- Roco Kingdom combines nostalgic pet collecting with modern open-world exploration in a surprisingly charming way.
- Tencentās newest MMORPG delivers a vibrant fantasy world where adorable pets, exploration, and personality-driven interactions stand out immediately.
- From PokĆ©mon-inspired creature collecting to Genshin-like exploration, Roco Kingdom already feels like one of 2026ās most promising mobile RPGs.
Roco Kingdom: World was recently launched on mobile in China, which was featured as a pet collection MMORPG from Tencent Games’ MoreFun Studios. After almost 6 years of development with multiple delays and some issues, the game is finally available for players to try out on its Chinese server following its recent pre-registration.
With this, the game quickly became one of the biggest mobile releases of the year, and I got a chance to try this title for 12 to 14 hours. So here I am to discuss my first impression of Roco Kingdom Mobile, the experience with it, the gameplay aspects, its overall quality, and its potential.
Roco Kingdom is “When Genshin Impact meets PokĆ©mon”
I played the game on the Chinese server for almost the whole day, and I would say that it definitely didn’t disappoint. The hype this game got during the first week of its release pretty much stood up to it. The world feels vibrant, alive, and filled with lots of things to explore. The pet system reminds me a lot of PokĆ©mon, and the unique ways to catch them make it more fun.
When I first entered the game, it reminded me a lot of how Genshin Impact started. The pacing and the overall vibe remind me a lot of that experience when I first played the game, and I won’t say it’s a bad thing, but it is definitely nostalgic. I would say that Roco Kingdom feels like what would happen when Genshin Impact meets PokĆ©mon, combined into an open world with classic pet collecting.
You will have the chance to choose your starting pet from 3 elements: fire, water, and grass. Here are the following starter pets that you can choose from as you start the game. First is Rajiji, who is a fire-type pet that features a cute and unique fire aura. Next is Spring Rabbit, who is a grass-type pet that features agility and swiftness. Next is Water Ball, a water-type pet that specializes in different aquatic skills.
I personally chose Rajiji as I usually have a soft spot for fire-type users. As I progressed into the game, I was also encountering different types of pets. You will commonly encounter pets from the original 3 elements, and as you go further, you will find other pets from other elements as well. You must explore thoroughly, as it will be a rewarding thing later on.
The game also features an evolution system, which is pretty common to certain pet RPGs. It also features 376 pets to collect and find, so you are definitely in for a treat. I would say that certain pets are common and don’t really have much going on with them. Some pets are very useful for traveling and exploring in general. It does show the balance of how unique you can make one pet from another.
Roco Kingdom shows the potential to be a great game at global release
With the success of Palworld, this game does have the potential to be a great monster-hunting game as well. Pets react differently to weather and time, and even show different patterns of behavior. What makes this game a little more unique than other open-world games is its turn-based mechanic.
The element system and the different abilities and roles of pets are also good things for players to learn and spend time. I had a great time figuring out some great team combinations as well as combos to make the best out of my pets.
These interactions are among the things I actually love most about the game thus far. The smallest details can take the game very seriously. It is interesting how there are some animals that will hide during the rain, while others are nocturnal.
Others will simply behave differently due to different personalities. Even the ride mechanic feels like a fun idea. Large beasts can simply be mounted, while smaller pets interact in unique manners.
Final Thoughts
The game’s monetization system is less aggressive than I thought. It does reward you with a lot of things with great value for money, with its bundles and passes. But it also needs to be considered that it is the Chinese version I am talking about.
Here, it focuses more on game cosmetics and fashion items. This alone makes the game feel less stressful compared to many mobile RPGs today. Still, it would be too early to judge this since the global release will give us a clearer picture.
So far, it seems that Roco Kingdom is more than just a retro tribute game, as it is a legitimate attempt at improving on the formula that made its predecessor successful without losing what made it so good. The character designs and world design are absolutely full of personality.
Whether or not it can claim domination over the genre remains to be seen, but with stiff competition in 2026, it will definitely be challenging, but on initial impression alone, it is certainly one of the most promising mobile games released this year.
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