Cassette Beasts

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,527 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
Cassette Beasts Game Cover
Cassette Beasts is the best monster collecting game I've ever played, with sensational combat and a wonderful world to explore.
Play in Arcadia
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Using a unique Fusion System, combine any two beasts in this open-world RPG!

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,527 reviews
music971 positive mentions
grinding180 negative mentions
  • Engaging and innovative battle mechanics that encourage strategic thinking.
  • Charming monster designs and a vibrant world filled with personality.
  • Fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Some aspects of the game can feel grindy, especially in the post-game.
  • The story and character development may feel shallow or underwhelming at times.
  • Occasional technical issues and clunky controls can detract from the experience.
  • music1,733 mentions

    The music in "Cassette Beasts" has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its catchy, dynamic soundtrack that enhances gameplay and emotional moments. The integration of vocals during battles, particularly when fusing creatures, adds an exciting layer to the experience, making the music feel integral to the game's atmosphere. While some players noted a desire for more variety in tracks, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, elevating the game significantly and making it a memorable experience.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing, and it took me a bit to catch on that going into fusion causes a vocal version of the battle track to play, which is just peak.”
    • “The music is phenomenal and the story is pretty nice.”
    • “The soundtrack is a banger, art direction is really nice, the characters are fun.”
    • “The music is incredibly generic.”
    • “The only thing I would have asked for is for another song for the main town since you will spend so much time here that you would have heard the same song maybe a good 50 times.”
    • “The music is serviceable but nothing to write home about.”
  • story1,607 mentions

    The story of *Cassette Beasts* is a charming and engaging narrative that combines elements of isekai with a whimsical exploration of a vibrant world filled with collectible monsters. Players appreciate the freedom to progress through the story at their own pace, with meaningful character interactions and side quests that deepen the overall experience. While some find the main plot straightforward, the character arcs and emotional depth resonate well, making it a standout in the creature-collecting genre.

    • “The story was solid, the characters were well written, it had a series of deeper messages and meanings hidden throughout the game's colorful and lighthearted appearance.”
    • “The main quest is relatively simple, but the side quests and character interactions flesh the world out beautifully, and it all ties together into a wonderful experience.”
    • “The story is uniquely captivating, full of mystery, and at times, the emotions really jump off the screen—whether it’s sadness, happiness, unease, or even a genuine sense of warmth.”
    • “The story is incredibly forgettable, boring, and repetitive.”
    • “The story is sparse, and the somewhat non-linear mission system can sometimes leave you feeling a little directionless.”
    • “The story, while not especially standout, stands on its own and uses the mechanics of the world to build further mechanisms of storytelling.”
  • gameplay1,142 mentions

    The gameplay of *Cassette Beasts* is widely praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly the fusion system that allows players to combine creatures for unique abilities and strategies. Reviewers appreciate the depth of combat, which incorporates a variety of type interactions and a sticker system for move customization, making battles feel dynamic and engaging. The game successfully blends nostalgic elements reminiscent of Pokémon with fresh ideas, resulting in a fun and rewarding experience that encourages exploration and experimentation.

    • “Cassette Beasts is an absolute gem of a game, seamlessly blending nostalgic charm with innovative gameplay mechanics to deliver an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The gameplay loop is enjoyable enough to where it did not feel like a job to knock them all out.”
    • “The fusion mechanic and the various and well thought out interactions between types makes for a lot to play and strategize with.”
    • “The gameplay is weak even for a Pokémon clone.”
    • “This is a huge problem because you always want to be rescoping your beasts and this means you're scrolling for so long to do this basic aspect of gameplay!”
    • “The fusion mechanic is completely useless, tacked on, and adds nothing to the core gameplay.”
  • graphics526 mentions

    The graphics of "Cassette Beasts" have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its charming pixel art style and vibrant character designs that evoke nostalgia for classic RPGs. The game features a unique blend of 2D and 3D elements, creating a visually engaging experience, although some users noted inconsistencies in the overworld graphics and a few rough spots. Overall, the art style is seen as a significant strength, contributing to the game's cozy atmosphere and enhancing its appeal within the monster-collecting genre.

