Summary
- Open-world monster-summoning games are rare but a few standout titles deliver the mechanic well.
- Palworld and Pokemon Legends: Arceus are top modern picks for open-world monster collection and combat.
- Oblivion, Elden Ring, and Digimon World show diverse summoning: conjuration, spirit ashes, and Digimon training.
Open-World games where you can summon monsters are not so easy to find nowadays; besides the most obvious choices like Pokemon, the monster collector/monster summoner genre, and the open-world design style do not merge too often. However, if players are wondering which titles have this mechanic to call forth allies to fight for them, there are a few options they can pick.
Some of the games in this list have already showcased their potential in a beta test, while others are already established brands in the game industry. Every title spotlighted here has at least the summon monster mechanic as part of its many quirks, and a big open world to explore leisurely.
Palworld
A Contender For The Title Of Best Monster Collector Game
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
Palworld has progressed at a steady pace ever since its launch back in 2024, and its developers from PocketPair have already more than proved they have what it takes to make a great game. It has open-world exploration, base building, crafting, and tons of incredible features that set it apart from most Monster Summoning games.
Despite the obvious controversy and the legal battles between PocketPair and Nintendo for some of the game mechanics they share in common, Palworld managed to gain its own identity and a considerable amount of fans. Its latest expansion introduced a collaboration with Terraria,something fans didn't expect, but welcomed anyway. So, with tons of creatures to summon and battle, Palworld might be one of the best options nowadays for those who love the Monster Collector genre.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
One Of The Finest Pokémon Games Ever Made
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Released
- January 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokemon Legends: Arceus has become a sort of cult game among fans of Pokemon, and not only because of its beautiful scenario design: the game was a shift of paradigm in terms of mechanics, exploration, and Pokemon battles. Players all around the world enjoyed the pace shift, and Game Freak learned a valuable lesson about what their audience wants.
If players are interested in a great game about summoning monsters and making them fight, then Legends Arceus is definitely among the best around. Unless, of course, they are up for trying Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which has been going around strongly as of late. Be it as it may, in terms of Open-World games with creature summoning, Legends Arceus might be the best choice for fans of this beloved franchise.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The Best Medieval Action RPG To Play As A Summoner
They say fire must be fought with fire, and for the Hero of Kvatch, this is not only a saying: It's a way of life. Summoning the powerful Daedra to fight their brethren invading from the Oblivion plane is one of the most fun and rewarding experiences players can enjoy in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
From the vicious Scamp to the fiery Flame Atronach, summoned creatures can be brought forth using the Conjuration magic School, and players can enjoy swarming their enemies with powerful summoned creatures. And if players are not satisfied with creatures from beyond the realm, they can also become powerful Necromancers, raise the dead, and summon zombies, skeletons, and other dangerous undead.
Elden Ring
Summoner Builds In This Game Are Broken
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
From the absolutely broken Tishe, to the controversial Mimic Tear, Elden Ring has a wide array of summons (known in the game as Spirit Ashes) that can make the Tarnished's name a lot easier than it should be (for a soulslike game, that is).
Some players love to bully the most dangerous bosses with summons, while others will cheese their way around being the laziest summoners, and others will only use summons as complements for their builds. Be it as it may, there's no right way to play summoner in Elden Ring, so players can rest at ease and play however they want, with the summons they want. No one is going to judge them.
Digimon World: Next Order
One Of The Best Digimon Games Ever Made
Digimon World: Next Order
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 66 /100 Critics Rec: 25%
- Released
- January 27, 2017
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- B.B. Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The vastness of the Digital World is something that is not so easy to replicate in an open-world game, and few Digimon titles have been quite successful in this monumental task. But, among all the possible titles to pick from, Digimon World: Next Order is definitely one of the top picks among players who want to summon monsters and make them fight.
The game takes players back to the Digimon Village (or Jijimon's Village) from the original Digimon World game (1999) as the chosen child, now all grown up and ready to help the Digimon reconstruct their homeland, with the help of their fateful Partner Digimon. The game's core mechanic has now shifted to training two Digimon at the same time, and Jogress Digivolution is the late game goal for all wannabe Digimon Tamers.