A New Pokémon Clone Surpasses Palworld in Scale and Ambition
Nintendo’s legal battle against the Pokémon-inspired game Palworld hasn’t gone exactly as planned, yet it seems that the threat of legal action hasn’t deterred other developers from venturing into similar territory. Enter Pickmon, a new title that feels like a blend of Pokémon and Palworld, featuring monster designs that are not just pushing boundaries but are practically at the heart of the sun.
In Pickmon, players take on the role of a tamer who resembles a budget version of Link from Breath of the Wild, accompanied by a creature that is unmistakably reminiscent of Pikachu. The monsters in this game wield firearms, much like in Palworld, and they encounter creatures that bear a striking resemblance to Pokémon. The trailer and promotional art showcase clear inspirations from iconic Pokémon such as Ceruledge, Charizard, Meganium, Lucario, and Cobalion, alongside some designs that echo Palworld’s more unique creations. The similarities extend beyond just Pokémon and Palworld; some characters appear to be nods to Roadhog from Overwatch and even the cow from Story of Seasons. The main twist? Instead of capturing monsters with balls, players collect them using cards.
However, the whole situation feels a bit off. Pickmon is actively inviting streamers and content creators to engage with the game and join an early access “experience” ahead of its public early access launch in 2027. The game’s Steam page lists PocketGame as the developer, but this is their only title on the platform. The publisher, NETWORKGO, has previously worked on Hainya World. Interestingly, the debut trailer claims to be from the Summer Game Fest 2026, yet that event is still three months away, and host Geoff Keighley hasn’t mentioned Pickmon at all. While Summer Game Fest has showcased Palworld in the past, it wouldn’t be surprising if they featured a game attempting to capitalize on Pokémon’s popularity. We’ve reached out for comments regarding this and will provide updates if we receive any information.
