Monolithic Christmas Night

About

Monolithic Christmas Night is a single player action game. It was developed by ThatRedBastard and was released on February 28, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Monolithic Christmas Night" is a fangame of Five Nights at Freddy's and Star of Providence, with a unique twist of typing on a Writing Module to complete nights. The game features 5 nights with cutscenes and bullet-hell boss fights, as well as custom night mode and other gamemodes. Players must type quickly to survive as a gang of 12 crooks attempts to get them. Controls are available for both mouse and keyboard.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,284 reviews

music404 positive mentions

grinding38 negative mentions

Monolith is a fantastic bullet hell roguelike with tight controls and a charming retro aesthetic.
The game offers a high skill ceiling, rewarding players for mastering its mechanics and learning enemy patterns.
The DLC, Relics of the Past, adds significant content and quality of life improvements, enhancing the overall experience.

Some players may find the game too easy, especially in the early stages, leading to a lack of challenge until the final boss.
The weapon system can feel limiting, as players can only hold one weapon at a time, which may lead to frustration if they run out of ammo.
Visual confusion can occur during intense bullet hell moments, making it difficult to track the player's ship amidst the chaos.

music
682 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. The soundtrack is often described as nostalgic, fitting seamlessly with the retro visuals and gameplay mechanics, and is compared favorably to iconic titles like "Undertale" and "Cave Story." While some minor criticisms exist regarding specific tracks or the volume of pause music, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and replayability.
- “The music, visuals, and setting are all incredible, but choosing the roguelite genre was a mistake.”
- “The soundtrack cleverly reprises earlier songs in the soundtrack and flows with the action and plot developments seamlessly.”
- “The game's captivating gameplay loop, charming visuals, and electrifying soundtrack make it a standout in the roguelike genre.”
- “The soundtrack on the first level is stupid and breaks the immersion.”
- “It has one seemingly minor problem that completely ruins the experience though, and that is the fact that the pause music is extremely loud.”
- “If I had to point out negatives, the biggest obvious one is the music: Monolith's OST is serviceable most of the time and mediocre the rest of the time.”
gameplay
636 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The gameplay of Monolith is widely praised for its engaging blend of bullet hell mechanics and roguelite elements, offering a fast-paced, skill-based experience that rewards precision and strategic decision-making. Players appreciate the tight controls, varied weapon systems, and the satisfying progression loop, which keeps runs fresh and exciting. While some critiques mention technical issues and a lack of unique mechanics, the overall consensus highlights its addictive gameplay, charming aesthetics, and a well-crafted balance of challenge and accessibility.
- “The perfect mix between shmup bullet hell and roguelite mechanics.”
- “Fantastic gameplay, music, and graphics combine into a mood that grabbed me like few games do.”
- “The gameplay is polished very well!”
- “As such, the game lacks any real gameplay hooks to keep you engaged.”
- “Couldn't get into the gameplay loop with this one.”
- “Some classic bullet hell influences here, which I don't really love - lots of fairly chaotic patterns, big bullets, tiny player hitbox (and dashes without i-frames fry my muscle memory) - and relatively shallow roguelite mechanics - there's not a ton of meaningful choices that change the way you play mid-run.”
graphics
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming retro pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia while maintaining clarity and detail. Players appreciate the vibrant color palettes and smooth animations that enhance the gameplay experience, alongside a captivating chiptune soundtrack that complements the visuals. Overall, the aesthetic successfully merges classic gaming influences with modern design sensibilities, creating a visually appealing and immersive atmosphere.
- “Fantastic gameplay, music, and graphics combine into a mood that grabbed me like few games do.”
- “The graphics are reminiscent of the PC Engine but with the removal of all hardware limitations of the older era to create smooth, fast gameplay that's precise, ruthless, but fair.”
- “The palette plus the pixel art style generates graphics that really pop out at you and makes everything from the environments to the enemies look distinct.”
- “The graphics style is very simple and retro; I absolutely love retro and pixel games, but this game's style is just a tad too dull.”
- “While the graphics are solid, they don't have the charm of Isaac or Gungeon either.”
- “The graphics are kinda meh though.”
story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The game's story is described as simple yet intriguing, often conveyed through character interactions, bestiary entries, and environmental storytelling, which keeps players engaged despite its vagueness. While some players find the narrative confusing or sparse, many appreciate the charming characters and the subtle lore that unfolds during gameplay, reminiscent of classics like Cave Story. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a compelling backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience, even if it doesn't dominate the focus.
- “The story/lore is mostly told through short bestiary entries, which are filled with as many funny tongue-in-cheek quips as nods to the apocalypse and cosmic horrors living in the depths.”
- “Overall, the story is fairly simple, but the presentation and creativity in both setting and enemy design fully immersed me in this strange, derelict world.”
- “The story also deserves special recognition for telling a fairly deep tale just through environments and gameplay decisions.”
- “I’m sure there is a story somewhere but I gave up after the spaceship trapped in a cave was destroyed by a giant eye before taking a floating square from a giant glass tube.”
- “Apart from the intro, the story is presented in a vague and sparse manner which always had me wondering what was really going on (in between the white-knuckle combat).”
- “The story is very confusing, and you won't understand much of it unless you beat the game with all the characters, but the game is good as heck.”
replayability
