Do Not Feed the Monkeys
- October 24, 2018
- BadLand Games Publishing S.L.
- 7h median play time
Do not feed the monkeys is a colourful voyeuristic journey into shady organisations and oddball characters. Some of its systems aren't particularly well explained, but discovering a new nugget of information about a weird old man makes it all worthwhile.
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Do Not Feed the Monkeys" is a unique simulation game where you become an observer of secret webcams successor of "Prison Architect". Spy on various scenes and individuals, but avoid interfering or getting too emotionally involved. Use the information gathered to solve puzzles and uncover a dark conspiracy, while managing your own physical and mental health.
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Reviews
- Unique and engaging gameplay that combines voyeurism with resource management.
- High replayability due to randomized cages and multiple endings for each storyline.
- Humorous writing and interesting character arcs that keep players invested.
- story450 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is a collection of intriguing mini-narratives tied to various "cages," each presenting unique characters and moral dilemmas, often infused with dark humor and satire. However, players frequently find the overarching narrative lacking depth, as the time management mechanics can overshadow the storytelling experience, leading to frustration in fully engaging with the plots. While the individual storylines are well-written and offer multiple endings, the game's structure can make it challenging to appreciate them fully, resulting in a mixed reception regarding its narrative coherence and depth.
“The game’s satirical tone and occasional breaking of the fourth wall enhance its storytelling, making the player an active participant in the narrative rather than just an observer.”
“Each 'cage' presents a story with clues that you must piece together to understand the narrative fully.”
“The multiple endings and paths to success are fascinating, while the plot lines are a ton of fun.”
“You can't really focus on the story because you're too busy managing your health, hunger, energy, money, all the people knocking on your door, emails, chats.”
“The decisions you make in this game don't matter in a sense because you don't really care; you aren't really invested in any particular story (there just isn't enough time or the stories are too short and have only one path).”
“If the story was drawing you in, watching the little puppets do the same play every day will kick you right back out of it, and that's a real problem when a fun-destroying element is an inescapable part of every in-game day.”
- gameplay441 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Do Not Feed the Monkeys" combines resource management, observation, and point-and-click mechanics, creating a unique experience that engages players in monitoring various subjects through hidden cameras. While many players appreciate the intriguing narrative and humor, some find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, particularly due to the survival mechanics and the need to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Overall, the game offers a mix of addictive and challenging elements, but its enjoyment may vary based on individual preferences for pacing and complexity.
“The gameplay revolves around watching live feeds from various hidden cameras, referred to as 'cages,' and taking notes on the behavior of the subjects, or 'monkeys.' As you observe their lives, you gather information that can lead to multiple outcomes.”
“Super fun point-and-click adventure with interesting plots and unique gameplay that keeps you busy.”
“The overall gameplay experience is great, especially if you're the type who likes to manage virtual people and control their lives.”
“I found the gameplay in Do Not Feed the Monkeys to be quite tedious once the sheen of a new thing had worn off.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, does not change; you click yellow boxes and get money to click more yellow boxes.”
“The whole mechanic of spying on people, gathering info about them, and researching the info starts off fun but it just gets old after a while.”
- replayability364 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings and randomized scenarios, encouraging players to explore different character interactions and outcomes. While many players find the experience enjoyable and addictive, some note that the replay value diminishes after several playthroughs due to the game's relatively short length and repetitive elements. Overall, it is considered a fun and engaging title with a strong emphasis on replayability, though opinions vary on its longevity.
“With a multitude of stories to explore and the randomization of the paths (and multiple endings), it definitely has replay value!”
“Incredible replay value and variety will make you start the game from the beginning again and again, just to see all the stories and all the endings.”
“The game's replayability value is rather high since most cages have at least two different resolutions that net different results, and they do spawn randomly, so you'll need to play for quite a bit to unlock all the different endings and achievements.”
“A really slow-paced game, there is some replayability to it sure, but I wouldn't consider playing it again since it's such a hassle to micromanage everything.”
“It has some flaws--way too short, the 'health' mechanic is tedious, and its replay value is very low--but I think it's worth a try.”
“Unfortunately, the game is rather limited in how replayable it is, so you'll hit a wall in which you can't do much more than grind achievements.”
- humor200 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever blend of dark and absurd elements, often incorporating satire and breaking the fourth wall to engage players. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its intricate storytelling, quirky characters, and unexpected scenarios, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, the humor is described as a significant draw, contributing to the game's replayability and immersive experience.
“The game is a fascinating blend of voyeurism, moral choices, and dark humor.”
“This game has me laughing, gasping, desperately trying to save or kill people...it's really fun!”
“Great writing, funny characters and a lot of unexpected outcomes of your actions make this an incredibly captivating game.”
- graphics154 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming old-school pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventures, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics. While some reviews note that the graphics may appear dated, they effectively complement the gameplay and overall atmosphere, making them a fitting choice for the game's design. Overall, the pixel graphics are well-received for their unique style and ability to enhance the game's humor and storytelling.
