Start off using HexChat for a client. You can find channels here: https://netsplit.de/channels/. Source: about 1 year ago

First off, grab yourself an IRC client. On their connection info page Hackint has information for both WeeChat and Hexchat, but you could use any IRC client. Source: over 1 year ago

Gajim is for XMPP. For IRC you need Hexchat or Weechat or something like that. Source: over 1 year ago

Hexchat is one of the more popular ones. Source: over 1 year ago

IRC - Also still around and in some cases, the same as it ever was, albeit with a smaller user base. A list of networks can be found here, and while there are many actively developed IRC clients out there, if you don't know where to start, most people recommend HexChat. Reddit's affiliated network is called Snoonet. mIRC is still actively developed by Khaled Mardam-Bey, so by all means, feel free to give that a... Source: over 2 years ago

If you like Pokémon, you might want to give Temtem a try. It's very similar in play because you collect creatures and bring them to fight other players. This used to be a PC title, but recently ported to consoles. Source: over 1 year ago

Hi r/NintendoSwitch! We're a handful of members from the Crema team. After a couple of years of Early Access, our project, Temtem, an MMO monster-taming experience, is ready to launch worldwide tomorrow at last on Nintendo Switch! Source: almost 2 years ago

Hi r/games! We're part of the Crema team. We've been working on Temtem, an MMO monster-taming experience, for some years now. It's leaving Early Access and launching tomorrow on Xbox SXS, Switch, and reaching 1.0 on PS5 and Steam. Source: almost 2 years ago

Obviously it's not the Pokemon IP, but check out TemTem[1]. The world feels much more alive and they've implemented raids, PVP, and other MMO features. [1] https://crema.gg/games/temtem/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago

As an aside, have you considered playing Temtem? It describes itself as a massively multiplayer creature-collection adventure. Even in its Early Access state, Temtem delivers a bunch of features listed here. Source: over 2 years ago