    • “The graphics are very solid, with unique characters having colorful and different looks.”
    • “The art style is a delightful mix of retro pixel art and modern flair, evoking a sense of nostalgia while still feeling fresh and contemporary.”
    • “The visuals are fantastic, both the pixel art, character portraits, archangels, and the rest.”
    • “Ugly as fuck art style.”
    • “I can see the devs going for a certain universal, simple art style but I personally feel it's just too shallow, lacks a personal touch and often starts to look very muddy.”
    • “The overworld graphics don't mesh together too well, with pixel-sprite characters, very blocky but technically 3D environments, and jarring examples of fully 3D items like movable rocks in those environments.”
  • grinding192 mentions

    The reviews indicate that while the main game of "Cassette Beasts" is generally enjoyable and not overly grindy, the post-game content can become excessively tedious and repetitive, requiring significant time investment for completionists. Players appreciate the innovative leveling system that minimizes grinding for individual monsters, but many express frustration with the grind associated with achieving 100% completion and the lack of variety in post-game tasks. Overall, the game strikes a balance between fun gameplay and the grind typical of the genre, though some players feel the endgame could be improved to reduce tedium.

    • “The music is fire, the game isn't too grindy, branching evolutions are better than trade/item/stat based evolutions.”
    • “There's so many little quality of life bits in this game, it feels very respectful of my time and it's all been fun (no grinding).”
    • “The difficulty is just right, there's little to no grinding, the battles can be challenging at times (especially in the postgame), it's overall amazing in the gameplay department.”
    • “The game also becomes very grindy and repetitive as a whole, fairly quickly.”
    • “The post-game is super grindy if you want to get every achievement, as there are only a few non-generic sidequests before you're just doing repetitive fetch and bounty quests for the rest of time.”
    • “Grinding 150 fused material per level is absurd, and I think that it could be toned down, at least up to level 6.”
  • humor103 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring funny monster designs, witty dialogue, and amusing mechanics that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of humor with engaging storytelling, often highlighting the game's ability to evoke laughter through quirky character interactions and pun-filled names. Overall, the humor is described as a refreshing and integral part of the gameplay, appealing to both younger and adult audiences alike.

    • “The game is oozing with charm from all directions, the music is insanely good, the humor is just the right level of goofy, and the art really fits the game's entire vibe.”
    • “The combination of funny names and sprite combos, as well as the well-thought-out dialogue of each character, truly makes it a masterpiece of a game.”
    • “The narrative is well thought through and in equal parts funny, dramatic, and heartwarming.”
  • emotional97 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Cassette Beasts" resonates deeply with players, evoking a range of feelings from nostalgia and joy to heartbreak and attachment. Many reviewers highlight the game's heartfelt storytelling, well-developed characters, and a touching soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey that often leaves players in tears. Overall, the game successfully combines fun gameplay with profound emotional moments, creating a cozy yet impactful adventure.

    • “Made me cry and feel things.”
    • “The story is amazing, it invokes a heartwarming and nostalgic feeling, while also leaning into horror at some points.”
    • “The interactions between you and your partners are so wholesome and sweet.”
  • replayability51 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with features such as a fusion system offering over 19,000 combinations, customizable difficulty options, and various modes including randomizers and nuzlocke-style play. Players appreciate the depth of strategy, engaging story, and diverse character interactions that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some find replay value limited after completing achievements, many highlight the extensive post-game content and unique mechanics that keep the experience fresh and entertaining.

