Monster Crown

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 491 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • stability
Monster Crown Game Cover
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In Monster Crown, a dark monster taming RPG, you'll explore a gloomy world, forming pacts with creatures to enhance their powers. Make challenging decisions thatctionally and morally shape your journey, while engaging in strategic turn-based battles. With the ability to breed, fuse, and chain monsters, Monster Crown offers depth and replayability in your quest to rule over or protect the land.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 491 reviews
story31 positive mentions
stability115 negative mentions
  • The monster designs are creative and charming, reminiscent of classic Pokémon aesthetics.
  • The breeding system is extensive and allows for a high level of customization, making each monster feel unique.
  • The game captures the nostalgic feel of early monster taming games while introducing darker themes and a more mature storyline.
  • The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches, including UI issues and game-breaking soft locks.
  • The combat system lacks depth, often reducing battles to spamming the strongest move without much strategy.
  • The story feels rushed and underdeveloped, with unclear objectives and pacing issues that can leave players confused.
  • story230 mentions

    The game's story is described as a darker and more mature take on the monster-collecting genre, reminiscent of Pokémon but with a grittier narrative and themes. However, many players find the story to be underdeveloped, clunky, and often confusing, with pacing issues and a lack of clear direction. While some appreciate the unique monster designs and breeding mechanics, the overall consensus is that the story needs significant improvement and further fleshing out to match the game's potential.

    • “The game's story is like a darker version of Pokémon, and I recommend it to creature collector fans.”
    • “Very reminiscent of the old-school Pokémon games, but with new mechanics and a much more mature plot and script.”
    • “The story is surprisingly dark and adult, so if you want more adult themes in your Pokémon games, this is made for you.”
    • “The game's story makes no sense and doesn't tell you where to go.”
    • “The absolute weakest aspect of this game is its story and its characters.”
    • “The story is surprisingly dark and adult, but it feels like it was put in just to tick a mature story box.”
  • gameplay142 mentions

    The gameplay of Monster Crown is characterized by its innovative breeding mechanics and nostalgic turn-based combat reminiscent of classic Pokémon games, offering a satisfying core loop for players. However, it is marred by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience, alongside a lack of depth in some mechanics, leading to a mixed reception. While many players appreciate the potential and creativity behind the gameplay, the overall execution feels unpolished, with some mechanics being confusing or underexplained.

    • “The gameplay is cool, from the combat, the insane level of customizability in the breeding system, and the story.”
    • “I really love the game, it manages to evoke the feelings you had as a kid playing Pokémon, exploring the mechanics, trying to puzzle the lore together and generally try to build a cool team.”
    • “The monster breeding is fun, it's always nice to see what'll come of it, the monsters themselves are all well designed, and the gameplay itself is satisfying.”
    • “Many mechanics in the game are pointless and overall don't benefit you or serve any real purpose.”
    • “Actions that seem to break at random... I only played under half an hour, and I encountered at least 5 major glitches that affect gameplay negatively before even reaching the combat tutorial.”
    • “The gameplay of fighting monsters was hard to even do just due to bugs hindering the battles, but even when it worked you could just mash 'A' and blast through everything.”
  • stability120 mentions

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and unpolished mechanics that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players have encountered game-breaking issues, frustrating UI problems, and visual inconsistencies, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and requires substantial improvements. While some appreciate the game's concept and potential, the overwhelming presence of bugs makes it difficult to recommend in its current state.

    • “The developers are consistently releasing patches and are dedicated to ensuring the game is bug-free.”
    • “I appreciate the ideas they have in the game; I just hope they improve and ensure the core mechanics aren't buggy in Monster Crown 2.”
    • “The developers have a long road ahead of them to make this game bug-free.”
    • “Honestly, this game is a buggy mess.”
    • “The game is pretty enjoyable, but it's been out for three years and it's still very, very buggy.”
    • “But this game is still a buggy mess two years later.”
  • graphics66 mentions

    The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of early Pokémon titles, featuring charming pixel art and varied monster designs. However, many players report significant graphical glitches and inconsistencies, which detract from the overall experience, despite the appealing art style. While the visuals successfully capture the essence of classic games, they often clash with the game's darker themes and can lead to frustrating gameplay issues.

