Yarimono (v1.19 & ALL DLC)

A seemingly hopeless monster trainer becomes dangerous the moment their weakest partner learns Cheat Tackle, an absurdly powerful attack that guarantees the opening blow and wipes out almost any opponent in one hit. Yarimono turns that deliberately unbalanced premise into a lengthy pixel-art creature-collecting RPG, mixing underdog comedy with a larger mystery surrounding its world and its strange Yarimon. The early goal is simple—beat a childhood rival, earn back lost money, and leave town—but the journey steadily expands into a championship chase and a search for hidden truths. Its mood is playful and knowingly exaggerated, though the story aims beyond the initial joke.

Battles against wild Yarimon and rival trainers provide the main route to growth, letting the player build a team from more than 150 collectible creatures. Cheat Tackle is a powerful safety valve rather than a complete solution: outside Easy Mode, it is limited to one use per battle, so team composition, training, and conventional moves still matter when facing tougher encounters. Experience gained through combat strengthens partners, while EXP shards allow earned growth to be distributed directly to favored monsters, reducing some of the grind common to the genre. Exploration pushes the adventure forward as new areas, opponents, Yaridex entries, and story revelations gradually open up.

What separates Yarimono from standard monster-taming RPGs is its intentionally ridiculous signature move, which gives the weakest-looking starter a unique tactical identity without entirely removing challenge. The large roster, illustrated character portraits with changing expressions, and detailed pixel sprites give collecting a more personal feel than a bare-bones retro clone. Completing the Yaridex offers a clear long-term objective for players who enjoy catching everything, while the central plot gives more direction than a purely battle-focused campaign. Fans of Pokémon-style progression who want a cheekier, more power-fantasy-driven take on the formula should find plenty to enjoy, especially if they appreciate flexible training and a substantial single-player adventure.