Bloons Monkey City
- April 10, 2020
- Ninja Kiwi
- 70h median play time
Get on Steam"Bloons Monkey City is a unique simulation and strategy game, combining city building with tower defense. Build and upgrade your very own monkey city, capture territory by attacking bloon-infested areas, and choose from 21 monkey towers to defend your city. With amazing depth and variety, each building adds to your city's appearance, power potential, and rewards."
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- gameplay120 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Bloons series, particularly in "Bloons Monkey City," is praised for its engaging blend of tower defense and city-building mechanics, offering a rewarding progression system and strategic depth. However, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with some technical issues and balancing concerns detracting from the overall experience. While the core mechanics are solid and enjoyable, the game may require patience due to long wait times and a lack of map variety, leading to a grindy feel in later stages.
“Bloons Monkey City, developed by Ninja Kiwi, is a unique blend of tower defense and city-building that expands the classic Bloons gameplay in an engaging new direction.”
“What sets Bloons Monkey City apart is the perfect synergy between its tower defense mechanics and city-building elements.”
“The gameplay is very similar to BTD5, with an addition to the new 'city' aspect to the game where you can build new things to level.”
“The ceramic spam is probably the worst of this game's balancing, since it turns every map into the same 'build ceramic defense' gameplay.”
“However, I think some technical and gameplay issues hinder the enjoyment.”
“After level 25 or so, progression halts completely, and the gameplay starts to become very repetitive.”
- music89 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, with many users highlighting it as the best soundtrack in the series, particularly enjoying tracks like "Street Party." While the upbeat and catchy tunes enhance the gameplay experience, some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's fun and relaxing atmosphere.
“The cheerful, upbeat soundtrack perfectly complements the fast-paced action, heightening the sense of urgency during intense battles.”
“The music in the game is the best out of every single game I've played, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that, without a single doubt, this game has the best soundtrack out of every single game on Steam.”
“Great game for chilling out and wow, what an amazing soundtrack!”
“The music and sounds are too loud though, and I don't particularly like the music.”
“Repetitive levels, repetitive music.”
“Even with that stuff all at max volume in the app and otherwise, I can't hear people, so I usually just mute music and sound effects, which makes it harder to appreciate this game's soundtrack.”
- grinding79 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight that the game is heavily grindy, often requiring significant time investment to progress, which can lead to feelings of tedium and repetitiveness. While some players enjoy the grind and find it rewarding, many express frustration with the slow upgrade progression and the need for extensive grinding to access new content, often comparing it unfavorably to other titles in the genre. Overall, the grinding aspect is a defining feature, making it appealing to some but tedious for others.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The next two level-ups take you two days, the next one a week, and you likely will not reach the highest tower tiers without spending a significant amount of money, or grinding balloons for a year or two.”
“The game was fun for the first 5 hours maybe, but then the game felt really repetitive and took many hours of grinding to be at a certain point to where you can advance with the game.”
- monetization67 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game is heavily criticized for its reliance on microtransactions and intrusive ads, particularly in the mobile version, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game is free to play and allows progress without spending money, many players feel that the monetization practices are aggressive and can create a frustrating environment, especially with long wait times for in-game actions. The PC version is noted to be less intrusive, lacking forced ads, but still features optional purchases that some players find unnecessary.
“While the game is free to play, it includes optional microtransactions for speeding up construction or acquiring special items, though patience and strategy are enough to progress without spending.”
“There are in-game purchase opportunities if you're impatient, but you don't have to rely on them to succeed in the game.”
“The microtransactions are not too obnoxious, thankfully, and you can get by fine without them.”
“The game is filled with microtransactions and artificial timers for building and researching stuff, which means that you need to wait varying amounts of time (which can be days later on).”
“This is nothing but a mobile cash grab slapped on a tower defense game.”
“I would happily pay $10 or $15 for this game, but I'm not going to support the devs' habits with microtransactions; and there are a lot of opportunities to pay microtransactions.”
- story58 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as lacking depth and engagement, with many players noting a repetitive structure and minimal narrative progression. While some elements, such as quests and character interactions, provide a semblance of a storyline, the overall experience feels more like a series of missions rather than a cohesive narrative. Players appreciate the creative aspects of the game but express a desire for a more immersive and developed story.
“But I swear to you, this chain of events was like some crazy movie plot unfolding in real life.”
“The story and characters are creative and fun, and there is an opportunity to build your village with decor and characters if that is your thing.”
