The Polygon piece on Crimson Desert’s 1.11 patch — the one that turned the world into a pet paradise with pinball-style training mini-games — pointed at something the genre has been quietly leaning into for years. Pet, mount, and creature systems aren’t side features in modern MMORPGs anymore; for a meaningful slice of the player base they’re the reason to log in. We tested eight MMORPGs on PC where taming, raising, and battling creatures is a core loop rather than an afterthought.
What to look for in a monster-taming MMORPG
The questions that decide the right pick:
- Is taming the headline mechanic, or a side system bolted onto a combat-first MMO?
- Do you want strict turn-based capture (Pokémon-style) or open-world action taming?
- Are pets just stat sticks, or do they have meaningful AI and progression?
- Do you want a buy-once box, a subscription, or a free-to-play store?
- Does the community trade creatures, or is everything bound to your account?
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Taming style | Cost | Players online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Desert | Pet system inside a Pearl Abyss action MMO | Companion training, pet pinball | $69.99 base | Tens of thousands |
| World of Warcraft | Hunter pet trees, pet battle minigame | Tame any beast, battle with collectibles | $14.99/mo sub | Massive |
| Temtem | The closest Pokémon-style MMO on PC | Strict capture, turn-based duels | $44.99 | Steady core |
| Final Fantasy XIV | Chocobo companion plus 400+ minions | Carrot-trained chocobo, minion drops | Free trial then $12.99/mo | Massive |
| Black Desert Online | Mount taming as a core skill | Lasso wild horses, breed for stats | Free | Large |
| Palworld | Open-world creature MMO with bases | Capture with Pal Spheres, automate | $29.99 | Huge in waves |
| Riders of Icarus | Mounted-combat MMO with taming focus | Aerial taming, mounted PvP | Free | Niche but loyal |
| Lost Ark | ARPG MMO with collectible pets | Drop and quest pets with utility | Free | Large |
The games
1. Crimson Desert — best pet system inside a Pearl Abyss action MMO
Crimson Desert launched in March 2026 and has been adding content every week since. The June patch made pets the headline: a training pinball mini-game, multi-pet party slots, and pet-specific abilities that integrate with the action combat. The world itself remains the studio’s standout — open, dense, and built around movement.
Where it falls short: The MMO layer is still maturing; expect more guild and PvP content over the year. The opening hours lean cinematic and pace slower than ARPG fans expect.
Pricing: $69.99 base. Higher-tier editions add cosmetics.
Players: 50,000 to 60,000 daily peak on Steam.
Download: Crimson Desert on Steam
Bottom line: The pick if you want monster-taming inside a brand-new AAA action MMO.
2. World of Warcraft — best hunter pet system plus pet battle minigame
World of Warcraft has the most mature pet system on the market in two ways. Hunters can tame nearly any beast in the world, build a stable, and specialise pets into different talent trees. Separately, the Pet Battle system is essentially a Pokémon-style mini-MMO where players collect and duel collectible companions across every zone.
Where it falls short: Subscription plus expansion model adds up. The Pet Battle community is dedicated but smaller than the main game.
Pricing: Subscription around $14.99 per month. Latest expansion sold separately.
Players: Multi-millions across regions.
Download: World of Warcraft
Bottom line: Pick WoW when you want both a serious tamer class (hunters) and a deep collectible pet metagame.
3. Temtem — best Pokémon-style MMO on PC
Temtem is the only MMO to take the turn-based-capture formula seriously on PC. Every battle is two-on-two, every creature has counters and synergies, and the world is structured as a journey across six islands with co-op throughout. Trading is real (no NFTs, just regular trades) and competitive ladder play has a steady ranked scene.
Where it falls short: The campaign is finite. Endgame is breeding, ranked play, and the lairs co-op mode.
Pricing: $44.99.
Players: Smaller than the giants but stable.
Download: Temtem on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Temtem when you want Pokémon-style capture turned into a real MMO.
4. Final Fantasy XIV — best companion chocobo and minion collection
Final Fantasy XIV runs two pet systems in parallel. The companion chocobo grows through battle and feeding, picks a combat role, and fights alongside you in overworld content. Minions are over 400 collectible cosmetic creatures unlocked through quests, drops, and special events. Battle pets exist on Summoner and Scholar classes.
Where it falls short: No taming of wild creatures. Pets fill collection-and-cosmetic roles more than capture-and-battle.
