Pickmon: A New Pokémon Lookalike Accused of Ripping Off Palworld and Pokémon

New Contender in the Monster-Collecting Genre: Pickmon

Since its unveiling in 2021, Palworld has captured the gaming world’s attention, quickly being dubbed “Pokémon with guns.”This comparison, while eye-catching, also attracted legal scrutiny from Nintendo. The gaming giant initiated a lawsuit against developer PocketPair, attempting to leverage patent claims related to gameplay mechanics rather than focusing solely on copyright infringement concerning the design similarities between Palworld’s creatures and well-known Pokémon.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, Palworld has thrived, achieving significant success outside of Nintendo’s platforms. It has gained a robust player base on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, with a farming spin-off already in development. Moreover, fans are eagerly anticipating its full release after the early access phase, slated for later this year.

Meet Pickmon: A Challenging Imitation

In a surprising turn of events, a new contender has emerged aiming to replicate Palworld’s success.Pickmon, whose name has faced its fair share of criticism, stands out, as noted by X (formerly Twitter) user Noriofan, who described it as a “bootleg of a bootleg“in response to its debut trailer.

PickMon | Summer Game Fest 2026 Trailer | PockegameThis is the official account of PickMon.#PickMon is a brand new multiplayer monster-collecting game with open-world survival elements! 🧭Open world survival crafting game for up to 32 players! 🔫Gather your weapons and go on… pic.twitter.com/IdR6byINRk

— PickMon (@PickMon_EN) March 6, 2026

Developer PocketGame promotes Pickmon as “a brand new multiplayer monster-collecting game with open-world survival elements.”The game’s trailer features visuals of players and their Pikachu-like companions embarking on adventures, establishing bases, using gliders to traverse expansive terrains, and capturing what are described as ‘wild Pickmon’ with unique magic cards—essentially a take on Pokémon’s Poké Balls.

Interestingly, it appears that PocketGame has taken heed of Nintendo’s legal approach towards PocketPair, deliberately avoiding any resemblance with spherical capturing devices. Instead, players navigate using gliders, possibly to sidestep the patent concerns that have forced Palworld’s developers into adaptations.

Future Legal Challenges on the Horizon

As Pickmon progresses toward its launch, it will be fascinating to observe how it navigates the challenges posed by its design choices in light of Nintendo’s history of aggressive legal action. Given Nintendo’s reputation for enforcing their intellectual property rights, a potential lawsuit could be on the horizon if they deem it necessary.

As the landscape of monster-collecting games evolves, the ongoing narratives of Palworld and Pickmon highlight the complexities of copyright in the gaming industry and the risks associated with creating a product that closely mirrors a beloved franchise.

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