Best Games Like Monster Hunter Stories for Turn Based Monster Collecting

If you loved Monster Hunter Stories and want more turn-based monster collecting, the top pick is Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. It nails the same loop—hatch, train, and battle with a party of monsters—while adding deep synthesis (fusing monsters) and a surprisingly dark story. Its battle system feels modern and snappy, and it respects your time better than most rivals.

What to Look For

Not every monster collector is the same. Here’s what actually matters when choosing a game like Monster Hunter Stories:

• Turn-based combat depth – Do you get meaningful choices each turn (skills, positioning, type matchups) or is it just auto-attack spam? Look for games with elemental weaknesses, status effects, and party synergy.
• Monster variety and progression – A good collector has dozens of distinct creatures, each with unique moves and growth paths. Check whether monsters evolve, fuse, or gain new forms.
• Story and world – Monster Hunter Stories has a charming, character-driven plot. If that mattered to you, avoid games with paper-thin narratives.
• Exploration and discovery – Do you wander a world and find eggs, dens, or wild monsters? Or is it all menu-based? The joy of discovery is a big part of the genre.
• Post-game and replayability – Are there optional bosses, breeding mechanics, or online battles? A good collector keeps you hooked after the credits.
• Platform availability – Some of these are exclusive to Switch, PC, or mobile. Check what you own before falling in love.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

Strengths: This is the closest modern equivalent to Monster Hunter Stories. You explore a semi-open world, recruit monsters by defeating them (with a chance to join), and then synthesize them to create stronger, weirder creatures. The turn-based combat is classic Dragon Quest but with a twist: you can issue tactical orders to each monster, and the skill inheritance system lets you build truly custom fighters. The story is darker than the series’ usual fare, and the monster animations are full of personality.

Trade-offs: It’s Switch-exclusive (for now), and the synthesis system can feel overwhelming if you don’t like spreadsheets. The game also has a performance dip in the overworld on the original Switch.

Who it suits: Anyone who wants the closest spiritual successor to Monster Hunter Stories with deeper team-building and a proper story.

Nexomon: Extinction

Strengths: If you want a classic monster-catching RPG without the Pokémon baggage, this is it. It has over 300 unique monsters, a witty and surprisingly engaging story, and a world that’s fun to explore. The turn-based combat is straightforward but well-balanced, and the game respects your time—no random encounters, and you can see wild monsters on the map. It’s available on virtually everything (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, mobile).

Trade-offs: The difficulty spikes are real, especially early on. Some monsters are only obtainable through special events or evolution requirements that aren’t always clear. The graphics are serviceable but not stunning.

Who it suits: Players who want a large, varied monster roster and a more traditional “catch them all” loop, without the need for deep breeding or fusion mechanics.

Cassette Beasts

Strengths: This is the most innovative game on this list. Instead of catching monsters, you record them onto cassette tapes and then transform into them. The twist? You can combine two tapes to create a fusion monster with unique stats and moves. The turn-based combat is fast, with a type system based on elemental “tags” that makes every fight a puzzle. The hand-drawn art and synthwave soundtrack are gorgeous. It also has co-op multiplayer, which is rare in this genre.

Trade-offs: The monster roster is smaller (around 120), and the open-world structure can feel aimless if you prefer a linear story. The fusion system, while cool, adds a layer of complexity that might not click with everyone.

Who it suits: Players who want a fresh, creative take on monster collecting with a strong sense of style and don’t mind a smaller roster.

Monster Sanctuary

Strengths: This one blends turn-based combat with Metroidvania exploration. You control a team of three monsters, and each one has a field ability (like double jump or climbing) that opens new areas. Battles are deep: you build a skill tree for each monster, and positioning matters because you can swap your active monster mid-turn. The pixel art is lovely, and the monster designs are creative.

Trade-offs: The Metroidvania elements might turn off players who just want to collect and battle. The difficulty is also high—you’ll need to optimize your team’s synergies to progress. It’s available on PC, Switch, and consoles.

Who it suits: Players who enjoy both exploration and tactical combat, and who like fine-tuning their party with skill trees and synergies.