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its engaging game design, numerous unlockables, and varied gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the combination of rogue-like elements and arcade-style action, which keeps each run fresh and challenging. While it may not match the depth of some other roguelites, the game offers significant content and replay value, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “Also the fact that it combines rogue-like elements creates for a very replayable experience; this game has a lot to offer with its content.”
- “The weapon combinations, unlockable upgrades, game modes, bosses, and secrets keep the game fresh and the replay value at an all-time high.”
- “Monolith is an excellent shmup-roguelite hybrid that provides the best of both worlds: it has the replayability you'd expect from a roguelite with a huge variety of different randomly generated weapons, randomized floors, a good number of unlockables, and secrets, but retains the tight control, great level and bullet pattern design, skill-based gameplay, and game feel you'd want from a shoot'em up.”
- “It may not have the endless replayability of some other roguelites, but it's one of the most robust and tightly designed games I've ever played, even outside of the genre.”
- “A lovely little roguelite, although it doesn't have nearly as much content and replayability as Isaac or Gungeon.”
- “Even though I managed to beat it in under 4 hours, there are many more things to do after you beat the game, so replayability is not an issue.”
atmosphere
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
27%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming and nostalgic qualities, enhanced by captivating pixel art, engaging NPC dialogue, and a standout soundtrack that shifts from upbeat to eerie as players progress. Reviewers note the blend of fun and mystery, with a unique blend of cute and sinister elements that create an immersive experience. Overall, the game's rich atmosphere, combined with tight gameplay mechanics, makes it a compelling choice for fans of the roguelike genre.
- “An atmosphere that seems nostalgic and fun but has a layer of mystery and intrigue hidden beneath.”
- “Unceasingly fun, easy to get into but hard to master, and a captivating and charming atmosphere.”
- “The wonderful soundtrack by arcofdream aids this sinister but cute atmosphere, wherein happy, bouncy chiptunes give way to progressively more melancholic and spooky songs as you progress deeper into the facility's depths, becoming outright unsettling at the very lowest floor.”
- “Incredibly catchy and moody music with a dark and gloomy atmosphere that reminds me of H.R.”
- “A very fun game with a good pixel visual style and satisfying, tight controls, as well as a surprisingly eerie atmosphere at times.”
grinding
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
5%
90%
Reviews highlight a mixed sentiment towards grinding in various roguelike games. While some players find the grinding tedious and monotonous, particularly when it overshadows the core gameplay, others appreciate the challenge it brings and the opportunity for skill improvement. Overall, excessive grinding for unlocks and upgrades is often seen as a detractor, with many players preferring games that focus on immediate action and enjoyment rather than prolonged grinding sessions.
- “The number one problem with Monolith is that it gets monotonous with all of the grinding the game forces on you.”
- “The actual game is really short, like 30 minutes long, but all of the 'length' is just because of all the grinding you have to do.”
- “The core gameplay and presentation are fine, but the grinding problem overshadows the good in the game.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny dialogue, quirky characters, and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. Players enjoy the blend of dark humor and lighthearted quips, particularly in interactions with NPCs like a gossiping cat shopkeeper. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a fun and engaging experience amidst its challenging roguelike mechanics.
- “Very difficult bullet-hell roguelike with funny dialogue and seriously interesting lore.”
- “The story/lore is mostly told through short bestiary entries, which are filled with as many funny tongue-in-cheek quips as nods to the apocalypse and cosmic horrors living in the depths.”
- “This is one of the better rogue-lites I've played, and it even has a good sense of dark humor in the interactions with the main shopkeeper and other sorts who show up in your den from time to time.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, characterized by intense victories and losses that evoke strong feelings. The game features impactful revelations and emotional moments, complemented by a fantastic soundtrack and heartfelt retro design, enhancing the overall emotional engagement.
- “I have only played this game a few hours and have already had some of the most electric and satisfying losses and heart-wrenching victories.”
- “I don't want to talk about this element too much, but suffice to say, there are plenty of revelations to come after this point, including some serious emotional gut-punches.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the retro design is honest and heartfelt, and the upgrade/weapon/shop system is near perfect.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing frequent freezes and bugs, particularly on Ubuntu 16, requiring troubleshooting to launch properly. However, others noted that controls are responsive and reported no significant glitches or technical issues.
- “The only complaint I have is that it constantly freezes on my Ubuntu 16.”
- “- A bit buggy; I had to do some troubleshooting to get it to launch without a black screen.”
- “The only complaint I have is that it constantly freezes on my Ubuntu 16.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features an adorable pixel-art visual style complemented by high-quality graphics, and users report that the Windows version runs smoothly without any crashes, indicating strong optimization.
- “Adorable pixel-art visual style, with high-quality graphics and performance.”
- “Indeed, the Windows version runs smoothly without crashing!”

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24h Median play time

121h Average play time

8-233h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Monolithic Christmas Night is a action game.

Monolithic Christmas Night is available on Windows.

On average players spend around 121 hours playing Monolithic Christmas Night.

Monolithic Christmas Night was released on February 28, 2023.

Monolithic Christmas Night was developed by ThatRedBastard.

Monolithic Christmas Night has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Monolithic Christmas Night is a single player game.

Similar games include Monolith, Star of Providence, Voidigo, Starward Rogue, Enter The Gungeon and others.

Monolithic Christmas Night

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