Updated on December 5: the original version of this article erroneously identified RedDeer Games as the Doki Monsters: Quest developer. This has been fixed to reflect that RedDeer is the publisher, with Yanako RPGs being the developer.
Doki Monsters: Quest is the name of a new Pokemon-like RPG announced for the Nintendo Switch. Developed by Yanako RPGs and published by RedDeer Games, it's an interactive love letter to classic Pokemon titles, enhanced with modern quality-of-life features.
RedDeer is a Polish indie developer-publisher founded in 2018. Since its inception, the studio has largely focused on the Switch, with half of its eight internally developed titles being exclusive to Nintendo's hybrid console. The Warsaw-based company also publishes third-party games and develops miscellaneous software, including the Switch-exclusive utility bundle nOS: New Operating System.
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Doki Monsters: Quest Revealed, Promises Nostalgic Monster-Catching Adventure
RedDeer's latest project has now been officially revealed in the form of Doki Monsters: Quest, a nostalgic creature-catching RPG for the Nintendo Switch made by Tokyo-based Yanako RPGs. The game promises a semi-open world with over a dozen interconnected towns, as well as more than 140 familiars to catch, train, and evolve. "Doki" (ドキ) is a Japanese onomatopoeia that mimics the sound of a heartbeat, particularly one associated with excitement, and does not have a direct English translation. In terms of character designs, Doki Monsters appears to riff on animals and various mythologies rather than Pokemon directly.
Doki Monsters: Quest Looks Like a SNES Pokemon Game That Never Was
The 16-bit-style graphics used by Yanako RPGs give Doki Monsters: Quest the appearance of a mainline Pokemon game for the SNES that never was. Gameplay-wise, the newly announced title sounds like something akin to a second-gen Pokemon RPG, albeit with quality-of-life features such as fast-forwarding battles, a quest log, and multiple save slots. Its main story is estimated to be around 20 hours long, with the developer also promising side quests and activities, including fishing. The routes between towns will go through mountains, seas, caves, and shrines, among other points of interest. The entire map can be seen around the 33-second mark in the Doki Monsters: Quest reveal trailer.
RedDeer announced Doki Monsters: Quest without a release date or window, stating only that the title is coming "soon." Aside from AAA Clock 2, none of the company’s Switch exclusives have ever launched during the November–December period. While there's a first time for everything, that track record and the current lack of concrete availability details suggest the upcoming title won't be out before the first half of 2026.
Doki Monsters: Quest Confirmed Gameplay Features
- Storyline centered on searching for a missing childhood friend.
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Over 140 original monsters to capture, train, and evolve.
- 7 alternate appearances (including one ultra-rare variant) for each monster.
- Approximately 20 hours of gameplay across more than 15 towns.
- Exploration includes caves, shrines, seas, and mountains.
- Battles against Rangers and corrupt corporations disrupting the world’s balance.
- Post-game content focused on rare monster hunting.
- Optional 8-bit or piano soundtrack.
- Over 20 retro color palettes available for visual customization.
- 9 playable character options.
- Fast-forward functionality for battles.
- Optional helper tips and a clear quest log for streamlined progression.
- Fishing side activity.
- Four save slots supporting multiple playthroughs or shared saves.
Doki Monsters: Quest has so far only been confirmed for the Nintendo Switch, and based on RedDeer’s track record, it may remain exclusive to the platform for good. The Polish developer has not disclosed pricing details, though its past releases suggest a likely range of $10.99 to $29.99. Several other monster-catching games are also known to be in development for the Switch right now, including Monsterpatch, a crowdfunded title that resembles a cross between Stardew Valley and Pokemon.