“Speaking of gameplay, the first 25 hours or so of playing is really fresh and extremely addicting, thanks to unique quests as well as a linear progression path that keeps you motivated to find new treasures and new monkeys across the map.”
“Yet, it falls short in story depth and visual appeal, craving more immersive elements.”
“It's basically story mode BTD 5 crossed with mobile game mechanics - along with the microtransactions and ads that entails.”
“Also, quests geared towards late game players simply do not exist, meaning that high-level players no longer have an incentive to keep playing and keep progressing.”
- graphics55 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of Bloons Monkey City are characterized by vibrant, cartoonish visuals that appeal to a broad audience, though opinions vary on their quality. While some players appreciate the charming art style and find it engaging, others criticize the graphics as outdated or inconsistent, particularly when compared to newer titles in the series. Overall, the game's aesthetic is seen as a blend of playful and colorful design, though it may benefit from updates to enhance resolution and detail.
“Another pillar of Bloons Monkey City's excellence lies in its captivating art style and charming aesthetics.”
“The graphics are vibrant and the level design is challenging, yet fair.”
“The graphics are good, being highly colorful cartoony artwork that is pretty much the same as Bloons TD5.”
“Graphics failures 5 minutes in that reloading the game won't fix.”
“Not good because it is not 3D and the graphics are bad.”
“Graphics are dated and need to be refreshed for higher resolution screens, but gameplay is great.”
- humor55 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the monkey characters and their antics to be hilariously entertaining and addictive. Many reviews highlight the game's funny mechanics, such as popping balloons and city-building elements, often comparing it to other popular titles like Clash of Clans. However, some users note that while the humor is a strong point, the game's progression can become tedious, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration.
“Hilariously addictive!”
“Funny city monkey game.”
“Clash of clans, but bloons, very funny.”
- stability27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is severely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly on the city screen. Many players express frustration over game-breaking glitches and bugs that have persisted without resolution, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some users note that the game runs well on certain devices, the overwhelming consensus is that the stability issues significantly hinder gameplay.
“I'm playing on a non-gaming laptop, and it runs great on this.”
“The game has been incredibly stable, with no crashes or major bugs.”
“I've experienced smooth gameplay throughout, even during intense moments.”
“I don't know if anyone still plays this game and experiences this; it happens every time I play now. Literally every hour, the game freezes and crashes.”
“The game is good and all, but every 2-4 minutes the game freezes, which means I have to restart it again... again... and again.”
“Game has been abandoned with a large amount of bugs and glitches, some completely game-breaking, and there is no longer any support easily available.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly on mobile devices and offers a better performance than the flash version, players experience significant performance issues during late-game scenarios on less powerful systems. The PC port lacks the same level of optimization as the original flash version, leading to a recommendation for the latter for those seeking a more stable experience. Casual players may enjoy the accessible gameplay, but seasoned gamers may find the performance lacking during intense moments.
“Casual players find solace in the game's accessible mechanics and engaging gameplay, while seasoned gamers revel in the intricacies of strategic tower placement and city optimization.”
“The game is also optimized for mobile devices, so it runs smoothly on both iOS and Android devices.”
“Native controls and better performance.”
“This version was optimized for use on a touchscreen, and it doesn't seem they changed much when they ported it to PC.”
“The game's performance unfortunately suffers as you push through high levels, where there's a ton on the screen.”
“If you are not on an actual mobile phone, I'd definitely recommend the flash version over this mobile port.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, driven by its competitive elements and diverse strategies that encourage ongoing engagement. The absence of micro-transactions in a free-to-play model further enhances the experience, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of players, regardless of skill level. Overall, the game offers numerous ways to remain entertained even after reaching progression limits.
“This competitive aspect amplifies the game's replayability and fosters a sense of healthy rivalry, propelling players to refine their strategies and adapt to diverse opponents.”
“Great music, no ridiculous micro-transactions for a free-to-play game, and tons of replayability.”
“There are lots of ways to continue to enjoy this game even if you've hit your ability limit to continue progressing, so the replay value is very high no matter your skill level or age.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its colorful world, quirky monkey characters, and vibrant animations, which collectively create an irresistibly delightful and engaging environment for players.
“The colorful world of Bloons, quirky monkey characters, and vibrant animations come together to create an irresistibly delightful atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere is lifeless and fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
“The game’s atmosphere is disappointing; it feels generic and fails to create a sense of place or urgency.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are highly polarized, with some players expressing intense frustration and disappointment, even leading to feelings of despair after spending money on it. Conversely, others find it to be a source of wholesome fun, despite needing to resort to cheats to progress.