Pricing: Free trial through Stormblood. Subscription around $12.99 per month after.
Players: Massive worldwide.
Download: Final Fantasy XIV
Bottom line: Pick FFXIV when you want a polished MMO with deep companion and collection systems.
5. Black Desert Online — best mount taming as a core skill
Black Desert Online treats horse taming as a real skill. Find a wild horse in the world, throw a lasso, calm it down with sugar, repeat. Train it. Breed for higher tiers. Tier 9 and beyond horses are bragging-rights creatures with combat capabilities. The mount network underpins the game’s massive transport and trade economy.
Where it falls short: Pet system is more limited than mounts (drops at boss kills, auto-loot helpers). Cash shop nudges hard on horse customisation.
Pricing: Free. Cosmetic and convenience items in the Pearl Shop.
Players: Hundreds of thousands worldwide.
Download: Black Desert Online
Bottom line: The pick if mounted travel and breeding-as-progression is the loop you want.
6. Palworld — best open-world creature MMO with bases
Palworld is the open-world creature collector turned into a survival sandbox. Capture Pals with Pal Spheres, use them in combat, set them to work in your base (chopping trees, mining ore, generating power). Multiplayer servers let you build with friends or fight other tamers.
Where it falls short: Early Access patches still reshape the meta. Some legal questions around design have drawn attention.
Pricing: $29.99.
Players: Huge in waves; player count surges around major content patches.
Download: Palworld on Steam
Bottom line: The pick when you want creature capture wrapped in a survival sandbox with friends.
7. Riders of Icarus — best mounted-combat MMO with taming focus
Riders of Icarus is one of the few MMOs where flying mounts are the whole point. Tame mid-air, dogfight on dragonback, train familiars to grow with your character. The free-to-play model is generous; most content is accessible without spending.
Where it falls short: Engine and animations are dated. Population is smaller than mainstream MMOs.
Pricing: Free.
Players: Niche but loyal.
Download: Riders of Icarus on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Riders of Icarus when aerial taming and mounted combat is the fantasy you want.
8. Lost Ark — best ARPG MMO with collectible pets
Lost Ark is the ARPG-meets-MMO that anchored the genre’s renewal in the West. Pets are dropped in chests, bought in the cash shop, and earned through quests. They sit at the utility end of the spectrum — auto-loot, stat boosts, convenience — rather than as combat companions.
Where it falls short: Pets are more utility than collectible-battler. Combat is the headline rather than pet progression.
Pricing: Free. Cosmetic and convenience items sold.
Players: Hundreds of thousands.
Download: Lost Ark on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Lost Ark for the combat and treat the pets as a convenience-tier collection.
How to pick the right one
For taming as a deep skill in a new AAA action MMO, Crimson Desert with the June patch is the pick. For the most mature blend of hunter-class taming and a separate pet-battle metagame, World of Warcraft still leads. For pure Pokémon-style turn-based capture and ladder play, Temtem. For deep companion AI and collection scope, Final Fantasy XIV. For mount breeding as long-term progression, Black Desert Online. For creature capture inside a survival sandbox with bases, Palworld. For aerial taming and dogfighting, Riders of Icarus. For ARPG combat with convenience pets, Lost Ark.
FAQ
What is the best monster-taming MMORPG on PC in 2026?
Crimson Desert and World of Warcraft sit at opposite ends of the spectrum (new AAA action MMO versus 20-year-old class taming) and are both strong picks. Temtem is the cleanest Pokémon-style alternative.
Can I play Pokémon-style on PC legally?
Temtem is the closest legal Pokémon-style MMO on PC. Palworld leans creature-capture in a survival shape.
Does Crimson Desert have pet battles?
The June 2026 patch added pets, training mini-games, and a pet-action system. The combat is action-based rather than turn-based, with pets joining alongside you.
Are these games free to play?
Black Desert Online, Riders of Icarus, and Lost Ark are free. FFXIV has the most generous free trial. WoW requires a subscription. Crimson Desert, Palworld, and Temtem are paid one-time purchases.
Which MMO has the best mount taming?
Black Desert Online and Riders of Icarus are the two strongest mount-focused MMOs.
Can I trade tamed creatures with other players?
Temtem allows free trading. Palworld supports player trades through co-op. Most other MMOs bind tamed creatures to the account or character.
