Monster Sanctuary

Monster Sanctuary is a clever amalgamation of the monster-catching and Metroidvania-style genres that works really, REALLY well. I had a good time exploring the world and uncovering its secrets, whilst catching monsters and then using them in strategic battling made for some really enthralling showdowns. It does have the occasional issue here and there that can slow your progress down, but it doesn’t stop the game from being a whole lot of fun to play. If you’re looking for a monster-catching adventure with a unique little twist, you really ought to give Monster Sanctuary a try.

87%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

93% User Score Based on 10,504 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 4 reviews

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About

Monster Sanctuary is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Sersch and was released on December 8, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Monster Sanctuary" is a pixelated side-scrolling RPG where players collect, train, and battle monsters. As the heir of a long line of Monster Keepers, you explore the world to uncover a mystery threatening the peace between humans and monsters. The game combines monster collecting, turn-based combat, and metroidvania-style exploration, allowing any encountered monster to join your party.

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+17

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,504 reviews

story642 positive mentions

grinding790 negative mentions

The graphics are charming and beautifully crafted in a nostalgic pixel art style, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
The gameplay mechanics are deep and well-designed, encouraging tactical play and experimentation with team compositions.
The game is free from monetization schemes like loot boxes and microtransactions, allowing for a focus on quality gameplay.

The story lacks depth and emotional engagement, often feeling generic and predictable.
Some players find the gameplay to be repetitive and grindy, particularly in the late game.
The music can become repetitive and annoying, detracting from the overall atmosphere.

