MONITOR: The Game

About

MONITOR: The Game is a single player action game with violence and erotic themes. It was developed by DNT Games and was released on September 15, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Monitor is a narrative based game where you must find out what has happened to the CEO of Dolos Pharmaceuticals through audio bugs in his getaway retreat. The Steam Edition includes achievements, new extras and developer commentary that was previously unavailable. Created for Sheffield Hallam University, this project showcases multiple branching path stories and dramatic narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

story10 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and intriguing narrative that keeps players engaged with its moral dilemmas and unexpected twists.
Despite its minimalistic graphics, the atmosphere effectively conveys tension and anxiety, enhancing the overall experience.
As a free game, it offers a commendable level of quality and depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven gameplay.

The gameplay can feel slow and tedious, with limited interactivity and a linear storyline that may disappoint some players.
Graphics and optimization issues detract from the experience, with some players reporting performance problems even on capable hardware.
The reliance on audio clues can lead to confusion, as players may miss important conversations while trying to track multiple audio feeds.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The story in "monitor: the game" is a compelling narrative that unfolds in real-time, requiring players to piece together clues from audio logs and snippets of footage. While the presentation has been criticized for its lack of polish, many players find the plot engaging, filled with twists and a rich conspiracy theme, leading to multiple endings that encourage exploration. Overall, the story is praised for its depth and intrigue, making it a standout aspect of the game despite some gameplay mechanics being less favorable.
- “The story is highly interesting and I would score the game overall a decent 7 out of 10.”
- “An incredible game with a breathtaking story.”
- “The plot was amazing and the end... had me in shock.”
- “You might be familiar with 'Her Story' and this is a bit like that... and like 'Her Story', the presentation is a bit poor, to the extent it's a deterrent that caused an otherwise potentially viable game concept to fail to meet any notable level of success.”
- “Perhaps the game expects you to play through multiple times to glean the entirety of the story, but this just seemed to me like a contrived way to extend gameplay.”
- “The story unfolds in real-time; you cannot pause.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique mechanic of listening to audio feeds that enhances the atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of engaging mechanics and depth, feeling it may rely too heavily on replaying to uncover the story. While the game offers decent mechanics and a slow-paced experience that may appeal to some, it falls short of top-tier gameplay expectations and could benefit from further development in future projects.
- “The central gameplay mechanic, listening to one audio feed at a time, is decent and definitely contributes to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “It definitely won't be a game for everyone, but if you find that you can enjoy slow-paced gameplay, you might want to give Monitor a look.”
- “The gameplay in Monitor is hard to describe but could perhaps be likened to Five Nights combined with a hidden object game.”
- “Maybe a bit less unhealthy than her story, but with worse gameplay mechanics.”
- “Perhaps the game expects you to play through multiple times to glean the entirety of the story, but this just seemed to me like a contrived way to extend gameplay.”
- “In this one you don't really have much gameplay; you aren't here to set off the traps, just to listen and maybe act.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The graphics in the game are generally considered passable, with some reviewers noting that while they are decent for being developed in Unreal Engine 4, they fall short of impressive standards. Many players feel that the visuals do not match the quality of gameplay, and there is a consensus that improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience. Despite the graphics not being a standout feature, some players still appreciate the game's story and mechanics.
- “This game is pretty good; the mechanics are great, but I think they could improve on the graphics a bit; otherwise, great game!”
- “And while it's vital for any game to have impressive visuals (gaming is a visual medium, after all), there's more to a game than just the graphics.”
- “The graphics in this game are passable, but could be better.”
- “The game's graphics are hideous despite being built in Unreal Engine, and it makes your graphics card run hot.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, with some expressing a desire for faster progression options. While the voice work is praised, the overall experience is marred by the repetitive nature of grinding, which can detract from enjoyment.
- “Voice work is the best part, but the game really could use some way to speed things along, and even the day select doesn't make things less tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I would describe it as much like Night Trap but without the video and not as tedious.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game faces criticism for its optimization, with users noting slow performance and issues such as subtitle problems. While the graphics are considered decent for Unreal Engine 4, the overall optimization detracts from the experience, particularly for players aiming to explore all endings.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, especially considering the graphics are quite good for being made in Unreal Engine 4.”
- “Despite some downsides, the optimization allows for a smoother experience, even when exploring all the endings.”
- “The game runs well overall, showcasing effective optimization that enhances gameplay.”
- “The subtitle issue is a clear indication that the game is not optimized.”
- “The game suffers from significant optimization problems, especially with subtitles.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and storytelling, with many reviewers highlighting its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. The soundtrack is particularly noted in the DLC, where it complements the narrative and writing effectively.
- “Overall, the vibe from the amazing music and the story makes this a great game. 10/10.”
- “Edit: Alix DLC review; an amazing development in the story, great soundtrack, and great writing to set the tone of the add-on.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its central gameplay mechanic, which involves listening to one audio feed at a time, creating an immersive experience for players.
- “The central gameplay mechanic, listening to one audio feed at a time, is decent and definitely contributes to the atmosphere of the game.”