Making a direct Pokémon-inspired game in 2026 is a pretty risky move. It's common knowledge that Nintendo will defend even the smallest perceived attack on their copyright with lethal force, and their army of ninjas has sunk many fan projects and inspired indie games.
Nevertheless, another one is looming on the horizon. Encryptid is a monster battler heavily inspired by, specifically, the first generation of Pokémon, complete with Game Boy graphics and a chiptune soundtrack. Underlying all of it is a metanarrative propelled by FMV segments recorded on an actual Game Boy camera, which is very cool but will probably serve as further ammunition for the inevitable cease and desist.
If this one looks interesting to you, I'd grab it sooner rather than later before it's banished to the shadow realm.
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