    • “The most notable of these is a fusion system with 19,000+ possible combinations intended to significantly increase replayability.”
    • “Remix all classic mechanics, add a modern flair, with a nostalgic take on the whole thing, add a dash of self-awareness, and you've got yourself one hell of a good indie game that's going to keep me entertained for well over 100 hours, with tons of replayability!”
    • “The characters are likable without overstaying their welcome, the dialogue is cute, the music is lovely, and the replay value is off the charts thanks to the randomization mode unlocked after finishing a single normal playthrough (or with a cheat code provided by the developers, if you prefer).”
    • “So in all I thoroughly enjoyed your game and I look forward to a sequel, but once I wrap up the Steam achievements, the game just doesn't have enough replay value because the mechanics aren't impactful enough and it's too accessible.”
    • “Personally low replayability for me; there wasn't much to bring me back after 100%ing.”
    • “While there is replayability that gets unlocked in spades after the final boss, the main story is just so enjoyable that it feels quite emotional and sad when it is over.”
  • atmosphere51 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of calming and intriguing elements, enhanced by stunning graphics and an exceptional soundtrack. Players appreciate the diverse environments and the ability to shift between cozy and eerie vibes, creating a unique and immersive experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the monsters look very cute.”
    • “I find it so fun how this game can jump from comfy cozy vibes to eldritch horror, makes for a very unique story and atmosphere.”
    • “I just wish they'd either put more time into the overworld and dialogue because atmosphere plays a big role in RPGs, even monster collectors.”
    • “The world design evokes both a nostalgic and otherworldly appearance which really helps nail the mood and atmosphere the story aims for.”
    • “Every battle theme in the game has lyrics, but they only get sung by fusing with your chosen partner, completely changing the atmosphere and intensity of any battle, even a mundane encounter with a generic monster on the beach.”
  • character development49 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique and memorable character designs while others feel that certain characters, like Barkley, lack depth and complexity. While many highlight the engaging story and potential for character growth, there are criticisms regarding rushed backstories and limited dialogue for some characters, which detracts from the overall emotional impact. Overall, the game is praised for its charming aesthetics and diverse character options, but it could benefit from deeper narrative exploration and more substantial character arcs.

    • “The character portraits are great (for humans and creatures) and the character designs are inspired and varied.”
    • “Extremely cute aesthetic, gameplay is a fun take on monster collecting, story that feels meaningful with character development over time.”
    • “The writing is amazing, the monster and character designs are memorable, and the music is absolutely banging.”
    • “I just wish Barkley's background was a little more complex. Having a dog as a monster catcher is a very neat idea; he is very cute and he was my first 5 hearts character. However, his background feels a little bit lacking. You see other characters like Kayleigh develop so well through multiple missions, but you see Barkley's character development happen through only one fight and it's over. His tragic story was supposed to be sad, but it felt so rushed that I couldn't feel anything.”
    • “The character designs (your party members, the monsters, and the archangels) are fantastic, but that's about it.”
    • “Extremely cute aesthetic, gameplay is a fun take on monster collecting, but the story feels meaningful with character development over time.”
  • optimization48 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback. While many players report smooth performance on lower-end devices and commend its optimization compared to other titles, some users have experienced noticeable stuttering, long load times, and performance issues, particularly on the Nintendo Switch. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered well-optimized for its engine, with potential for further improvements.

    • “Every move can also show up in 3 rarity tiers, with the uncommon and rare versions having random affixes/passives to add even more depth and optimization potential for any build.”
    • “The game runs smoothly even on lower-end devices, and I've never encountered any glitches.”
    • “Being able to customize movesets to the level you can in this game certainly helps the depth of the gameplay, but on top of that, the level of optimization, exploration, and overall uniqueness of each beast species being able to be any element is incredibly smart.”
    • “I do hope there's further performance optimizations though.”
    • “Long load times and bad performance with shadows on.”
    • “The problems: the game is either not properly optimized in general or for Steam Deck.”
  • stability27 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal glitches, especially compared to other titles in the genre. While some users noted occasional physics issues and minor bugs, these do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience. The game runs well on various platforms, including lower-end devices and Linux, making it a reliable choice for players.

    • “No game data lost, no buggy choppy adjustment period, nothing.”
    • “And it runs great, unlike Scarlet and Violet, which are still a trainwreck years after release.”
    • “The game runs great on my Steam Deck as well as on my computer and controls wonderfully with a controller.”
    • “There are some physics and 'clipping-through-floor' glitches, especially in early areas.”
    • “But Cassette Beasts goes the extra mile and makes my laptop its bitch whenever it freezes.”
    • “Sometimes the game runs fine for hours, but with minor frame drops, and sometimes it frame drops all over the place, and then freezes.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with reviewers noting the absence of aggressive cash grabs or exploitative microtransactions, contrasting it with the Pokémon franchise's recent practices. Players appreciate the game's focus on genuine gameplay and emotional storytelling rather than profit-driven mechanics, highlighting its value as a heartfelt alternative to more commercialized titles.

    • “Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
    • “The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
    • “I appreciate that the monetization model allows for free play while offering optional purchases.”
    • “Yet another great example of how much Pokémon is actually just a lifeless cash grab in the past decade.”
    • “Cheap, lazy cash grab.”
    • “Do yourself a favor and avoid this shoddy, lazy cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

Buy Cassette Beasts

Play time

29hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
10-46hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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