    • “The graphics and story (from the little I saw) were great, and I do not regret giving this game a try even at full price.”
    • “Graphics are amazing, music is really good.”
    • “The pixel graphics harken back to the golden days of Pokémon while the ease of use calls to mind Digimon, bringing together the best aspects of both while throwing in new twists and plot points that take a darker turn than the mentioned franchises.”
    • “It was probably a raw Unity/Unreal (whichever they used) menu that they never changed to fit their aesthetic.”
    • “Graphics are one part early Sugimori, one part Toriyama, and two parts cheap 'How to Draw Manga' book from Walmart.”
    • “The graphics and UI really need some polish.”
  • music46 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic, retro feel reminiscent of classic Game Boy Pokémon titles. However, several players noted issues such as repetitive tracks, poor looping, and occasional bugs that disrupt the experience, leading some to prefer muting the game altogether. Overall, while the soundtrack has its charm, it lacks variety and polish, detracting from the otherwise enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Character designs, monster designs, locations, and so much more with a wonderful soundtrack as icing on the cake.”
    • “The music is incredible and very nostalgic; the monsters are all very unique.”
    • “Battle music in particular is really engaging and sets the mood extremely well.”
    • “The music is passable but I preferred muting it and using my own after a few hours.”
    • “It's your generic 8-bit music that doesn't have many tracks, so they're often reused.”
    • “The soundtrack is also quite ear-grating - perhaps some people like it and this comment is subjective, but it doesn't really suit the pixel world being depicted.”
  • grinding34 mentions

    Grinding in this game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to engage in repetitive battles against significantly higher-level bosses. Many reviewers noted that the experience-sharing mechanic can exacerbate the grind, while others found the scouting system to be unreliable, making it difficult to efficiently level up monsters. Although some players appreciated the strategic elements and quality of life features that can ease the grind, the overall sentiment is that grinding detracts from the enjoyment and pacing of the game.

    • “The biggest annoyance is grinding. By the time I got to the second main town in the desert, only one or two of my team were at level 10, and finding monsters to grind against to try and get high enough to defeat the chief is a chore with the difficulty spike of him constantly switching monsters.”
    • “I found myself stuck in situations constantly where the only solution is to sit through tedious and unfun grind to try and level up my monsters, only to give up because getting a monster to level 80+ is way too time-consuming and boring.”
    • “Grinding is just disrespectful of a player's time, and when the main story often leaves you in a town where you have to fight a boss with monsters that are 15-20 levels higher than yours, the only choice is to grind.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    "Monster Crown" offers exceptional replayability due to its vast array of hundreds of monsters, each with multiple visually distinct forms, and an open world that encourages exploration. The inclusion of randomizer options and Nuzlocke challenges, along with numerous hidden secrets, enhances the game's longevity and variety, making it a standout in the monster taming genre. Players can enjoy a fresh experience with each playthrough, ensuring they remain engaged over time.

    • “By far my favorite monster taming game. Monster Crown just ticks all the boxes I've wanted in this type of game, with hundreds of monsters, each having 6 vastly visually different forms that match their type. The world itself is open to explore from shortly after the start, and the game has randomizer options for replayability or Nuzlocke challenges.”
    • “This lends great replayability to the world, as you can log in for a little bit, wander around, see a trainer, then gawk at the cool or bizarre random monsters on his team.”
    • “By far my favorite monster taming game, previously I would have said the Siralim series, but Monster Crown just ticks all the boxes I've wanted in this type of game. Hundreds of monsters, each with 6 vastly visually different forms that match their type, the world itself is open to explore from shortly after the start, and the game has randomizer options for replayability or Nuzlocke challenges.”
    • “+ Plenty of hidden secrets to improve replayability and give extra things to do.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The reviews highlight a lack of character development, with no compelling personalities or growth present in the characters. However, the originality of character and monster designs is praised, drawing favorable comparisons to earlier Pokémon aesthetics, suggesting a strong artistic direction despite the absence of depth in character narratives.

