The many elements that make up Monster Sanctuary‘s gameplay are some of my favorite mechanics in any game. I love a good tactical, turn-based strategy game. I’m a fan of monster-collecting. Furthermore, I’m a huge fan of games that look unique and pretty without sacrificing enjoyable gameplay. All of these elements coalesce into a serene gaming experience that’s now available for the Nintendo Switch. Here’s my review for Moi Rai Games’ Monster Sanctuary.

Moi Rai Games and publisher Team 17 are bringing Monster Sanctuary to the Nintendo Switch. Previously released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, this sort of game feels right at home on the Switch. Elements of Pokemon, Metroidvania games, and even Final Fantasy Tactics make this game a joy to play and explore. As the descendent of monster keepers, you embark on a journey to save your local sanctuary. While doing so, you also discover a threat to both humans and the monsters with whom you co-exist.

The game eases you in with really straight-forward turn-based mechanics but offers you plenty of action in-between fights, thanks to dungeon-crawling and map exploration. You backtrack, discover shortcuts, and eventually find rare monsters who can hatch you your own additions to your party. The 3v3 battles keep things simple and the monsters themselves aren’t necessarily mind-blowing or exciting. Really, the gameplay does the heavy lifting here. 20 hours flew by before I even realized I had spent that much time playing.

The best elements of any dungeon-crawler or turn-based strategy game are simple yet effective gameplay. Monster Sanctuary accomplishes everything it sets out to do and tells a good story along the way. Furthermore, I’m impressed with how captivating it was to play. The balance of 3v3 combat and exploration help each element of the game feel worth your full attention. In Pokemon, walking to your next objective is a chore. In Monster Sanctuary, it’s an absolute delight.

I’m thrilled to play this on the Switch and it feels very intuitive to the many tactical and strategy RPGs I’ve played on Nintendo consoles over the years. Out today on the eShop for only $19.99 USD, I’d highly recommend this game to anyone looking for an all-out adventure with elements of games like Pokemon, Hollow Knight, and more classic games we’ve enjoyed on the Switch as of late.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Monster Sanctuary was provided by Team 17 for this review.

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Monster Sanctuary

$19.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Wonderful Metroidvania Exploration
• Great 3v3 Combat System
• Exciting Visuals and Story

Cons

• Monsters Aren't All That Exciting to Find and Discover