Temtem

Temtem may look like Pokemon on the surface, but a deep battle system and engaging PvP elements make up for the similarities.

Temtem is a creature-catcher that takes inspiration from Pokemon's successes and failures, iterating on the formula in many ways that help it surpass Nintendo's behemoth.

When all is said and done, Temtem is far more than its inspirations. Though it stumbles occasionally, the game offers an experience that even the most grizzled Pokémon fan will enjoy, while also building up a new world for fresh players to marvel at.

Already highly polished and nailing the essence of the monster catch battler RPG subgenre, Temtem looks set to go from strength to strength on PlayStation 5 if the surprisingly robust state of its early access debut is any indication.

We've got Pokémon at home, but Temtem hits different.

Temtem was never going to usurp Pokémon as the best monster catching game. But if it gets at least part of the way there, then it should be considered a success. In that light, then, Crema has indeed succeeded. This is a great start, and with continued support and possibly some expansions down the line, Temtem could become a wonderfully addictive, challenging turn-based collect-a-thon with MMO ele...

If you like collecting, leveling up and breeding cute animals, then Temtem is a game is worth your attention. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but the creature-collecting part of the game shines brightly.

Temtem challenges itself with an uphill battle in its easy comparisons to Pokemon. While it’s simple to shrug it off as a mere clone, Temtem offers just enough unique content to keep it fresh, blending the monster-catching craze with heavy – yet generally friendly – MMO mechanics. It’s a step in the right direction for monster collecting, but is it enough to pull long-time Pokemon fans away?

Temtem is a fun monster-catching game that offers plenty of twists on the well-worn Pokémon formula.

What Temtem’s early access version lacks in originality it makes up for by improving upon the creature collection genre with a compelling MMO ecosystem, strategic combat mechanics, and excellent world-building across roughly 30 hours of content. That said, this is the kind of early access game where it’s clearly incomplete, and you’ll find literal work-in-progress signs at every turn. Anybody unco...

Overall, Temtem is a fine alternative to other monster-collecting games with plenty to do. The balance can be a bit troublesome, but that may vary from person to person. However, it offers enough differences to be unique, with its default two-on-two battles and mechanics adding variety to each fight. Plus, playing with friends is easy and a blast.

As it stands, Temtem is a solid Pokémon alternative with some online functionality. You can probably expect 25-60 hours of gameplay, depending on how quickly you power through the content and whether you spend time grinding for rare Temtem and breeding. But once you’ve finished the part of the campaign that’s ready, there isn’t much to do. You can keep catching and breeding, but it’s challenging t...