Temtem - Deluxe Edition

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 35,460 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Temtem - Deluxe Edition Game Cover
Temtem is definitely worth getting for something different, yet familiar. It’s worth the price of admission, but that’s all you should spend on it.
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Temtem is an online multiplayer creature-collection adventure taking place in the Airborne Archipelago, a group of floating islands where Temtem and humans coexist. Catch, train, and battle Temtem, engage in Temtem trading with friends, and defeat various dojo leaders and the nefarious Clan Belsoto. Embark on an epic journey to become the ultimate Temtem tamer in this immersive world.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 35,460 reviews
story1,462 positive mentions
grinding2,697 negative mentions
  • story6,216 mentions

    The story of Temtem is generally described as engaging and more mature than typical Pokémon narratives, featuring interesting characters and plot twists. However, many players find it suffers from pacing issues, excessive backtracking, and a reliance on fetch quests, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a lengthy campaign (around 30-60 hours), some players feel the story is ultimately predictable and lacks depth, especially in comparison to other titles in the genre.

    • “The story isn't like anything we've seen before, and I find it interesting and fun.”
    • “Temtem features a more adult storyline despite its cutesy style.”
    • “The story is very good - the characters have personality, are memorable, and fairly expressive throughout the story.”
    • “The attempts at 'lol so random' humor and general NPC dialogue is as cringe as you can get; it actively detracts from the game's story.”
    • “The plot feels like it was lifted straight out of a poorly dubbed anime from Jetix in the 2000s, and the plot twists can be seen from space.”
    • “The story is a long slog with terrible writing and an ending that makes Pokémon games look like Tolkien.”
  • gameplay3,848 mentions

    The gameplay of *Temtem* has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its strategic depth and innovative mechanics, such as the stamina system and 2v2 battles, which enhance the traditional monster-catching formula. However, some players criticize the game for its grindy nature, tedious leveling, and repetitive gameplay loops, often comparing it unfavorably to *Pokémon*. Overall, while the game offers a fresh take on familiar mechanics, it struggles with pacing and content, particularly in its endgame.

    • “Great monster collection/combat game, the mechanics are well thought out and the XP system for your temtems is well designed.”
    • “It's mechanics lean quite heavily on those of the Pokémon series, but it makes some very considered changes to that tried and true formula.”
    • “The gameplay is solid and will keep you entertained throughout the base game, and the art style is extremely polished and cute.”
    • “The gameplay quickly becomes a chore, and the price is heavy for what you receive.”
    • “Again, in terms of gameplay, the exp rate in this game is tedious and grinding will take up a majority of your playthrough.”
    • “The gameplay itself consists of trainer battle after trainer battle, sometimes making routes feel sluggish to progress through.”
  • grinding2,729 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Temtem" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the challenge and depth of grinding for levels, breeding, and shiny hunting, others find it frustrating, especially due to the lack of quality-of-life features like fast travel and experience sharing. Overall, the game is described as significantly grindier than traditional Pokémon titles, which may deter casual players but appeal to those who relish in extensive grinding mechanics.

    • “It also wasn't as grindy as I was expecting, though that might be due to experience.”
    • “I'm a casual, so I'm not grinding for lumas, but I do appreciate them giving us something else to do in the meantime.”
    • “Not too grindy, but just enough.”
    • “There were still abandoned shops 'coming soon' and a very grindy empty endgame that would have you fishing for hours a week, refighting the gym leaders and delivering 2 packages from location to another for little reward... also, when the community would speak out in forums, announcements and patch-notes, they would delete negative feedback of any kind and respond aggressively.”
    • “The negative is that it's obscenely grindy, has a ton of loops that are intended to keep you coming back before you have anything to show for it and your time is never respected.”
    • “The game is unbelievably grindy.”
  • graphics2,623 mentions

    The graphics of "Temtem" have received widespread praise for their vibrant and charming art style, often compared favorably to Pokémon, with many reviewers noting the game's polished visuals and smooth animations. Players appreciate the unique creature designs and the overall aesthetic, which combines a colorful palette with a playful, cartoonish style that enhances the gaming experience. However, some critiques mention occasional graphical glitches and a lack of variety in certain character designs, suggesting that while the graphics are generally well-received, there is room for improvement in specific areas.

    • “The graphics are stunning and the world-building is top-notch.”
    • “The graphics and art design are top notch.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning, the music is catchy, and the story is really interesting so far!”
    • “Graphically the game is bad”
    • “Overall very uncanny with poor graphics and poor creative designs.”
    • “The character models look horrible, the graphics are way too bright, and we put up with all of this just to have some monster collecting fun.”
  • music1,035 mentions

    The music in "Temtem" has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its catchy and memorable tracks, particularly in battle themes. While some find the soundtrack charming and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others note that it can become repetitive over time, with a desire for more variety. Overall, the music is seen as a strong aspect of the game, enhancing the experience despite some critiques regarding its lack of diversity.