“The pixel-style graphics of this game are very unique.”
“These pixel graphics fit the game's style really well, the characters are well drawn, it's pretty memorable!”
“The retro art style evokes old point-and-click adventure games, which is charming and nostalgic.”
“Graphics are low quality and there's lots of text.”
“Ok, the graphics are old-fashioned.”
“One of those games that has horrible graphics but it just doesn't matter.”
- music78 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a mix of ambient sounds and cultural pieces, including Greek folk, Bulgarian, Indian, Italian opera, and American jazz, which effectively enhance the atmosphere of the voyeuristic experience. While some players appreciate the realistic backdrop of muffled ethnic music and city noises, others find the lack of a cohesive soundtrack limiting and occasionally monotonous. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive quality, though opinions vary on its repetitiveness and impact on gameplay.
“The music and sound effects also add a lot to the atmosphere of the game.”
“It's very fitting that a game about a voyeur sneaking peeks into the lives of other people would have a soundtrack consisting of ambient noise from your unwitting neighbors, interspersed with public domain music from a variety of cultures.”
“The music and atmosphere is really good; it really enhances the feeling of being inside that apartment.”
“Outside of the menu and ending scene, there is barely any music in this game.”
“- the game does not have an actual soundtrack.”
“The music is drab and dreary and just makes me want to stop playing.”
- grinding76 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and repetitive, especially after the initial excitement wears off. Users noted that the need to repeatedly complete similar tasks, coupled with a lack of fast-forward options and randomization in gameplay, contributes to a sense of monotony that can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciated the game's creativity, they ultimately felt that the grind required to achieve goals or complete the game was excessive and often frustrating.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I found the gameplay in 'Do Not Feed the Monkeys' to be quite tedious once the sheen of a new thing had worn off.”
“Unfortunately, it was quite boring, short, and felt very grindy, nowhere near as good as 'Papers, Please'.”
“I liked the concept of the game; however, after playing it for about 2 hours, I found it was very grindy and not for me.”
- atmosphere38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its retro visuals, tense sound design, and unique, immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor and creepiness, which creates a captivating environment that feels larger than the gameplay itself. Overall, the atmosphere is described as original, engaging, and integral to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.
“The music and sound effects also add a lot to the atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere is very well done; it gives you the feeling that you are in a world that's bigger than you and the gameplay.”
“It's completely original; it creates and holds its own special atmosphere throughout, and I never got bored when I was playing it.”
“Still, due to the game's atmosphere and low price tag, I still recommend it; just don't go in expecting a masterpiece like Hypnospace Outlaw.”
“The result makes the game's overall atmosphere click in a way I find difficult to describe.”
“The pressure is always there, and it adds onto the entire atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits a strong emotional response, with players noting its unexpected emotional stress and touching moments that can lead to tears. While it may not reach the emotional depth of titles like "Papers, Please," it offers a mix of heartwarming and disturbing scenes, contributing to its replay value and establishing it as a benchmark in its genre. Overall, the game is both grueling and satisfying, leaving players wanting more.
“One I solved was so touching I almost cried.”
“This game has amazing replay value, with some really funny, heartwarming, and sometimes disturbing scenes, and it has an amazing atmosphere.”
“It's more grueling and more difficult emotionally, but really it's the benchmark for the genre.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits significant stability issues, with frequent crashes occurring every 20-45 minutes and a notable presence of glitches and bugs. While players appreciate the fresh experience it offers, the technical flaws detract from the overall enjoyment, requiring regular validation of game files to mitigate further problems.
“It seems like it crashes every 20-45 minutes or so, and every time it crashes I have to validate the game files or else I suffer other crashes, freezes, or even bugs.”
“The game was very buggy for me.”
“All that ambitiousness means that this game isn't without its flaws: there are glitches, and a damn good amount of them.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features unique and interesting designs, complemented by beautifully realized environments. While some characters may be predictable, the lack of deeper development is seen as a positive, as it prevents the gameplay from becoming overly tedious.
“The character designs are all very unique and interesting, and the different environments are all beautifully realized.”
“The characters themselves are sometimes easy to guess, but that doesn't matter as if they went into further detail with character development, the game would become more of a grind than anything.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it offers a short and simplistic experience that fails to deliver meaningful content. While the concept and pixel art are appreciated, the overall execution leaves players feeling confused and unsatisfied.
“The idea is interesting, the pixel art is decent, but it's a conveyor belt for-profit, short and simple cash grab project that left me confused and as hungry as I was initially.”
“The ones you've done before will be easier cash grabs or a time to experience different outcomes.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's emphasis on observation, which leads to the discovery of numerous easter eggs and effective optimization strategies, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“Your powers of observation are well rewarded with lots of easter eggs and optimization strategies.”