story
2,392 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The story of "Monster Sanctuary" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be a simple and somewhat generic narrative that often follows a "good vs. evil" trope. While some appreciate the engaging lore and character development, others criticize the story for lacking depth and emotional engagement, making it feel predictable and forgettable. Overall, the gameplay mechanics and exploration elements are often highlighted as the main attractions, with the story serving more as a backdrop rather than a focal point.
- “To my (quite happy) surprise I really enjoy this game and I think it found its own unique story and gameplay.”
- “The story is cool, the lore is awesome, the platforming is fun and utilizes the monsters in a unique way for a metroidvania!”
- “The story catches your attention and it sets itself up for a sequel which I hope it gets as well as having a unique combat system compared to other games in its category.”
- “The ordinary storyline didn't help but mostly I think it needed something to come out on top!”
- “Limited story depth: while the narrative serves its purpose, it lacks the depth and emotional engagement found in other RPGs, potentially leaving story-driven players wanting more.”
- “Wish I liked this game more, very boring story and environments that make it a slog to play.”
gameplay
2,004 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The gameplay of *Monster Sanctuary* has been widely praised for its depth and complexity, combining elements of metroidvania exploration with strategic, turn-based combat reminiscent of Pokémon. Players enjoy the intricate mechanics, including a unique 3v3 battle system, extensive skill trees for monster customization, and various synergies that encourage experimentation and tactical planning. However, some reviewers noted a steep learning curve and occasional repetitiveness, particularly in the platforming aspects, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “If you enjoyed building teams for competitive battle, Monster Sanctuary has very well designed mechanics and monster skills that will have you experimenting with the entire roster to find your ultimate team.”
- “Deep and well-designed mechanics that really encourage tactical play at high levels and allow for lots of great synergistic team-building.”
- “The gameplay is the perfect mix between simple and complicated; it is very easy to get the hang of it but it also has great depth.”
- “The aesthetics are cute and interesting but who has the time to waste on a game for how quirky it looks when the mechanics are immensely bland, boring and unimaginative?”
- “The gameplay is too slow-paced and grindy.”
- “The game is mechanically sound, through my almost 14 hours I experienced zero bugs.”
music
1,112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its charm and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, particularly in later areas. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, especially with limited battle themes, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, it may not be memorable for everyone, and some players found it less engaging during extended play sessions.
- “The music is amazing, the gameplay always has more to do, and I can't get enough of all the different strategies that every single monster contributes to the game.”
- “What an incredible adventure it was, with such beautiful OST all the way till the end.”
- “The soundtrack, a beautiful symphony of chiptunes, complements the atmosphere perfectly, further immersing me in the game world.”
- “But it can get stale hearing the same music on loop and running around forever.”
- “The absolute worst thing about the game is the music, which is always playing, is far too short so you hear it loop constantly, and is very annoying.”
- “The music in the first couple areas as well as the battle theme are honestly just not very good.”
graphics
836 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which many players find beautiful and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic 16-bit games. The visuals are described as colorful and well-animated, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience, although some critiques mention a lack of variety in environments and occasional blandness. Overall, the pixel graphics are considered a strong point of the game, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics and enhancing the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The pixel graphics look gorgeous.”
- “Graphics and pixel work are also super well done, some of the best of any pixel game I've played.”
- “The graphics and art are beautiful and fluid, and the fighting is intuitive and actually fun.”
- “The other half is a repetitive and grindy JRPG with a mediocre childish story, average visuals and sounds.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
grinding
824 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the minimal grinding due to features like monster leveling scaling and speed-up options, many find the overall experience tedious and time-consuming, especially in the late game where battles can feel drawn out and repetitive. Players who enjoy grinding may find it manageable, but others feel it detracts from the enjoyment and pacing of the game, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony.
- “Surprisingly not grindy for a game that has levels and a lot of monsters.”
- “There is absolutely no grinding necessary.”
- “Levelling/acquisition/respeccing etc. is convenient so you can focus on building and not grinding.”
- “The grinding is absurd and a genuinely horrible pace killer.”
- “This is a game I want to love and probably would, but honestly feels too grindy every time I enter a new area (in a way that is annoying and time-consuming rather than fun) and it's put me off finishing it.”
- “The end game is an absolute grindy chore, and destroyed my enjoyment and just left me feeling frustrated.”
replayability
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The game boasts high replayability, with features such as New Game+, randomizer modes, and various challenge options that encourage players to experiment with different team compositions and strategies. Many players appreciate the depth of mechanics and the viability of nearly all monsters, which enhances the replay experience. While some note a potential for burnout after multiple playthroughs, the overall consensus is that the game offers substantial replay value, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “Thanks to the non-linearity, the fact that nearly every monster is viable, and the alternate game modes, it has lots of replay value.”
- “The replayability is endless now with randomizer & bravery modes as well as options on any file to use new game+ or permadeath.”
- “This game also has amazing replay value as you probably didn't get to try out every monster on your first playthrough and so you can play through the entire game with a different team or even a completely different main strategy.”
- “While the storyline does not change, the variability in your monster teams makes it immensely replayable.”
- “The game does have some replayability, but I burnt out after the 6th new game.”
- “There's not quite enough variety in monsters to provide a lot of long-term replayability, but it's worth the asking price for the first playthrough alone.”
optimization
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
Monster Sanctuary offers a robust optimization system that encourages players to build and refine their teams strategically, with each monster featuring unique skill trees that enhance gameplay depth. Performance in battles is graded, directly influencing loot drops and encouraging experimentation with team compositions, although this can lead to a time-consuming learning curve. Overall, the game runs smoothly with minor graphical issues, providing a satisfying experience for those who enjoy turn-based strategy and optimization.
- “Monster Sanctuary's optional and post-game content demands optimized team building and getting into the meta.”
- “With a unique 3-on-3 monster battling system that boasts some of the most intricately crafted turn-based mechanics of the genre, you'll find yourself refining your strategies and exploring skill trees to maximize your performance in battle to get the best drops possible.”
- “Combat also has a mechanic that ranks your performance after each fight, and earning a five-star rating in a battle will force rare items to drop, which is a really nice incentive to explore the creature skills and gear, and build your perfect team.”
- “On the one hand, that does encourage some experimentation until you find a strategy/team that works best for you, but on the other hand, it does mean that unless you want to re-run that optimization 100 times over throughout the game, you are going to end up capturing creatures you won't ever bother even looking at because the time sink to learn/adapt each one's full skill tree is pretty massive. When optimal teams can use some of the very first critters you find, and they are not clearly out-powered by end game boss monsters, it can edge out of interesting strategy and into what can feel a bit more like busywork.”
