A new Pokemon-like title called LumenTale: Memories of Trey is now out for the Nintendo Switch and PC, with its initial reviews being largely positive. Its arrival further expands the list of compelling creature-collection games on Nintendo consoles, which has grown substantially since the start of the Switch era.
LumenTale is the debut title from Beehive Studios, an Italian developer with 14 staffers as of mid-2026. While the monster-catching RPG originally started as a conventional indie initiative, Worms maker Team17 announced it was joining the project in publisher capacity in April 2025. LumenTale officially released for the Nintendo Switch and PC on May 26, 2026.
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What Reviewers Are Saying About LumenTale
The initial wave of LumenTale reviews is broadly positive, with those tracked by OpenCritic having an average score of over 75. Reviewers have largely described it as a competent RPG with a lot of charm and enough visual identity to clearly stand out from even the best Pokemon clones on the Switch and elsewhere. These early impressions also communicate a consistent caveat, characterizing LumenTale as being somewhat rough around the edges. Although the Nintendo eShop doesn't have user scores, the launch-day player sentiment surrounding the RPG can be gauged from Steam, where LumenTale presently has more than two in three reviewers recommending it.
LumenTale: Memories of Trey Review Roundup
- OpenCritic: 75.63 average score
- Steam: 70.57% positive reviews
In terms of praise, reviewers tracked by OpenCritic keep returning to the game's art direction and creature designs. The collectible monsters, called Animon in the game's lore, were repeatedly described as being varied and memorable in their looks. That is an important trait for a Pokemon-like game to get right, not least because this particular subgenre of RPGs tends to hinge on players enjoying discovering new creatures, of which LumenTale features 140.
Complaints-wise, multiple reviewers have described the game's battle system as overly convoluted, though those criticisms primarily use conventional Pokemon clones as a point of comparison. Looking at the wider subgenre of creature-catching RPGs, titles with 4v4 battles in the vein of LumenTale's combat do exist, with the Shin Megami Tensei series being the most famous example. Some reviewers have also criticized the game for a lack of polish, reflected in issues ranging from quest-blocking bugs to missing quality-of-life features, such as a tutorial database. The early consensus therefore leans toward describing LumenTale as a fun take on the genre that breaks some Pokemon rules while paying homage to others, making it worth a look for fans of this type of game. As for the technical complaints, they could still be addressed in LumenTale's future bug-fixing updates.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
LumenTale's full retail price is $24.99. However, the monster-taming RPG is currently available at a 10% launch discount, bringing its price down to $22.49. Early bird discounts are increasingly common in the highly competitive indie space, and this particular one will run for exactly two weeks, ending on June 6 at 8 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. CET. Equating to $2.50 worth of savings, the discount is available on both the Nintendo eShop and Steam. Separately, Valve's storefront has several unique offers that bundle LumenTale with some high-profile Pokemon clones released since the late 2010s, including Temtem, Cassette Beasts, and Monster Sanctuary.
- Released
- May 26, 2026
- Developer(s)
- Beehive Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
- PC Release Date
- May 26, 2026
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- May 26, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Creature Collector, Exploration
