Digimon Story: Time Stranger Producer Comments on Pokemon Comparisons

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Ryosuke Hara, producer of Digimon Story: Time Stranger, recently discussed the ongoing comparisons between Digimon and Pokemon. The two monster-collecting franchises have been compared and debated since their beginnings, both experiencing a surge in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their first anime series also aired around the same time, sparking many fan discussions. Now, Hara is offering his perspective on these frequent comparisons.

The world was first introduced to Ash Ketchum and Pokemon in Japan in 1997, and the show quickly became popular worldwide in 1998. Digimon followed soon after in 1999, telling the story of the DigiDestined. Fans have long debated which anime series is better, with many believing Digimon has a more compelling story and well-developed characters. Now, a key figure involved with Digimon is sharing their thoughts on these comparisons.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger Producer Speaks on Pokemon Comparisons

In a recent interview with MCV/Develop, Ryosuke Hara, producer of Digimon Story: Time Stranger, discussed the frequent comparisons between Digimon and Pokemon. Hara acknowledged that these comparisons are natural, given the similarities in how both games involve collecting monsters. He hopes players will experience what makes Digimon unique through Digimon Story: Time Stranger, emphasizing that the two franchises have very different underlying ideas and appeal to players in different ways. Digimon Story: Time Stranger released last month and has received positive reviews, with praise for its battle system, music, and other features.

In a recent interview, Hara discussed the return of the Digimon Story series. He explained that the team aimed to create a game enjoyable for both dedicated fans and new players, focusing on a pleasing visual style and improved battles. Hara also highlighted their commitment to creating a deeply immersive experience in Digimon Story: Time Stranger, starting with intriguing mysteries and a story initially set in the real world before venturing into the Digital World.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger Competes Directly with Pokemon’s Newest Release

Image via Bandai Namco

The latest installment in the Digimon series, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, is back and aiming to compete with the popular Pokemon franchise. Both games, released close to each other in October – Time Stranger just weeks before Pokemon Legends: Z-A – are set in modern cities. This rivalry isn’t new; Digimon and Pokemon have consistently launched new games around the same time, dating back to the original Digimon World which came out shortly before Pokemon Gold and Silver. While Pokemon usually outsells Digimon by a large margin, with each new game selling tens of millions of copies, critics seem to be equally impressed with the newest entries. Currently, both Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Digimon Story: Time Stranger have an 80% score on OpenCritic.

Image via Bandai Namco

The huge success of games like Pokémon and Digimon inspired many other developers to create similar monster-collecting games. Square Enix created Dragon Quest: Monsters, letting players tame creatures from their popular RPG series. Level-5’s Yo-kai Watch also became very popular in the 2010s, especially on the 3DS. This trend even reached indie developers, with games like Palworld, Temtem, and Cassette Beasts gaining popularity. Now, Digimon Story: Time Stranger aims to offer a fresh take on the genre, differentiating itself from Pokémon.

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2025-11-27 21:36