27 November 2025

Time Stranger Producer Comments on Pokemon Comparisons

By newsgame

Digimon Story: Time Stranger producer Ryosuke Hara recently spoke on the comparisons between Digimon and the popular Pokemon franchise. Throughout the history of the two monster-catching franchises, comparisons and debates between Pokemon and Digimon have been frequent. Both franchises saw their meteoric rise to success at a similar time, with the late 1990s and early 2000s seeing the first big boom of monster-catching games. Pokemon and Digimon even saw their first anime adaptations air within the same time frame, with debates raging among fans. Now, the producer of Digimon Story: Time Stranger is addressing the frequent comparisons.

Pokemon first began the adventures of Ash Ketchum in 1997 in Japan, with a 1998 debut worldwide, while Digimon debuted the story of the DigiDestined not long after in 1999. The anime adaptations, in particular, have been a source of heavy contention among fans, with many feeling the anime adaptations for Digimon to be stronger with a more focused narrative and deeper characters. A new interview now sees a major Digimon figurehead offering their own take on the comparisons.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger Producer Speaks on Pokemon Comparisons

During a recent interview with MCV/Develop, Digimon Story: Time Stranger producer Ryosuke Hara shared his thoughts on the comparisons between the two franchises. Hara expressed his understanding for fans comparing the two series, going so far as to say that comparisons “are expected” with the similarities between the two’s monster-catching elements. Hara also expressed his hopes that fans could “discover what makes Digimon distinct” from Pokemon through Digimon Story: Time Stranger, stressing that the franchises are “fundamentally different in their core concepts and appeals.” Digimon Story: Time Stranger launched last month to strong reviews, praising its battle system, soundtrack, and more.

Hara also spoke on several elements of the Digimon Story franchise’s long-awaited return in the interview. Hara put the focus on providing an experience that would be comfortable for both longtime fans and newcomers to the Digimon franchise, with the developer emphasizing the game’s overall aesthetic design and making improvements to the combat. Hara also shared the studio’s intent to put a priority on a “sense of immersion” within Digimon Story: Time Stranger, introducing multiple mysteries early in the game. Time Stranger even restricts its early story to the real world, rather than thrusting players right into the Digital World.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger Competes Directly with Pokemon’s Newest Release

Fighting Digimon in Mega+ Level Digimon Story Time Stranger

Digimon Story: Time Stranger ushers in the return of one of the staples of its video game branch, looking to once again compete with Pokemon. Time Stranger‘s debut in October came just a couple weeks before the debut of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, with both monster-catching games taking place in a modern city as their primary setting. Digimon and Pokemon have often clashed with their new video game releases since the early days, with Digimon World launching as the first Digimon game just months before Pokemon Gold and Silver. While the franchises have often clashed, however, Pokemon has typically had the better of the two, with each new Pokemon game typically selling tens of millions of copies. On OpenCritic, both Legends: Z-A and Time Stranger are currently tied with an 80 overall critic score.

Digimon Story Time Stranger Merukimon Attacking

Pokemon and Digimon‘s overwhelming popularity has naturally led other franchises to follow in their footsteps. Square Enix has introduced a monster-catching spinoff series for one of its flagship franchises, with Dragon Quest: Monsters allowing fans to tame the beloved JRPG’s iconic monsters. Level-5 also saw significant success in the 2010s with the debut of Yo-kai Watch, particularly during the 3DS era with multiple games breaking 2 million units sold. The monster-catching craze has even extended to a plethora of indie developers inspired by Pokemon, including popular titles like Palworld, Temtem, and Cassette Beasts. Digimon Story: Time Stranger looks to provide fans with its own unique experience, stepping out of the shadow of its biggest rival.