For years, the Pokemon franchise has dominated the creature-collection genre of the gaming industry. Almost every Pokemon game is a hit, and even though the latest edition of the game, which is Pokemon Sword and Shield received a lot of criticism, it still managed to rise to the top. Multiple games have tried to dethrone Pokemon but have failed in most cases. However, the latest Pokemon inspired MMO Temtem, which was recently released seems to be the first legitimate competitor of Pokemon in years.
Temtem has been in development for more than two years. The game derives a lot of elements from Pokemon, that includes creature-collecting, battling system and RPG style story mode. There is a Temtem type chart and Temtem evolution guide , similar to what is available in Pokemon. However, in a grand scheme, Temtem is quite different from Pokemon. The main difference arises in the combat system and co-op mode.
According to the developers of Temtem, Crema, they want to highly prioritize the competitive side of the game. Unlike Pokemon which has RNG elements in the combat that includes, Crit Rate, Evasiveness, and Accuracy, etc, Temtem will depend on proper strategizing and planning. It also has a 2 v 2 battle system that promotes using synergies and teamwork.
This is an indication that the game wants to indulge in the Esports side of the industry. This is not surprising at all, as Esports has become a prevalent part of gaming. A proper Esports structure also means that the game will have a longer life span.
Regardless, the game is only out for early access now. Only 50% of the game is completed as of now, and most of it revolves around the story mode. The co-op part though available is far from polished and fans will have to wait for more in order to properly enjoy the competitive side of the game.
This the first time in a long time that a game is stealing some spotlight from Pokemon. Temtem has received positive reviews from critics all around and it seems like that the game is on the right path. Temtem servers went down as soon as the game was released due to many people trying to get inside the game, which just goes on to prove how immensely popular the game is right now.
Apart from challenging Pokemon, Temtem will also have to deal with the lowering popularity of MMOs in the past few years. MMO, which was once a staple gaming category, has seen an immense downfall both in its popularity and player base. Players usually tend to stay away from this genre as it consumes a lot of time and requires a lot of grinding. Nevertheless, Temtem has the right ingredients and might just become one of the most popular MMOs of recent times.