    • “I do really like the music in this game though, the battle theme is now stuck in my head, the violin is awesome and some special fighting themes are just incredible and I wish they'd be used more after a certain point!”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, especially some of the battle themes.”
    • “The music is also top-notch, with catchy and memorable tracks that will stick with you long after you turn off the game.”
    • “The bad: frankly, I'm not a huge fan of the music or sound - I find myself putting on different audio and muting the game.”
    • “I also noticed that the music felt flat and lacking at times - with so many battles in a row it gets repetitive and I found myself opting to play with my own music in the background instead.”
    • “The soundtrack feels underwhelming (I disabled sound and put on my own music after that).”
  • monetization578 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a cash grab due to the introduction of microtransactions and a battle pass system in a full-priced game. While some argue that the microtransactions are purely cosmetic and non-predatory, the overall sentiment reflects disappointment over the perceived greed of the developers, especially given the game's high price tag and the lack of substantial content updates. Players express frustration over the grindy nature of the game, which they feel is exacerbated by the monetization strategies, leading to a mixed reception regarding its value and enjoyment.

    • “And now that microtransactions have been removed from the game with patch 1.7, it's pretty easy for me to recommend it to anyone looking for another solid creature capturing adventure.”
    • “Crema recently announced that the game's live service monetization style will be getting removed, and players will be able to earn it all in-game for free.”
    • “However if you are able to snag it on discount and avoid getting drawn into paying for in-game purchases, it's a fairly worthwhile experience if you are a fan of monster tamer games.”
    • “Way too grindy, way too cash grabby, way too boring.”
    • “The biggest deal I have with the game is that at a $40 price tag it still has a 'battle pass' and in-game purchases.”
    • “Please do not give these devs any more money as they have grossly misled the community and transformed this into a disgusting cash grab of a game.”
  • stability555 mentions

    The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly during co-op play. While some users note improvements over time and commend the developers for their responsiveness in addressing issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains quite unstable, especially given its early access status. Players are advised to expect a bumpy experience, with many recommending waiting for further updates before diving in.

    • “One of the few early access games that is worth the asking price... plus it is the most bug-free I have seen in an early access game.”
    • “It's essentially bug-free so far, great performance, and an interesting world.”
    • “The game runs great for me at 4K ultra, always at 60 FPS, and the few bugs I have run into the devs quickly fixed, but it is an early access game so bugs are to be expected.”
    • “Game freezes in co-op every 2 seconds and the developers cannot spell half of the words in English.”
    • “Do not buy, the game barely works, constant crashes and freezes, battles take 10-20 mins due to the game hanging after every input not to mention the huge login queue times.”
    • “It's a buggy, unfinished farming spot simulator, who's also the most blatant plagiarism in the history of video games, hiding behind the usual early access BS wall.”
  • humor423 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue genuinely funny and engaging, while others criticize it for being clunky or cringe-worthy, often detracting from the overall experience. Many appreciate the quirky and self-aware writing, which includes clever references and a more mature tone compared to similar games like Pokémon. However, there are also complaints about repetitive or long-winded dialogue that fails to land, leading to a varied reception of the game's comedic elements.

    • “The in-game world is colorful and vibrant, with memorable characters, hilarious dialogue, and unique themes and inspirations for each location.”
    • “The dialogue is hilarious.”
    • “The writing is pretty funny and enjoyable.”
    • “Odd facial expressions (it's simply not funny) and bad dialogues most of the time.”
    • “(Weeks in, not funny anymore)”
  • optimization243 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some report smooth performance and good graphics even on lower-end systems, others experience significant stuttering, FPS drops, and general performance issues, particularly on PC. Overall, many acknowledge that the game is still in early access and has potential for improvement, but current optimization remains a concern for a portion of the player base.

    • “The game runs smoothly, the UI is very polished, the temtem battles feel balanced and feedback from hits is great - which is more than I can say for a lot of early access games I've played!”
    • “For an early access game, this game feels really optimized and plays like a AAA game.”
    • “The game is incredibly polished - server hiccups aside (remember: early access), the game runs smoothly even at much higher settings than I would have expected for my machine.”
    • “Currently has some major performance issues on PC that are holding it back; poor optimization and insane FPS drops when moving your mouse are just some of the more common ones...”
    • “What does factor into my review, however, is the *atrocious* performance I'm getting and the million little quality of life blind spots that somehow slipped through the early access period.”
    • “Would say I like the game but one big problem, it takes more than 20 minutes to load and just freezes before the actual game even boots up all the way past the beginning logo only showing the mouse cursor; no, it is not my PC because I can run other games and this is not a demanding game in the first place, it just seems to be poorly optimized when you boot up the game and it's overpriced at that in my opinion for an early access game.”
  • character development100 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the vibrant art style and customization options that allow for unique character creation. However, criticisms often focus on the character designs themselves, which some find underwhelming or lacking in polish compared to the game's creature designs. Overall, while the character development features are appreciated, the execution of character design leaves room for improvement.

