There are now many role-playing games on Steam that offer a similar experience to the Pokémon games. Few of them are truly dark, however. But a recent game from a legendary series has hit exactly this niche for MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes. So much so that he even bought the game twice.
What role-playing game is it? In summer 2024, the Japanese role-playing game Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance was released. This is a newer version of the game that originally came out in 2021 exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
Actually, the series is even older than Pokémon. The first part of the franchise was released in 1992, while the first Pokémon game was released in 1996. The Megami Tensei series later also gave rise to Persona.
However, there is not as much talking as in Persona, which is why Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance is one of the best alternatives to Pokémon for me. Especially if you want to catch nasty demons based on various legends and myths instead of cute monsters.
You can watch a trailer for the game here:
Post-apocalypse for Persona and Pokémon fans
What kind of game is Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance? At its core, it is a classic JRPG with abilities, demons, and systems that Persona fans should already be familiar with. However, Shin Megami Tensei is much more focused on combat and demons.
There is no story filled with talking and character introductions here. It revolves around the battle between angels and demons in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where you have fused with a mysterious person and gained abilities.
Like in Pokémon, you collect creatures – in this case, demons – to build a powerful team. Instead of throwing Pokéballs, you have to talk to them. The demons have different personalities that you must adapt to. But even if you persuade them, they still want money, items, your life, or your mana.
However, you won’t keep the demons in your team for long, as the creatures can be fused to create new, more powerful demons. This is a major appeal, as you can pass on abilities and build little builds for the demons.
This creates a flow that has captivated me.
A gameplay loop with the perfect pace
Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance has the perfect gameplay loop for me. You roam the world, defeat and collect demons, and then fuse them to build a solid team.
The combat system with the weaknesses is fun and has the perfect pacing. There are no random encounters, animations can be skipped, and if you just want to grind levels, there is an automatic battle function.
You should still be careful, as SMT V Vengeance is not an easy game. If the opponent uses attacks that are strong against your team, even seemingly weak enemies can lead to death. However, this is never particularly frustrating, as you can always save within the overworld.
Combined with the great soundtrack, a flow is created where you forget that several hours have already passed.
What makes the new version better? I actually already played SMT V in its original version on the Switch, but I had to buy the Vengeance version again because it improves on many aspects:
- Runs smoother than on the Switch and looks much better
- A second story has been added that offers the same playtime
- On the Steam Deck, it is the perfect game to relax on the couch
- More side quests, demons, and backgrounds
- A place to chat with your demons
- New level cap and new difficulty setting
How much playtime does Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance offer? If you play rather quickly, you need between 40 and 60 hours for each of the 2 storylines, while those who want to do everything and discover everything will likely end up with around 100 to 200 hours, depending on whether or not they use guides for the demons.
How much does Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance cost on Steam? Currently, there is a 40% discount on Steam until February 6, 2025. Instead of €59.99, the game costs only €35.99. Those who are still unsure can also download a free demo. Another dark alternative to Pokémon can be found here: A new game on Steam is like Pokémon, but in a dark world with monsters from horror movies
