Moncage

Moncage is a puzzle game that should be treated like a collection of short stories rather than a novel. Enjoy it over several sessions, pausing when it’s difficult to think about the different parts, rather than consume it as one experience. It’s quite literally to be puzzled over.

88%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, replayability

88% User Score Based on 574 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $11.48

Buy NowGet on Steam€14.99

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About

"Moncage is a puzzling adventure inside a mysterious cube, where each of its sides holds a unique world that subtly connects with the others. Solve mind-boggling optical illusion puzzles, and collect photos to unveil the story as you uncover the hidden connections between worlds. Thoughtful hints are available to help you when you get stuck."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 574 reviews

story90 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Moncage features a beautiful art style and immersive visuals that enhance the overall experience.
The game offers a unique and innovative puzzle mechanic that requires players to think outside the box, providing satisfying 'aha' moments.
The story is subtly told through environmental storytelling and collectibles, adding depth to the gameplay without relying on dialogue.

Some puzzles can be overly finicky, requiring precise alignment that can lead to frustration.
The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in just a couple of hours, which may not justify the price for some.
The hint system, while helpful, can sometimes feel intrusive, prompting players too frequently and detracting from the sense of discovery.

story
247 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
1%
The game's story is often described as beautiful and emotionally resonant, exploring themes such as PTSD, fatherhood, and the impact of war, all conveyed through innovative visual storytelling and environmental cues rather than dialogue. While some players found the narrative to be ambiguous or difficult to follow, many appreciated the depth and emotional weight of the story, which unfolds gradually as players solve puzzles and collect images. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, a poignant soundtrack, and a subtle yet impactful narrative contributes to a unique gaming experience that resonates with many players.
- “A beautiful story told in a unique and captivating way.”
- “The story is told completely through the different scenes that unfold on each of the cube's faces and little collectible photos - to put it simply, it tells the story of a family and what war will do to people and the land.”
- “The story told in the background and through the pictures is both heart-wrenching and beautiful.”
- “The story is very understated, and there's not much reward for solving a puzzle.”
- “The story in Moncage is nothing to write home about, but is quickly obscured by cleverly designed puzzles.”
- “I still have no clue what the story is other than something about a war.”
gameplay
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its innovative and unique mechanics, primarily revolving around a cube that players manipulate to solve visually engaging puzzles. While many players appreciate the creative design and the gradual increase in complexity, some find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally tedious, particularly when new mechanics are introduced without clear guidance. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning and thought-provoking experience, though its short length and certain design choices may detract from its overall appeal.
- “Beautiful puzzle game, sophisticated puzzles that are not too difficult once you understand the mechanics.”
- “The gameplay here is unique.”
- “The interactive nature of the puzzles added an extra layer of depth and challenge to the gameplay, making for a truly enjoyable experience.”
- “I do think for some people its gameplay is boring.”
- “My issue with this game is that since the puzzles are all based around the cube, the only continuous thread gameplay-wise is the cube itself.”
- “I believe this game would feel much better if it was designed as a longer story-focused puzzler where individual mechanics are introduced more gradually and established completely before demanding the use.”
graphics
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
27%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and charming art style, which effectively complements the storytelling and gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the immersive visuals, unique perspective-based design, and the seamless integration of music, creating a relaxing and engaging experience. While some critiques mention a flat appearance in certain areas, the overall consensus highlights the stunning and atmospheric graphics that enhance the game's emotional narrative.
- “The visually stunning graphics and unique concept make it a truly immersive experience.”
- “The delightful art style and clever use of color, engaging narrative, compelling puzzles, and original mechanics all work together in tandem to create a beautiful gaming experience that will get players thinking in more ways than one.”
- “The simple yet gorgeous visuals coupled with the incredible soundtrack made me feel existential in the best way possible.”
- “The graphics are quite ok.”
- “If you are here just for the visuals, the hint feature is there to make the journey more bearable.”
- “Irritatingly random puzzle solutions combined with twee artstyle and themes.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