    • “The art style is also a highlight, with colorful and expressive character designs and a vibrant world to explore.”
    • “A lot of customization in the character designs and colors, feels like I have a truly unique character.”
    • “Also, the character design feature is amazing; I was able to recreate how I look in real life with ease, which had a big impact on me feeling like I'm in the game and care about the world.”
    • “Character design is lacking from a game design standpoint and quite lazy aesthetically.”
    • “However, I do not like the character designs; they are too vague and boring.”
    • “There is no soul in this game: music is repeating, temtems are just a poor copy of Pokémon, the animation and character design are a copy of the Pokémon series as well.”
  • emotional96 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players expressing frustration over a lackluster story and uninspiring character development, leading to feelings of boredom and disappointment. However, some players appreciate the wholesome community and representation within the game, finding emotional connection in the multiplayer experience and the game's aesthetics. Overall, while the game offers a charming environment, it struggles to evoke deeper emotional engagement through its narrative and character interactions.

    • “These are positive things that, as a person in those communities, felt very touching, affirming, and nice.”
    • “Personally, I'm not trans, I don't know anyone who is trans, but I thought this was a heartwarming and unexpected touch and I'm glad that they included everyone in their game and not just a white boy or a white girl.”
    • “As a person who liked Gen 6, but couldn't stomach Gen 7, this game made me feel things I hadn't felt in such a long time.”
    • “It is a story-based game that has an incredibly boring story... a ton of useless dialogue that you will find yourself clicking through just to get an extremely anticlimactic boss fight.”
    • “Quite short, a boring story, bland characters.”
    • “I paid 45€ for Pokémon... had poorly designed zones, a boring story, the new generation looks horrible (mostly), and no post-game, because they put that in the expansion pass which will cost 30€.”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The replayability of the game is a mixed bag among users, with some praising its high replay value due to features like weekly resets, multiplayer options, and a vast world to explore, while others criticize it for lacking depth and content, leading to potential repetitiveness. Many players appreciate the community-driven aspects and the potential for endless gameplay, but some feel that the game caters more to casual players, neglecting hardcore fans who seek more replayable content. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, concerns about content and variety persist.

    • “Temtem is a 100+ hour long monster-catching RPG that towers above Game Freak in terms of polish, world design, and game mechanics, and an infinitely replayable MMORPG with a quality that hasn't before been seen in the monster-catching genre.”
    • “In multiplayer, there are ranked matches, dojo guilds, and other social experiences that make the replay value of Temtem basically endless!”
    • “They listen to the community and there are weekly resets in the Saipark which adds so much replayability.”
    • “No replayability, no multiple character slots.”
    • “I'm leaving a not recommended because the developers seem to show no interest in catering to those who like replayability and only to those into end-game content.”
    • “Whilst I enjoyed the content and breeding getting some high SV tems, it got boring fast with no replay value.”
  • atmosphere64 mentions

    The atmosphere in Temtem is widely praised for its vibrant visuals, charming characters, and immersive world-building, creating a unique experience reminiscent of Nintendo's style. The game's soundtrack and ambient sounds enhance the overall ambiance, while the MMO elements contribute to a sense of openness and community. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to balance a colorful, inviting atmosphere with challenging gameplay, making it a refreshing addition to the monster taming genre.

    • “The music is a really nice touch, and brings a nice atmosphere to the game.”
    • “I love the visuals and how boldly the game uses bright colors and vibrant environments; every place has its own atmosphere, and the game does a good job in world building, kudos for that.”
    • “The game has a good atmosphere which ties the world and the Temtem up perfectly.”
    • “The 4th wall breaks, and the smart-ass remarks/responses just really don't feel right in this atmosphere.”
    • “Don't be fooled by the color and child-like atmosphere; it's not kid recommended. It's a chess game meets Pokémon strategical puzzle game with co-op.”
    • “Final judgment: Temtem is not the Pokémon slayer the community makes it out to be; however, Temtem's charming take on the creature collecting genre prioritizes challenging the player and developing a competitive atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Temtem - Deluxe Edition

Play time

25hMedian play time
74hAverage play time
10-72hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 393 analyzed playthroughs

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