Ever since the success ofPokemon GO, Niantic has been trying to replicate it with all sorts of different franchises.The Wizarding WorldgotHarry Potter: Wizards Unite, thePikminseries starred inPikmin Bloom,Monster Huntergot its own version, and the studio has also tried to develop numerous more alongside other developers. It seems like Niantic wants to give every franchise its ownPokemon GO, but some untapped franchises may better fit the model.
ThePokemonfranchise is built for a collection-based AR smartphone game while other franchises are simply not. Some series are not built around the joys of collecting, but there are many franchises likePokemonthat are. While Niantic may not have the rights to these series yet, IPs likeDigimonandYu-Gi-Ohmay be exactly what the studio needs toreplicatePokemon GO’ssuccess.
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Digimon
Out of all the franchises in the world,Digimonis probably the closest fans can get toPokemonwithout playing aPokemongame. The series began in 1997 and follows various characters as they encounter digital monsters known as Digimon. These characters grow close to their Digimon and take them into battle against other Digimon. While these trainers are not trying to catch them all, they are building a bond with their creatures and doing everything they can to protect them.
TheDigimonfranchisehas had many games and shows over the years, but it has never matched the success of Nintendo’s franchise. However, aPokemon GOclone may be exactly what the franchise needs right now. Players could raise their own Digimon, adventure around the real world alongside it, help it grow stronger, and take on other Digimon. The franchise already takes place in a digital world, and now it is time for it to enter the AR genre.
Yo-Kai Watch
Yo-Kai Watchis another franchise about collecting various creaturesand using them to take down evil. It started in 2013 on the Nintendo 3DS and has seen multiple projects since. The series revolves around befriending mythical spirits known as Yo-kai that are haunting the city. Using a Yo-Kai Watch, the player can grow closer to their Yo-kai and utilize them in battle. While it may not be as popular as thePokemonfranchise, it would still fit perfectly into thePokemon GOmodel.
AYo-Kai WatchAR game could see players obtain their very own Yo-Kai Watch via their phone and adventure around the real world to befriend Yo-kai. These Yo-kai could be strewn about the real world haunting the city streets, and it would be up to the player to help them. They could then battle other players to see who has the strongest Yo-kai around. It couldhelp makeYo-Kai Watcha household name.
Yu-Gi-Oh
One of thePokemon TCG’s biggest competitors is theYu-Gi-Oh!series, and that makes itthe perfect candidate for aPokemon GOclone. The series takes place in a world where people engage in a card game known as Duel Monsters. This game sees them battle each other with cards that create fantasy monsters. While no one is really going around catching creatures, and it is considerably darker thanPokemonis, it still shares a lot of similarities with the franchise.
APokemon GOclone set within theYu-Gi-Ohseries could see players battle others around the world. They could challenge each other to Duel Monsters and discover new cards as they traverse the world. Niantic may have to change the formula a little to fit the fictional card game, but it could work if given the chance. It might work a lot better thanHarry Potter,Transformers, or evenMarvelever could, and that may be exactly what the studio needs right now.
Pokemon GOis available now on Mobile devices.
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