With its skillful integration of the classic Pokémon fans looking for more gritty, intense stories, after the retirement of Ash and Pikachu.
Despite the over-the-top fan for Pokémon, Digimon has been just as successful, albeit without the fanfare. Since its debut, the franchise has produced nine television series, as well, as 20 films, and a tenth TV series is reportedly in the making. While Pokémon has historically maintained the edge of popularity, Ash and Pikachu's recent retirement from the adventure provides a great opportunity for "mon" fans to discover, and give Digimon a try. Fortunately, one of the franchise's best series - Digimon Ghost Game is currently airing and can serve as a perfect antidote for those going through Pokémon withdrawal.
Digimon: Ghost Game Gives Pokémon a Run For its Money
Digimon Ghost Game, which has been streaming since October 2021, tells the story of middle school student Hiro Amanokawa and his Digimon Gammamon, a new entry into the Digimon pantheon as they attempt to figure out why Digimon, resembling ghost-like holograms, have begun appearing at specific locations around the world. What makes this series more interesting than previous ones is its supernatural elements. The Digimon haunt their spaces, attacking anyone who comes into their areas, and on occasion eating them. This is reminiscent of contemporary hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Bleach, and Demon Slayer where there are very dark and horrific undertones to the story. It is also a plot point that is completely new to Digimon, which normally waits to explore darker topics that Pokémon shows no interest in exploring.
It's a vibe that appeals to both teens and adults alike, especially those Pokémon fans who are looking for something new and dark since the retirement of Ash and Pikachu. It also taps into that horror/dark fantasy market especially those who consider Pokémon and Digimon "kid stuff". One of the most important differences between Pokémon and Digimon, which arguably makes the latter a better story, is each series' tendency to reboot the franchise. This not only helps keep the story from getting stale, but also gives the franchise the flexibility to incorporate whatever aspect of contemporary life, or contemporary manga, the creator believes is, or would be, of interest to the story. Digimon Ghost Game is the perfect example of this creative strategy and one that even fans of Pokémon will thoroughly enjoy.
Digimon Ghost Game is currently airing on Crunchyroll.
