5 Best Game Freak Games That Aren’t Pokémon

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Game Freak is famous for creating the hugely successful Pokémon series, which they’ve been developing since 1996. Because Pokémon games are so popular and profitable, the company hasn’t had many opportunities to work on other projects. However, Game Freak has released a few other excellent games throughout the years, both before and after Pokémon became a hit. Recently, they’ve begun to get more chances to develop games outside of the Pokémon franchise, and hopefully this means we’ll see even more creative and diverse titles from them in the future.

Here are the best Game Freak games that aren’t Pokémon.

5) Tembo the Badass Elephant

The Pokémon game Tembo surprised many fans with its title, as it contains a word usually considered a curse. Despite being a family-friendly company, Game Freak allowed players to control an elephant with aspirations of becoming an action hero, similar to Rambo, in this 2015 title.

Tembo isn’t a standout title from Game Freak and Sega, but it’s a perfectly enjoyable side-scrolling platformer. The levels offer a good amount of freedom, letting you use Tembo’s strength as an elephant to break through obstacles. With charming graphics and simple puzzles, it’s a good, if not exceptional, game.

4) HarmoKnight

HarmoKnight is a platforming game from Game Freak with a unique twist: it incorporates rhythm-based gameplay. You control a character named Tempo, which creates a playful connection to Game Freak’s other title, Tembo. However, the core of HarmoKnight is all about the rhythm action.

In this game, levels automatically scroll by, and you control your character with just two actions: jumping and swinging a staff. Success depends on timing your moves to the beat of the music. Fans of Pokémon will also enjoy some extra levels featuring music from the series. While some players felt the game wasn’t very challenging, HarmoKnight is a good choice if you’re looking for a relaxing and fun game for the Nintendo 3DS.

3) Pulseman

Before Pokémon became a global hit, its creators at Game Freak collaborated with Sega on a game called Pulseman. Many of the key people who later made the original Pokémon games—like designer Satoshi Tajiri, artist Atsuko Nishida, and composer Junichi Masuda—also worked on Pulseman.

This Mega Drive game is a beautiful, fast-paced platformer with an exciting story. You play as a boy who’s part human, part AI, and must defeat his father, who’s unleashing cyber-terror. Luckily, the game is now available on Nintendo Switch Online as part of the Nintendo Classics service – it was added in 2023! You’ll need the Expansion Pack to play, but it’s a more affordable option than finding and setting up the original console.

2) Drill Dozer

Around the early 2000s, Ken Sugimori, a co-founder of Game Freak and the main designer of the Pokémon characters, wanted to start a new project. He assembled a team to create a fresh action game for the Game Boy Advance, focusing on a unique style of combat.

Drill Dozer was a surprisingly popular game when it came out in 2005. It received positive attention from publications like Nintendo Power and GameSpot, earning spots on their best-of-the-year lists. Though it didn’t become a mainstream success, Drill Dozer has since gained a dedicated following as a cult classic. The game features unique and challenging gameplay that rewards players who take the time to master its mechanics.

Although Drill Dozer was popular, a sequel was never made, which is disappointing. The game felt like it had a lot of potential for future development. While some consider Game Freak’s Giga Wrecker to be a similar game, it didn’t quite capture the magic of Drill Dozer.

1) Pocket Card Jockey

For fans of Game Freak, this release probably wasn’t a surprise. Pocket Card Jockey is widely considered the studio’s strongest game outside of the Pokemon series, and it’s even comparable to some of the best Pokemon titles. In the game, you take on the role of a horse jockey striving to become a world-class racer.

This isn’t your typical horse race. Instead of running, the horses ‘compete’ by playing a card game similar to solitaire – a type of golf. It’s a strange concept, and that’s intentional!

Pocket Card Jockey isn’t your typical game. The creators at Game Freak successfully combined card games with horse racing in a unique and exciting way. Because the cards and your opponents are always changing, every race feels new and keeps you hooked.

For years, the charming game Pocket Card Jockey was only available on the 3DS. Thankfully, in 2024, a refreshed version called Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! was released for iPhones and the Nintendo Switch. Hopefully, the developers at Game Freak will create a sequel in the future.

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2026-02-20 00:40