Given the success of the Pokemon franchise, it’s no wonder that numerous creature collectors have sprung up on platforms like Steam over the years, with Palworld being the most famous (or maybe infamous) of all. And now, there’s another promising indie game that takes inspiration from both Palworld and Pokemon available on Steam called Voidling Bound — a title that is drowning in positive reviews.
Having only just released, many fans may not have heard about what Voidling Bound has to offer, though it does seem likely for positive word of mouth to start spreading fast. As its name suggests, this particular creature collector has a sci-fi slant, offering third-person shooter mechanics in addition to its goal of “catching them all.” However, that’s not the only unique aspect of the game, as instead of controlling a human Space Wrangler — AKA Pokemon Trainer — players assume control of the different aliens themselves. This makes hatching new critters and upgrading existing ones infinitely more exciting, as players are moving around and engaging in gameplay as the creatures as opposed to picking from a list of commands and watching them act.
The Free-to-Play RPG Played by 21 Million People With Overwhelmingly Positive Steam Reviews
There is an RPG gem hiding in plain sight with exceptional reviews on Steam, and you can join over 21 million other players right now completely free.
Voidling Bound is Proving to Be a Big Hit With Gamers
With 579 Steam reviews at the time of writing, there’s a decent sample size that shows what the average player will think of Voidling Bound, and it’s clear that combining third-person shooting with consistent creature management and progression is working for most players. 544 of those 579 user reviews recommend the game, and by looking at what exactly these reviews say, the game’s many strengths – and its few weaknesses – become clear.
Balance the critic averages
Balance the critic averages
Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)
Those who prefer the method of trying games for themselves as opposed to reading reviews are in luck, as the Voidling Bound Steam page offers a demo to try out. It’s also on sale for 10% off until June 23, with developer Hatchery Games taking its base price from $24.99 to $22.49 as a way to celebrate the game’s launch.
When it comes to what players enjoy about this particular Pokemon-like, a few things stand out. Breeding and stat inheritance are well received since they provide long-term goals, while having a sanctuary to pet and rename one’s Voidlings was also met with praise. And while there are only 9 base Voidlings, players have pointed out that there are actually hundreds of possibilities because of secret variants, the 30 evolutions, and the option to splice together different creatures. One gamer that loved this title compared it to Darkspore, saying it made them nostalgic for that particular title.
Other comparisons were made to the Spyro the Dragon series, Skylanders, Spore, and, of course, Pokemon. And while negative reviews (and critiques in the positive ones) are few and far between, one complaint does seem to be the lack of mission variety. While destroying the environment in certain missions like one might do in Donkey Kong Bananza is praised, some feel like the limited objectives lead to an unwanted feeling of repetition. Additionally, many fans find the game “good,” but feel like it could reach a whole new level of co-op were available for it. Regardless, for those looking to collect, create, and control creatures, Voidling Bound absolutely seems worthwhile.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
While 2026 has been a bummer for shooter fans, games like Voidling Bound go a long way to get the genre back on track. Even if you’re not the type to spend a bunch of time and money on smaller Steam games, this particular title seems worth it if you like third-person combat, Pokemon, or Palworld.