Monster Rancher is often compared to Pokémon even though the two series play very differently. While the Pokémon games are traditionally collection-based role-playing video games, Monster Rancher games tend to be simulated animal breeding games. The genre Monster Rancher occupies is shared by other simulation virtual pet games such as Digimon and games based on raising horses for racing, like in the Gallop Racer series also by Tecmo.