Mage and Monsters

About

Mage and Monsters is a single player tactical strategy game. It was developed by Lasse Zacho Malver and was released on October 12, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Create an army and use spells while it fights for you. Mage & Monsters is a strategic battler, where you must choose wisely between upgrading the might of your army, or increasing the power of your spells.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,168 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

Fun and simple gameplay that is easy to pick up and play.
Great value for the price, providing several hours of entertainment.
Engaging mechanics with a good mix of strategy and tactics.

Limited content and replayability, with many players feeling they have seen everything within a few hours.
The game can become repetitive quickly, lacking variety in units and spells.
Some balancing issues, particularly with upgrades and difficulty scaling.

gameplay
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet effective loop, combining rogue-lite progression with an autobattler format that appeals to casual players. While it offers engaging mechanics and a comfortable experience for short play sessions, many reviewers note a lack of depth and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay over time. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit limited, experience that can entertain for a few hours, especially for those seeking a chill gaming session.
- “The game runs smoothly with any old 'potato' and has the familiar gameplay elements of rogue-lite progression and a savings-based economy (every 100 gold you hold unspent gives you additional passive income next round, up to 700 gold for a bonus 70 gold per round with all rogue-lite perks equipped).”
- “Just a really solid autobattler with some engaging mechanics and very fun achievements to work towards.”
- “The difficulty scaling is really well done, progressing through the rounds feels good, and the spells add interesting gameplay variation.”
- “However, there is little gameplay and variety.”
- “Game lacks solid gameplay foundations to be interesting in the long run.”
- “The reward for playing seems small, and the depth of gameplay is fairly shallow.”
replayability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
65%
8%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its charm and variety, noting that it offers plenty of replay value through upgrades, achievements, and different difficulty levels. However, some users feel that once the game is completed, it lacks significant replay incentive, citing repetitiveness and limited content. Overall, while there are strong elements that encourage replay, opinions vary widely on its long-term appeal.
- “A fun game with excellent replay value and lots to unlock.”
- “There is a lot of replayability and more than one way to win, even on the harder difficulties.”
- “With the amount of choices and unpredictable outcomes of every wave battle, this game offers insane replay value that will likely have you playing again and again.”
- “There is little to no replay value after you beat the game.”
- “I just finished it and there is no replay value for me really.”
- “Replayability is limited.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, often leading to a loss of initial enjoyment due to repetitive tasks and a lack of meaningful progression. While some appreciate the gameplay mechanics and strategic elements, many express frustration with the mindless nature of grinding for achievements and upgrades, suggesting that the game could benefit from more content and a less grind-heavy experience. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the game's potential enjoyment.
- “Getting all the achievements requires a level of mindless, boring grinding that borders on abuse.”
- “It's not a 'bad' game but the initial charm quickly wears off due to an anemic progression system, arbitrary grinding, and RNG on in-game upgrade paths that can make or break certain runs.”
- “After this point, it becomes just a 'repeat and grind' sort of game and you aren't really grinding for much.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The graphics of the game are predominantly pixelated, evoking a nostalgic 90s aesthetic that appeals to some players while potentially alienating others. Many reviewers appreciate the art style and sound effects, noting that they enhance the overall enjoyment of the game, despite some criticism of specific visuals, like the minotaur in the banner artwork. Overall, the graphics are described as simple yet effective, fitting well with the game's gameplay mechanics.
- “I love the visuals and sounds that the game offers.”
- “The sound effects, the spell effects, and art style are very well done and help make the game enjoyable to play.”
- “Found the graphics to be consistent in design and with good variety.”
- “That minotaur in the banner artwork looks awful.”
- “Graphics have a 90s feel (or poor student project feel).”
- “Cheap and decent value despite potato graphics.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The game's story is notably lacking, with users expressing disappointment over the absence of a narrative or dialogue, especially in comparison to similar titles like Vampire Survivors. Many reviewers wish for the integration of a storyline that could enhance the existing battle mechanics, suggesting a potential mage and monsters universe. Overall, the focus remains primarily on gameplay rather than storytelling.
- “Not to mention, unlike Vampire Survivors, this game doesn't even try to have a story or dialogues.”
- “I'd love to see the creator take the battle system and add a storyline to it by creating a mage and monsters universe.”
- “No special story, no cards, no extra mechanics.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the endgame ultimate victory track as a standout 10/10, while others criticize the overall sound design as lacking depth and impact. Many players feel the music is underwhelming and suggest using alternative tracks for a better experience, indicating a need for improvement in this aspect.
- “10/10 for the endgame ultimate victory music.”
- “The sound design, music, and level design are as bare bones as possible.”
- “Eh, it's alright. Don't pay over 5 bucks; it needs optimization pretty badly and better music too.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is highly optimized, running smoothly even on low-end hardware, often referred to as "potato" systems. It features a well-animated user interface and incorporates familiar rogue-lite mechanics, including a savings-based economy that enhances gameplay. Overall, players appreciate its performance and design, despite some minor roughness in the UI.
- “The game runs smoothly with any old 'potato' and has the familiar gameplay elements of rogue-lite progression and a savings-based economy (every 100 gold you hold unspent gives you additional passive income next round, up to 700 gold for a bonus 70 gold per round with all rogue-lite perks equipped).”
- “Make no mistake, it's a real game, it's great, the UI is optimized and very well animated, if a bit 'raw'.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highly praised, with users giving it a perfect score of 10/10, indicating that it effectively engages and entertains. Despite initial reservations after playing the demo, the comedic elements ultimately won players over, making them eager for the sequel.
- “10/10 and I will pick up the upcoming sequel in a flash, which is funny because I played the demo and was a little uninspired.”
- “- funny”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players view the game's monetization as a missed opportunity, expressing a desire for ads to increase visibility and attract a larger audience.