hammer-wielding hero from Starlight Re:Volver
Anime action RPG studio Pahdo Labs shuts down despite accruing $17.5M in funding: 'We believed making a demo of a familiar but new game would be our best shot'
 
 
Why does isometric perspective suit Disco Elysium? 'You can design the entire game as if it was a painting'
 
 
helldivers 2 bastion tank
Helldivers 2's overpowered, wildly fun tank is the culmination of two years of balancing
 
 
A Grounded 2 player character wearing armor that looks mix-and-match from various bugs. There&#039;s a Praying Mantis in the background chasing her.
Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 failed to meet expectations for Obsidian, but Grounded 2 was a hit, and the future is looking positive for the Pillars of Eternity universe
 
 
Terraria 1.4.5 - Character standing beside a Lucky Clover
How to get a Lucky Clover in Terraria
 
 
Latest in Features
Vault Boy looking through binoculars
Fallout Season 2 finale post-credits sequence: what does it mean?
 
 
The Ghoul with Mr House in the background
Fallout Season 2 Episode 8 recap: 'Everyone works for me eventually'
 
 
Steam Controller
Steam Controller re-review: A fresh look at Valve's flawed but influential 10-year-old controller
 
 
Leon Kennedy in Resident 9: Requiem trailer as he stands outside in the dark and looking older
The PC game releases we're most excited about in February
 
 
A screenshot from Don&#039;t Stop, Girlypop! showing a translucent human figure suspended in mid air
Five new Steam games you probably missed (February 2, 2026)
 
 
Civilization 7 screenshot
Moroccan pirate queen Sayyida al-Hurra was largely omitted from history books, but now she's in Civilization 7 thanks to a professor's curiosity and years of research
 
 
  1. MSI and Asus gaming monitors on a green background with the PC Gamer recommended logo in the top right
    1
    Best gaming monitors in 2026: the pixel-perfect panels I'd buy myself
  2. 2
    The best fish tank PC case in 2026: I've tested heaps of stylish chassis but only a few have earned my recommendation
  3. 3
    Best gaming laptop 2026: I've tested the best laptops for gaming of this generation and here are the ones I recommend
  4. 4
    Best Hall effect keyboards in 2026: the fastest, most customizable keyboards for competitive gaming
  5. 5
    Best PCIe 5.0 SSD for gaming in 2026: the only Gen 5 drives I will allow in my PC
  1. highguard
    1
    Highguard review
  2. 2
    iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro R07 review
  3. 3
    Be Quiet! Dark Perk Ergo review
  4. 4
    Terra Invicta review
  5. 5
    Cairn review

PC Gamer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...