New Switch Game Has Serious Pokemon Vibes

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A long-awaited game similar to Pokemon is heading to Nintendo Switch in early 2026. Fans of monster-collecting role-playing games will be able to catch and collect creatures inspired by Japanese legends. While Pokemon is a hugely popular franchise with many imitators, this particular game has been in development for over 20 years and boasts a unique backstory.

2025 was a fantastic year for Pokémon, highlighted by the launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A and ongoing updates to its mobile games. Looking ahead to 2026, which marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, things are set to get even bigger – official previews suggest it will be the franchise’s most significant year yet. While fans anticipate more announcements, there are other comparable games available on Nintendo Switch to enjoy in the meantime.

Pokemon-Like Yokai Game Releases for Switch in Early 2026

The team creating Navinosuke: The Yo-Kai Buster has announced it will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch in early 2026. The game is set in a reimagined ancient Japan, where players will battle various yokai while journeying across the land to resolve the trouble they cause. Visually, the game uses a charming 2D pixel art style similar to games from the Game Boy Advance—it was actually first started around 20 years ago! The project was put on hold for many years, but the team at Kohachi Studio is now finally bringing it to life.

Similar to the original Pokémon games, Yo-Kai Watch boasts around 150 different Yo-Kai to encounter and battle. However, not all of these creatures are friendly, and you won’t be able to add every one to your team. Players will follow the story of Navinosuke, a uniquely charming robotic onmyoji—a traditional Japanese spirit worker. Created by The Institute to combat dangerous spirits, Navinosuke has the power to seal Yo-Kai, and this ability is key to building a strong team.

Image via Kohachi Studio

So far, only a few of the YO-KAI have been shown, but many will seem familiar to players who know Japanese folklore-inspired games. These include Kurama Tengu, a mischievous mountain spirit, Gashadokuro, a huge skeleton creature, and Senko, a fox spirit who looks like a young girl. The game also features unique takes on well-known spirits like Nekomata, a cat-like being, and Okurizume, a giant sparrow creature. Each YO-KAI will have its own strengths and weaknesses, and will be able to use six different special abilities.

Image via Kohachi Studio

Beyond the many Yo-Kai, players will encounter over 200 unique characters. One, resembling a nurse, runs a healing center much like the Pokemon Centers and Nurse Joy. Other characters revealed so far include a castle lord planning a beauty pageant and a delivery ninja eager to face his biggest rival in a duel.

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2026-01-03 02:04