Monster Sanctuary

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Monster Sanctuary is a metroidvania-style game where you collect, train, and battle creatures called "monsters." You play as a young monster keeper who is on a journey to become the next grand master of the sanctuary. The game features strategic turn-based combat, a variety of monsters to collect, and exploration of a large interconnected world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,161 reviews

story251 positive mentions

grinding310 negative mentions

Engaging and strategic turn-based combat with a unique 3v3 system that encourages team synergy.
Rich variety of monsters, each with their own skill trees and abilities, allowing for diverse team compositions.
Well-designed metroidvania elements that integrate monster abilities for exploration and puzzle-solving.

Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially in late-game boss battles that require specific team compositions.
Some puzzles and platforming sections can feel tedious and may require backtracking, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
The story and character development are relatively simplistic and may not be as engaging as the gameplay.

story
936 mentions
27 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story in "Monster Sanctuary" is generally described as simple and straightforward, often compared to classic titles like Pokémon and Dragon Quest. While some players find it engaging and charming, others feel it lacks depth and complexity, serving primarily as a vehicle for gameplay rather than a focal point. Overall, the narrative is seen as adequate but not particularly memorable, with many reviewers emphasizing that the game's mechanics and exploration are the main attractions rather than the story itself.
- “The pixel art style is beautiful, the soundtrack is amazing, the story is cute and easy to follow.”
- “Monster Sanctuary has a fantastic story; you're going to be heavily interested in what goes on and what NPCs have to say.”
- “The story is intriguing and unique.”
- “The story is its weakest point.”
- “There are no plot decisions you make or dialog options; this game is straightforward.”
- “The story is incredibly simple and doesn't even really have a message or meaning, just a vehicle to get you from point A to point B.”
gameplay
731 mentions
36 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Monster Sanctuary* is highly praised for its blend of metroidvania exploration and intricate turn-based combat mechanics, offering a unique experience that goes beyond traditional monster-collecting games like Pokémon. Players appreciate the depth of strategy involved in team-building, the variety of monster abilities, and the engaging combat system that encourages experimentation and tactical planning. While some find the platforming elements and certain mechanics to be less polished, the overall gameplay loop is considered addictive and rewarding, with a strong emphasis on customization and synergy among monsters.
- “The gameplay is dangerously addictive, with an incredible amount of customization and quality of life improvements that other games in the same genre haven't achieved yet.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay continues outside the 'official' story, and there's plenty to do after it, too.”
- “The gameplay is too slow-paced and grindy.”
- “After a few hours of gameplay, the combat becomes very stale and monster encounters become a chore.”
- “The game is mechanically sound, but the gameplay just scales to meet your improvements, making the entire experience feel tedious.”
music
423 mentions
50 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly in later areas. However, some players find the battle themes repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to a sense of monotony during extended play sessions. Overall, while the soundtrack has standout tracks that resonate well with the game's aesthetic, it also has moments that some players consider forgettable or annoying.
- “The pixel art style is beautiful, the soundtrack is amazing, the story is cute and easy to follow.”
- “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.”
- “The music is incredible, the art is gorgeous, the gameplay is seamless, and the experience is one I will treasure for a long time.”
- “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 is crap, very dull and boring.”
- “The music is forgettable and repetitive.”
grinding
321 mentions
2 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game varies significantly in perception among players. While some find it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game, others appreciate the measures in place that reduce the need for excessive grinding, such as level scaling and mechanics that allow for quick leveling of new monsters. Overall, the game is described as having a moderate amount of grinding, with some players enjoying the strategic elements it introduces, while others feel it can become a chore, especially during prolonged battles and resource farming.
- “While there are a lot of those these days, I find this one to be extremely fun and not tedious like a few others I have played over the years.”
- “Levelling, acquisition, respeccing, etc. is convenient so you can focus on building and not grinding.”
- “There is absolutely no grinding necessary.”
- “It is much more tedious and dull than it is satisfying or dynamic.”
- “The combat and exploration also became increasingly mundane, unrewarding, and tedious.”
- “Despite having an interesting exploration system, it eventually becomes a chore when you have to fight many monsters, find the best equipment - constantly grinding in order to level up monsters to even continue the story.”
graphics
309 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia and enhances the overall aesthetic experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful environments, well-animated sprites, and the immersive quality of the visuals, although some note a lack of variety in certain areas. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's appeal, despite some critiques regarding consistency and polish compared to higher-budget titles.
- “The variety of environments, hidden areas, and touches all captured by a well-animated, clean but charming pixel art style will provide plenty for your eyes to keep an eye out for.”
- “Graphically, Monster Sanctuary impresses with its pixel art aesthetics.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is absolutely fantastic.”
- “The other half is a repetitive and grindy JRPG with a mediocre childish story, average visuals and sounds.”
- “I actually liked the pixel art style, but I disliked the lack of variety.”
- “There's nothing unique about this game's environment aesthetics, which is a surprise considering how unique the gameplay is.”
replayability
79 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its dynamic gameplay mechanics, including new game+ options, randomizer modes, and diverse team-building strategies. Players can explore various monster combinations and challenges, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging. While some users noted a lack of long-term variety, the overall consensus is that the game offers substantial replay value, especially for fans of the genre.