    • “Character designs, monster designs, locations, and so much more with a wonderful soundtrack as icing on the cake.”
    • “The monsters have a sort of earnest originality to them that reminds me of the very first Pokémon before they went down that dark road of commercial success.”
    • “I do think this is leagues above Temtem due to the much more original art direction it takes with character design.”
    • “There is no character development, there are no interesting or outstanding personalities, there's nothing compelling about these characters at all.”
    • “The monsters have a sort of earnest originality to them that reminds me of the very first Pokémon before they went down that dark road of commercial success and turned into the heaving corpse of a dumpster fire of character design that they presently are.”
    • “That said, I do think this is leagues above Temtem due to the much more original art direction it takes with character design.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for numerous bugs, including visual glitches, quest-breaking issues, and performance problems like stuttering and erratic menu behavior. While there is potential for improvement, especially for dedicated players, the current experience is marred by jankiness and inconsistent functionality.

    • “Leaning into the unique breeding system and interesting monster designs is a smart move, and I can see a lot of room for deep optimization among hardcore fans.”
    • “I've been stuck in place once I exited a cave, eggs not hatching for a long time, glitched dialogue just by spamming the talk button, and saw/caused something I wasn't supposed to. There are numerous visual bugs, I can't complete a quest concerning a certain prisoner, I'm not getting achievements, and there are some performance issues.”
    • “But it was pretty janky with saving, stuttering, weird menu glitches, that kind of stuff.”
    • “I had invisible walls randomly pop up on route transitions, the stuttering is still pretty bad, weather and daytime transitions are so sudden, it's jarring, and my monster's menu options constantly display the wrong info, making it really hard to actually discern which monster I had currently selected.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be hit-or-miss, with some players finding it genuinely funny while others have mixed feelings about its comedic elements. Overall, it is described as a well-made game that incorporates humor effectively, contributing to its appeal.

    • “Funny thing is, I got a refund on this game a few years ago, then bought it again recently because I couldn't remember what it was I disliked about it.”
    • “Sometimes it's funny.”
    • “Great game, funny and well made.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its charm and eerie, nostalgic qualities reminiscent of classic Pokémon, creating a unique and engaging experience. However, the enjoyment is often marred by numerous bugs and design quirks, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel unsettling and reminiscent of a creepypasta. Despite these issues, there is optimism for further development and enhancement of the atmosphere in future updates.

    • “The atmosphere of the game is awesome and it shows promise with being developed throughout early access.”
    • “I was charmed by the monsters and atmosphere, but it's just too buggy.”
    • “Monster Crown is an odd monster-catching game that hearkens back to the good old days of Pokémon RBY, but due to a combination of its deliberately eerie, slightly off atmosphere and a monumental amount of design quirks and glitches, every playthrough I've done so far ends up reading like a Pokémon-inspired creepypasta.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the emotional depth of the game is minimal and primarily serves to connect gameplay elements, it still evokes nostalgia and a sense of childhood joy in players, reminiscent of classic monster-catching games.

    • “I grew up playing Monster Rancher, Pokémon, Digimon World, etc. Monster Crown is unfinished, its story is bare-bones, but even still, it made me feel like a little kid again catching and breeding monsters to see what new ones I'll get.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game is seen as a mixed bag; while it occasionally delivers value and reflects genuine passion for the genre, it lacks the exploitative nature of other titles that prioritize profit over quality. Overall, it strikes a balance that may appeal to some players despite its inconsistencies.

    • “The monetization feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great overshadowed by aggressive monetization tactics that prioritize profit over player experience.”
    • “The reliance on microtransactions makes it hard to enjoy the game fully, as it often feels like you're being pushed to pay to progress.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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