Coromon

Strengths: Think of this as a modern, polished take on classic monster collecting. It has a sleek pixel art style, a large region to explore, and over 100 monsters with unique evolutions. The turn-based combat is simple but solid, with a “potential” system that lets you boost stats as you level. It also has a difficulty slider, so you can play it as a relaxed adventure or a challenging strategy game.

Trade-offs: The story is generic and forgettable. The monster designs are hit-or-miss, and some evolutions require specific items or conditions that aren’t well explained.

Who it suits: Players who want a comfortable, familiar monster-collecting experience with modern quality-of-life features, and who don’t need a deep narrative.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Strengths: If you want the darkest, most challenging take on monster collecting, this is it. You recruit demons (think mythological figures) through negotiation, then fuse them to create stronger ones. The turn-based combat is brutal but fair, with a press-turn system that rewards exploiting weaknesses. The story is mature and philosophical, and the world design is genuinely impressive. The Vengeance version adds a new storyline and quality-of-life improvements.

Trade-offs: It’s hard. You will die often if you don’t prepare. The tone is grim, and the monster designs are more “demonic” than cute. It’s only on Nintendo Switch and PC (the original was Switch-exclusive).

Who it suits: Experienced RPG players who want a challenging, story-driven monster collector with a mature tone and deep fusion mechanics.

How to Choose

First, set your budget. If you want a free option, Nexomon: Extinction is often on sale and also has a mobile version. Coromon is the most affordable premium option. Cassette Beasts and Monster Sanctuary are mid-priced indie gems. Dragon Quest Monsters and Shin Megami Tensei V are full-priced AAA releases.

Next, decide what you value most:

• Story and characters? Go with Dragon Quest Monsters or Shin Megami Tensei V.
• Exploration and discovery? Monster Sanctuary and Cassette Beasts offer the most interesting worlds.
• Deep team-building? Dragon Quest Monsters (synthesis) and Shin Megami Tensei V (fusion) are the deepest.
• Casual fun? Coromon and Nexomon are more relaxed.

Also consider platform. If you only have a Switch, your best bets are Dragon Quest Monsters, Shin Megami Tensei V, Cassette Beasts, and Monster Sanctuary. PC players have everything. Mobile players should look at Nexomon or the older Dragon Quest Monsters games on emulators.

Finally, think about difficulty. If you want a challenge, Shin Megami Tensei V is the hardest. If you want a chill experience, Coromon on easy mode is the most forgiving. Monster Sanctuary and Cassette Beasts sit in the middle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince a direct sequel to Monster Hunter Stories?
A: No, it’s a separate series. But it shares the same core loop of raising and battling monsters in a turn-based RPG, and it’s the closest in feel.

Q: Which of these has the most monsters?
A: Nexomon: Extinction has over 300, which is the most. Dragon Quest Monsters has around 200, and Cassette Beasts has about 120.

Q: Are there any multiplayer options?
A: Cassette Beasts has local co-op. Monster Sanctuary has online versus battles. The others are single-player only.

Q: I loved the egg hatching in Monster Hunter Stories. Which game has that?
A: Dragon Quest Monsters has a similar system where you find eggs in the wild and hatch them. Monster Sanctuary also has eggs you can collect and hatch.

Q: Are any of these on mobile?
A: Nexomon: Extinction is on iOS and Android. Coromon is also available on mobile. The others are console/PC only.

Q: Which one is the most like Pokémon?
A: Coromon and Nexomon are the most Pokémon-like in structure and tone. Dragon Quest Monsters is more like a traditional JRPG with monster collecting.

Bottom Line

If you want the single best game that replicates the Monster Hunter Stories experience, pick Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. It has the same charm, deep team-building, and a proper story. If you’re on a budget or want something more experimental, Cassette Beasts is the most creative choice. For pure monster-catching volume, Nexomon: Extinction delivers. And if you’re up for a challenge, Shin Megami Tensei V will push you. No matter which you choose, you’ll find that satisfying loop of discovering, raising, and battling with your monster team.

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