If you are looking for an alternative to Pokemon, definitely check out Hunter Island.
WP - "Hunter Island used to be a pay-to-play game for the iOS platform, but as of April 2014 it has become a free to play game. It's a bit like Pokemon with the graphics of Shining Force, and is one of the few RPGs on the App Store (aside from Square's 16-bit RPG zombies) where you can actually explore the surrounding world."
About a year and a half ago, NTT Resonant and ZigZaGame Inc. released Dragon Island Blue, an RPG that was very heavily inspired by Nintendo's Pokemon. Offering a huge roster of monsters and abilities, it nicely tapped into a few of the hooks of the famous franchise.
By David: In a fantasy world where cute but dangerous creatures called Arkadions exist, you are tasked with the quest to bring peace into the land. With your powerful crew of monsters, you must best those who seek to bring chaos into the world before it is too late. As such, you must train your team of Arkadions in order to ensure success. Hunter Island is a typical monster capture and battle game which will remind players of Pokemon and other similar titles. Gamers who are fans of the genre should certainly make it a point to try this game out. However, make sure to read this title first before you venture into a journey that is similar but unlike any other that you have played.
