LumenTale: Memories of Trey will be hitting the Nintendo Switch on May 26, and it could very well be the perfect Pokemon replacement this year. Nintendo Switch gamers have been treated to all kinds of official Pokemon games since the home console/handheld hybrid launched in 2017, from remakes like Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl to brand-new main series games like Pokemon Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet. Switch has also been home to some of the most innovative takes on the franchise in years, like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks to be the last main series Pokemon game that will ever release for the OG Nintendo Switch. Pokemon Winds and Waves will be releasing in 2027 as Switch 2 exclusive games, after all. But that doesn’t mean there won’t still be Pokemon-like experiences on the OG Switch to help fill the void. In fact, one particularly promising new Pokemon-like game is scheduled to hit the Switch later this month.
Best Pokemon Fan Games
Pokemon fan games allow creative game makers to design custom adventures, often featuring fakemon, new regions, new storylines, and new game modes.
LumenTale is a New Pokemon-Like Coming to Switch
LumenTale: Memories of Trey is a new Pokemon-like game scheduled to launch for the Nintendo Switch on Tuesday, May 26. LumenTale is set in a world called Talea, populated by creatures known as Animon. Like in Pokemon, LumenTale lets players catch Animon and use them for battle, with “around 140 known species” spread across 13 elemental types. Battles will take into account elemental strengths and weaknesses ala Pokemon, with 1v1 fights and 4v4 battles set to be featured in the game.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
LumenTale takes inspiration from the Pokemon franchise in other ways as well. LumenTale also features Animon trading, cooking, and crafting, which are all features that have been spotted in Pokemon games. Whether LumenTale will be able to execute all these ideas at the same level of quality as Pokemon remains to be seen, but it will definitely be interesting to see how it turns out when its release date rolls around on May 26.
LumenTale will also be releasing on Steam on May 26, and since the Switch 2 is backward compatible with the Switch 1, it will be playable on Nintendo’s latest console as well.
LumenTale has players exploring 3D environments as pixel art characters, creating an interesting contrast that gives the game a unique look. That should help LumenTale stand out from other Pokemon-like games on the market, and its story should also help in that regard. LumenTale is set in the world of Talea, which has been terrorized by a civil war, so it sounds like it will be dealing with somewhat darker themes than what’s found in Pokemon and other monster-catching RPGs.
Time will tell how Nintendo Switch gamers react to LumenTale, but we will find out sooner rather than later. What’s been shown of the game so far definitely looks promising, and since the latest rumors and leaks claim that no new Pokemon Winds and Waves news is coming at all this year, a game like this could go a long way in helping tide fans over. Personally, I am intrigued by LumenTale and hope it sticks the landing so Nintendo Switch gamers have another Pokemon-style experience to enjoy.
