Monster Sanctuary

Lore & Background

Monster Sanctuary is a 2019–2020 game that blends side-scrolling exploration with monster collecting and turn-based battles. Developed by Moi Rai Games and published by Team17, it launched on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on December 8, 2020, following a Windows early access period that began in August 2019. It was also available through Xbox Game Pass at launch.

The project began in 2015 as a solo hobby for German developer Denis Sinner, who had previously programmed on the Might and Magic and Tropico series. He handled all programming, pixel art, game design, and music himself. Inspired by *Stardew Valley*’s one-person development model, he posted an early demo online; its positive reception pushed him to take the project further. In October 2018, Sinner launched a Kickstarter campaign under his studio Moi Rai Games, seeking €20,000. Running from October 23 to November 22, 2018, it raised €105,297 from 4,466 backers. Stretch goals unlocked a monster roster of over 100 creatures, a New Game Plus mode, a Nintendo Switch port, and online PvP.

In the game, players act as a Monster Keeper exploring a pixel-art world. Defeating wild monsters yields eggs that hatch into new creatures, each with its own skill tree that grows with experience. Battles are turn-based, three-on-three encounters. Weapons, armor, and skill trees allow players to build teams around status effects, healing, or raw damage, with team composition and ability synergies key to success. Different monsters also aid traversal—some break walls, others let players fly over gaps or light dark areas. Collecting new creatures gradually opens previously unreachable parts of the map, following a Metroidvania progression loop. A player-versus-player mode lets users battle each other online.

The early access version launched on Steam on August 28, 2019. Over the following year, Moi Rai Games added new biomes, monsters, and features through updates, including the Magma Chamber, Underworld, and Mystical Workshop. Team17 handled publishing for PC and consoles. The full release arrived on December 8, 2020, on all platforms. Post-launch, the studio continued free content updates, with the final patch, “Relics of Chaos,” adding a new game mode plus bug fixes and balance adjustments.

On Metacritic, the PC version scored 81/100 and the PlayStation 4 version 83/100, both indicating “generally favorable reviews,” while the Nintendo Switch version scored 74/100, indicating “mixed or average reviews.” On OpenCritic, the game averaged 81/100 from 28 critic reviews, with 82% of critics recommending it. The combat system was widely praised for its strategic depth and customization options. Nintendo Life called the game accomplished but noted battles could feel slow. RPGFan highlighted the combination of detailed pixel art, Metroidvania movement, and deep combat as a standout in the monster-taming genre. Several reviewers saw the genre blend as a strength, with TheGamer noting that buffs, debuffs, and team synergies gave combat greater depth than many similar titles. GameSpew found exploration rewarding and turn-based encounters suitably deep. Some critics considered the narrative a weaker element—TheGamer compared the story unfavorably to older JRPGs and noted most NPC dialogue was functional. Others found the Metroidvania exploration relatively simple compared to dedicated entries in that genre.

Reader's Guide

Monster Sanctuary is notable for blending Metroidvania-style side-scrolling exploration with monster-taming and turn-based combat, a combination that several reviewers saw as a particular strength. The combat system drew wide praise for its strategic depth and the range of options available through monster customization, with TheGamer observing that the game's emphasis on buffs, debuffs and team synergies gave combat greater strategic depth than many similar titles. RPGFan found that the combination of detailed pixel art, Metroidvania movement design and a deep combat system made the game stand out within the monster-taming genre. GameSpew found the exploration rewarding and the turn-based encounters suitably deep. Some reviewers found the narrative to be a weaker element, with TheGamer comparing the story unfavorably to older JRPGs and noting that most non-player character dialogue was primarily functional. Some critics also considered the Metroidvania exploration relatively simple compared to dedicated entries in that genre. Nintendo Life described the game as accomplished but noted that battles could feel slow at times. The game received generally favorable reviews, with an average score of 81/100 on OpenCritic based on 28 critic reviews, and 82% of critics recommended the game. Its legacy lies in successfully merging two distinct genres—monster taming and Metroidvania exploration—into a cohesive experience that offered strategic turn-based combat and a progression loop tied to collecting new creatures.

Did You Know?

• Monster Sanctuary was created as a solo hobby project by Denis Sinner, who handled all programming, pixel art, game design and music composition himself.
• The Kickstarter campaign in October 2018 raised €105,297, more than five times its €20,000 goal.
• The game was available through Xbox Game Pass at launch on December 8, 2020.
• The final patch, 'Relics of Chaos,' added a new game mode alongside bug fixes and balance adjustments.