35%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Composed by berlinist, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, atmospheric, and seamlessly integrated with the gameplay, contributing to the game's artistic and narrative elements. Overall, players find the music to be a standout feature that complements the stunning visuals and clever puzzles.
- “The intricate puzzles are brilliantly designed, and the outstanding soundtrack adds depth to the immersive experience.”
- “The music is excellent, emotional, non-repetitive, high quality full spectral stereo.”
- “Cleverly crafted puzzles combined with enchanting visuals, emotional music, and an interesting story told through photographs make for a wonderful game.”
- “The music and sound effects are also well done, creating an immersive experience that draws you into the game.”
- “The game proceeds at your pace, with a zen-like musical backdrop.”
- “Although kinda short, it is made up by its atmosphere, art style, and music.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its heartfelt and touching story that unfolds beautifully throughout the gameplay. The combination of stunning visuals, an exceptional soundtrack, and clever puzzles creates a deep emotional connection, often evoking feelings of nostalgia and existential reflection. Players appreciate the ability of the game to convey powerful emotions without dialogue, making the experience both unique and memorable.
- “The story is heartwarming and beautifully crafted, making for a touching experience.”
- “Even though there is no dialogue, it feels so emotional in a way that is inexplicable through words; it must be felt.”
- “The amazing art style, creative puzzles, and mechanics have a heartwarming story about growing up, and it is beautiful.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
7%
86%
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the precision required for puzzle piece alignment and the lack of chapter select, which forces repeated playthroughs for missed secrets. Many reviewers express a sense of burnout from the repetitive nature of the gameplay, where finding connections often feels more laborious than enjoyable, despite the game's interesting concept. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment, leading to a desire for more streamlined mechanics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tedious, I really wish to like this, but it's really frustrating (yes, I have used this word multiple times) that I just feel like giving up despite it being interesting.”
- “However, certain sections require the repetition of sequences, which can get quite tedious, especially when replaying the game for collectibles or achievements.”
- “After a few puzzles, finding the proper connections felt more tedious than fun: there's not much more to the gameplay than rotating the cube over and over to find matching patterns.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beauty, calming sounds, and intimate art style, which together create impactful moments and a relaxing experience. Players appreciate the unique puzzle mechanics that complement the atmospheric soundtrack, although some find certain mechanics unintuitive. Overall, the combination of art, music, and atmosphere contributes to a unique and engaging puzzle adventure.
- “Want to love this game because it is so beautiful, atmospheric, and has a unique puzzle concept.”
- “An atmospheric deeper meaning puzzle game with a wonderful concept of connection concerning a cube.”
- “The intimate art and atmosphere mixed with its steady pacing can result in some real impactful moments; if you want a game that gives the big chills, this game will give the big chills.”
- “The intimate art and atmosphere mixed with its steady pacing can result in some truly impactful moments.”
- “Although it's kind of short, it is made up for by its atmosphere, art style, and music.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking due to its linear story and the need to wipe progress for new runs, others appreciate the potential for replay through collectibles and achievements, as well as the enjoyable shareability aspect when playing with friends.
- “There's a lot of replayability through the collectibles and achievements as well.”
- “The game is quite short for the price, buggy or not, with no replay value since the only way to do new runs is to wipe all progress.”
- “I don't know about its replayability since it's a very linear and singular story, but its shareability seems really good; you can invite a friend to explore this weird thing with you and have a ton of fun.”
- “There is a lot of replayability through the collectibles and achievements as well.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, particularly with buggy achievements that do not function as intended, such as requiring multiple completions for a single reward. Additionally, the game's short length and lack of replay value further detract from the overall experience.
- “The achievements were also super buggy, where I had to beat the game four times in under 30 minutes each to get the 'Veteran' achievement, which only requires a time under 45 minutes.”
- “The game is also quite short for the price, buggy or not, with no replay value as the only way to do new runs of the game is to wipe all progress.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy involves deliberately delaying hints with arbitrary timers, reminiscent of ad timers commonly found in mobile games, which may frustrate players seeking immediate assistance.
- “Hints are intentionally spaced out with arbitrary timers, similar to the timers used for mobile game ads.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “In-game purchases are heavily pushed, creating a frustrating experience for players who prefer to play without spending.”