- “Dynamic sprites and the classic rivalry aspect contribute to a game well made, and the game mode additions add substantial replay value to people looking for something different every go around.”
- “The depth of mechanics - as well as the hard mode and new game plus - add substantial replayability even if you never touch multiplayer battling.”
- “It's addicting, immensely replayable, and captures the heart and soul of what made Pokémon great in a large puzzle-filled and platforming world.”
- “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.”
- “Overall, loved the game but it has little or no replay value.”
optimization
30 mentions
30 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game is highly praised for its intricate turn-based mechanics and the encouragement to refine strategies for better performance rankings, which directly impact loot drops. While players appreciate the depth of team construction and the variety of optimization options, some express concerns about the potential for busywork due to the time investment required to fully explore each creature's skill tree. Overall, the game runs smoothly with minor graphical issues, and while optimization is not strictly necessary for story progression, it becomes crucial in competitive modes and for maximizing rewards.
- “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.”
- “Your performance in every battle is ranked (depending on how much damage you've taken, how quickly you won, etc.) and higher ranks give better rewards.”
- “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 really explore the creature skills and gear, and build your perfect team.”
- “You can 1-shot the entire enemy team (I have done this) with the wrong damage type, and your performance will be rated subpar.”
- “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, and 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.”
- “Optimization requires multiples of each creature.”
humor
23 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is characterized by its quirky and amusing monster designs, with players finding joy in both the funny animations and the ironic clichés of the characters. The gameplay features comedic elements, such as unexpected challenges from humorous creatures, and the dialogue includes clever references that enhance the overall lighthearted tone. Players appreciate the balance of fun and strategy, often laughing out loud at the absurdity of certain situations and character interactions.
- “The story is okay, the characters are so cliché 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.”
- “I will say that while their sprites are wonderful, the monster journal artwork is some hilarious MS Paint stuff.”
character development
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notably inconsistent, with some characters, particularly rivals and main antagonists, receiving solid arcs and engaging backstories, while many NPCs lack depth and impactful revelations. The character designs are praised for their charm and appeal, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic, but the absence of meaningful development for a majority of characters detracts from the emotional engagement of the story. Overall, while the game excels in visual design, it falls short in delivering a cohesive and compelling character development experience.
- “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.”
- “Will actually gets a decent amount of character development and screen time.”
- “2 of these friends, especially your 'rival', gets pretty good, solid character development.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
16 mentions
50 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive music and hand-crafted landscapes, which range from lush forests to ancient ruins, each contributing to a distinct and enchanting experience. The soundtrack complements the environment beautifully, enhancing the emotional depth of the story and gameplay. While some areas may feel generic, standout moments and unique locations, like the Asian-inspired sun palace and the somber underworld, provide refreshing contrasts that elevate the overall atmosphere.
- “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.”
- “The background art and music both do a solid job of conveying each region's atmosphere.”
- “They achieved the full fantasia effect that increases the atmosphere surrounding the game very well, also reinforcing the emotion of the storyline, going from what seems like a happy adventure game to focusing on the importance of stopping a certain evil force.”
- “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.”
- “Its like Pokémon, just way more complex and with a different, more chill and Metroidvania-inspired atmosphere.”
stability
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
55 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance on various systems, including low-end devices. However, as it is still in early access, some users have encountered bugs and glitches, with a few expressing concerns about potential save file issues. Despite these early access challenges, many players find the game to be well-polished and playable, with only minor graphical glitches reported.
- “It runs great on low-end systems too.”
- “The game is small and runs great on desktop, laptop, or even on a Steam Deck.”
- “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.”
- “No missing mechanics or unfixed bugs, no glitches, no memory leaks or frame drops or graphical issues.”
emotional
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the deep investment players feel in their characters and monsters, fostering a sense of connection that surpasses traditional experiences like Pokémon. While the competitive nature of the genre can sometimes detract from personal emotional engagement, players report moments of genuine sentiment, such as shedding tears upon completing the storyline, indicating a strong emotional resonance throughout the gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its wholesome community and the emotional journey it offers, despite some critiques regarding character depth.
- “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 genuinely shed a tear when I beat the final boss because I knew I was about to be done with the storyline.”
- “It gave the game a nice progression and made me feel more invested in my team.”
monetization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with users appreciating the absence of loot boxes and microtransactions, which contrasts sharply with trends in the industry. Many players feel that smaller studios are delivering higher quality experiences without exploitative monetization schemes, highlighting a preference for games that prioritize gameplay over profit-driven tactics.
- “No loot boxes or monetization system, nice PvE, nice personalization.”
- “As the big AAA publishers pivot toward monetization, the job of producing quality has fallen on the small studios and independent devs.”
- “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.”
- “It's not infected with loot boxes and microtransactions.”