Temtem Reviews

Temtem is ranked in the 60th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
Sep 6, 2022

Regardless, what “Temtem” has achieved is remarkable. After two years of being dubbed a copycat, its long-awaited launch may yet inspire copycats of its own.

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Unscored
Sep 8, 2022

Temtem is a creature-catcher that takes inspiration from Pokemon's successes and failures, iterating on the formula in many ways that help it surpass Nintendo's behemoth.

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Sep 8, 2022

Temtem is not simply a Pokemon Clone, the game offers a lot of its own unique content as well. You can catch, tame, or breed the monsters as expected, but it also builds upon certain shortcomings of the gameplay of the Pokemon franchise.

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Sep 9, 2022

Temtem’s disappointing, because it promised to be so much. In a genre that has been so utterly dominated by one particular property, and then lightyears back to the nearest rival, here was a game that seemed like it had the ambition and scope to actually rival Game Freak’s giant on its home turf. Unfortunately the result is more akin to the more egregious MMOs – a waste of time that exists to be a waste of time.

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4.5 / 5.0
Sep 14, 2022

When all is said and done, Temtem is far more than its inspirations. Though it stumbles occasionally, the game offers an experience that even the most grizzled Pokémon fan will enjoy while also building up a new world for fresh players to marvel at. It’s a must-play and a strong showing of what could be a major series moving forward.

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8 / 10
Sep 14, 2022

Even without the endgame content, Temtem is worth a look for anyone who has enjoyed a Pokémon game in the last two-and-a-half decades, especially those who have wanted a steeper challenge to go along with their critter collecting. It's a familiar, imitative experience in so many ways, yet we came away satisfied with just about every tweak made to the well-established formula. Sure, the main quest becomes a bit of a slog, and yes, the Nintendo Switch does struggle to keep up at times. Despite these qualms, Temtem's engaging battles enshrine it as one of the most innovative additions to the genre in recent memory.

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GAMES.CH
Top Critic
85%
Sep 14, 2022

Temtem follows a rather simple premise. What if Pokémon’s first generation was made today? The result is an excellent dose of nostalgia with many modernized features such as campaign co-op and a rich endgame. It’s about time Nintendo’s stagnant franchise gets serious competition and as things stand now, Temtem is the game for those who have dropped off the main Pokémon games for lack of innovation and challenge. A relatively low price and a ton of very polished content makes this an easy recommendation.

Review in German | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2022

Temtem is enjoyable, pretty, and has cool combat, but it’s hardly amazing. It’s not unique, nor is it a real MMO.

Review in Polish | Read full review

Unscored
Sep 15, 2022
Temtem | Review in 3 Minutes video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

There's finally a legit upstart contender for the monster-collecting throne...

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Sep 16, 2022

Temtem is a fun monster-catching game that offers plenty of twists on the well-worn Pokémon formula.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 16, 2022

Temtem may look like a copycat on its surface, but its deviations from the Pokémon formula pay off considerably. With unique battling elements and an engaging MMO structure, Temtem evolves as its own experience and offers a vast, challenging adventure that even those without a Nintendo console can enjoy.

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82 / 100
Sep 17, 2022

If the Pokémon formula is your thing, Temtem takes it a little further with its new combat, multiplayer, and higher level of challenge. It doesn't have the refinement of Pokémon in certain areas, and its "always online" component makes it impossible to play on a laptop with Nintendo Switch, if it's on a site without a Wi-Fi connection.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

75 / 100
Sep 18, 2022

What it lacks in charm, Temtem makes up for with mechanical depth and involved multiplayer.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 18, 2022

Temtem is fun and enjoyable, but it doesn't even try to reinvent the wheel, settling for just being a poke-clone.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10
Sep 18, 2022

By and large, Temtem is a well-made, generous monster-taming RPG that differentiates itself enough from the obvious competition. The battle system is perhaps its main strength, offering quite challenging 2-on-2 fights even against wild encounters. It's jam-packed with stuff to do, and its online integration means connecting with other players is easy. The creature designs could be better, and the writing and human characters aren't particularly memorable, but if the game clicks for you, those weaknesses will fade into the background.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 18, 2022

Temtem isn't just a copycat Pokémon. Incorporating MMO elements and engaging characters into fan-favourite gameplay is an overwhelming success, with an abundance of addicting endgame content. Unfortunately, Temtem suffers from optimisation issues and needs to present its most captivating features at the forefront rather than behind the MMO grind and a slow main story. I can't deny how much fun it is to play Temtem, it just needs more time and polish to be the best there ever was.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2022

Temtem was never going to usurp Pokémon as the best monster catching game. But if it gets at least part of the way there, then it should be considered a success. In that light, then, Crema has indeed succeeded. This is a great start, and with continued support and possibly some expansions down the line, Temtem could become a wonderfully addictive, challenging turn-based collect-a-thon with MMO elements mixed in. The creatures might not be as inventive, nor are there as many of them to collect. But Temtem has a charming world to get lost in, and while the battles can feel repetitive at times, seeing other trainers scurry about the area is a fun reminder that you’re playing something just different enough that this game can stand on its own.

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71 / 100
Sep 21, 2022

Temtem is a unique yet familiar take on the monster-collecting genre. Its blend of MMO mechanics gives it the potential for a long-running, sustainable community with more to enjoy than a single-player narrative. The new combat mechanics are a fantastic upgrade. However, the Tems themselves and the overall lack of guidance aren’t quite up to standards. Tems aren’t that memorable themselves and many of their names just don’t click. Having no guidance on typing, advantages, or explanations on a number of smaller features drops the enjoyment of gameplay. It’s a great experience, but it expects you to already have a certain amount of knowledge of both genres before picking up the controller.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 22, 2022

Temtem is a fun RPG, but it definitely lacks originality. Without a lot of ideas of its own, it's hard not to think about the concept of a missed opportunity, especially when you consider the creators' multiplayer ambitions and the pretty stable formula. Even so, it is an adventure recommended for fans of the genre — it is enough that expectations are properly dosed, as there is absolutely nothing revolutionary here.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review