- “Personally, I'm not a big fan of the battle score system because you get basically nothing if you don't consistently achieve 5-star battles, which usually requires a fairly well-optimized party.”
- “And, because all of your trinkets and equipment are optimized for minimizing time to kill (which, again, is what the game rewards), all of your monsters basically have 0 defense and get wiped out in one hit from your opponent's AoE spam.”
humor
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the quirky and funny monster designs, as well as the ironic and cliche character interactions that add a comedic layer to the story. Many find the gameplay mechanics, such as monster combos and strategic battles, to be both entertaining and amusing, often leading to unexpected and humorous outcomes. Overall, the game strikes a balance between fun gameplay and lighthearted humor, making it a delightful experience for players.
- “The story is okay, the characters are so cliche and stupid they become funny in an ironic way.”
- “I tried to play this game like a Pokémon game only to get my whole glass cannon team bodied by a funny gorilla dude with a goat head.”
- “10/10 would get punched in the face by a funny gorilla dude with a goat head again.”
atmosphere
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a beautifully crafted soundtrack that complements the diverse and hand-painted landscapes, ranging from lush forests to ancient ruins. Players appreciate the distinct atmospheres of various biomes, which evoke a sense of wonder and adventure, although some note that certain areas can feel generic. Overall, the combination of vibrant art, engaging music, and a spiritually resonant narrative creates a captivating experience that transports players into its fantasy world.
- “The musical score deserves praise as well, seamlessly blending with the game's atmosphere and enhancing the sense of wonder as you traverse through diverse realms.”
- “Backgrounds fill areas with exactly the right atmosphere, sprites are lively and fluidly animated, and the color palettes make even conceptually dreary areas vibrant and energetic.”
- “However, it does tend to get a bit generic most of the time, which might add to the feeling of comfort, but my favorite moments were when the game tried something new, like the Asian-inspired sun palace where you journeyed into its aqueducts to raise a tower into the sky, or the sickly, somber atmosphere of the underworld, refreshingly not the brimstone kind.”
- “I wish there was more atmosphere to each location.”
- “The atmosphere set by the scenery and music really manages to 'transport' the player to the game's fantasy world, and get them excited to go on an adventure with some monster pals.”
emotional
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with many players noting a lack of story depth and emotional engagement, which can leave story-driven players feeling unsatisfied. While some moments are heartfelt and the game fosters a sense of investment in character development, emotional connections are often overshadowed by tedious gameplay and limited narrative depth. Overall, the game is described as wholesome and enjoyable, but it struggles to evoke strong emotional responses consistently.
- “I genuinely shed a tear when I beat the final boss because I knew I was about to be done with the storyline.”
- “It wasn't the most innovative narrative, but it was heartfelt and served its purpose in driving the exploration and battles.”
- “This made me feel much more involved and invested in my monsters’ development than I ever did in Pokémon, and lends more credence to the idea you are actually training them.”
- “I wish I liked this game more; the story is very boring, and the environments make it a slog to play.”
character development
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
Character development in the game is notably inconsistent; while some characters, particularly rivals and antagonists, receive solid development and engaging arcs, many others lack depth and fail to evoke player investment. Despite the appealing character designs and a captivating story, the overall character development is often criticized for being insufficient or poorly executed, leaving players wanting more context and emotional connection.
- “2 of these friends, especially your rival, get pretty good, solid character development.”
- “Will actually gets a decent amount of character development and screen time.”
- “And the story is actually quite engaging, with decent character development for your rivals and main antagonists, and a couple of neat plot twists here and there.”
- “Something happens, so I'm supposed to care because everyone else in the game does, but there isn't any character development to get me to try to care.”
- “For example, at one point there is a revelation about a family member of an NPC you meet at the beginning of the game - introducing some information about them beforehand in the game would've given some impact to the revelation and created character development for the NPC, which was otherwise very lacking.”
- “These tropes can be useful to tell a story if there is additional character development, but in this game there just isn't.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
14%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting no significant bugs or glitches, even on low-end systems. However, some users note that being in early access means there are still occasional minor issues, including potential soft-locks that could affect save files. Despite these concerns, the game is described as well-polished and playable, with responsive developers addressing any reported problems.
- “It runs great on low-end systems too.”
- “New content is not buggy and feels clean and finished.”
- “Although it's early access, what's there is perfectly playable, bug-free, and well-polished.”
- “> Early access, so there are still a number of bugs/glitches and many of them can soft-lock your save file or game progress.”
- “Bugs and glitches can be very frustrating or disheartening, especially if they're the kind that can ruin an entire save file, but from my experience, the devs are more than willing to respond and help fix these issues.”
- “Monster Sanctuary runs smoothly with no performance issues on a standard laptop, with only minor graphical bugs/glitches during this early access time.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
43%
38%
Monster Sanctuary is praised for its lack of monetization schemes, such as loot boxes and microtransactions, which allows for a focus on quality gameplay and personalization. Reviewers appreciate the game's commitment to providing a rewarding experience without the typical pressures of modern monetization tactics, highlighting its appeal in an industry increasingly dominated by such practices. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative that prioritizes player experience over profit.
- “It's not infected with loot boxes and microtransactions.”
- “No loot boxes or monetization system, nice PvE, nice personalization.”
- “No microtransactions.”
- “Over the past decade or so, the video game industry has shifted from making quality games to making monetization schemes with operant conditioning systems attached.”
- “As the big AAA publishers pivot toward monetization, the job of producing quality has fallen on the small studios and independent devs. As a customer, you'll get more of whatever you pay for - whether that's huge corporations pinching off an Anthem or Fallout 76 and then trying to put their hands in your pocket, or two nobodies producing a superior product out of their garage.”
- “And I made it a habit to mention it in any game that deserves it: it's not infected with loot boxes and microtransactions.”

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76%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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29h Median play time

29h Average play time

30h Main story

48h Completionist

15-40h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 112 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Monster Sanctuary is a casual role playing game with fantasy theme.

Monster Sanctuary is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 30 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 48 hours to finish. On average players spend around 29 hours playing Monster Sanctuary.

Monster Sanctuary was released on December 8, 2020.

Monster Sanctuary was developed by Sersch.

Monster Sanctuary has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Monster Sanctuary is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Aethermancer, Gordian Quest, Yaoling: Mythical Journey, Crystal Project, Coromon and others.

Monster Sanctuary

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