Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 19 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 91% | 85 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 13 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 127 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 16, 2026) · 107 reviews sampled · 127 total reviews in window · weighted 79.5 up / 13.5 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (28)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Monster Sanctuary falls into the category of games that take inspiration from the world of Pokémon. In this case, however, inspiration has succeeded where others have failed. The game offers honestly crafted mechanics and skills of various monsters that you can really win with. You just have to be patient, learn the game mechanics and figure out what to expect from which monster.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An expansive and content-packed game, Monster Sanctuary would be easy to criticise as a grind if we didn't find that said grinding was never really necessary to enjoy it. It's a difficult one to review because a lot of what this reviewer personally found a little boring is exactly what's going to appeal to its core audience of number-crunching statisticians. While Monster Sanctuary's is a little plain at the outset, the right people will find it one of their favourite games of the year. It's a total timesink, but that's a term that implies said time is being wasted, when it really isn't. Every fight is pushing your team forward, and the potential for maximising the efficiency and power of your squad is seemingly infinite. It can feel more like organising a spreadsheet than playing a game at times, but it's impossible to deny that it's an accomplished game with a lot to offer - and that's without even taking it online to battle other players. If you like min-maxing, feel free to add a point or two to the score below.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“When you create a franchise as successful as the Pokemon series it’s inevitable that there will be a long line of imitators...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Monster Sanctuary is a charming take on the monster raising formula, albeit not without its faults. In spite of this, Monster Sanctuary is an addictive RPG that is hard to put down. Monster hatching is an incredibly simple process, every single monster has its own skill tree, and combat has been balanced enough so that just about any team can get through the main game in the hands of savvy players. Monster Sanctuary is a diamond in the rough if there ever was one.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“For such a small-looking game, Monster Sanctuary is bursting with content and reasons to touch all of it. From the enticing loop of running around an ever-growing map to finding and evolving new monsters, I found myself losing hours at a time to this little gem.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, Monster Sanctuary is a delight. Exploring the interconnected world with your team and discovering cool new monsters is always fun, but it's the process of developing your favourite companions that makes the game so hard to put down.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“I like Monster Sanctuary for what it tries to accomplish, I just wish I liked the execution as much as the concept. I could see the threads of its attempt weaving into a better cohesive whole, but instead each different ingredient feels incomplete or misses the mark of what makes each genre it pulls from so compelling. There's still fun to be had if setting expectations right and wanting a unique twist that is no muss, no fuss, but I was hoping for more that Monster Sanctuary wasn't quite there to give.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Monster Sanctuary is a game that feels satisfying and rewarding. When you earn more skill points, get a new monster, or find a new Explore Ability, it opens up more of a sufficiently large world to explore.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The unique mix of party-based RPG gameplay and Metroidvania style levels introduces a strangely enchanting combination. The hundred-strong roster of monsters is distinct with diverse skills and fantastic pixel art that compliment the outstanding environments they roam around. There are still a few changes needed to the combat systems, and some of the level design is sadly disappointing, yet the fascinating world of creatures gets its hooks deep with almost 30 hours of potential gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Metroidvania with Pokemons working great. But fights should be better balanced.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A great mix of a platformer, RPG and monster catching game Monster Sanctuary has so much depth and content to keep you busy for a long time. Feels like a great RPG from the 16-bit era, a ton of cool monsters to hatch, to aid you on your quest.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When you then add in the cute pixel art style, and the astoundingly good chiptune soundtrack, Monster Sanctuary not only blurs the lines between genres, but also between modern and old-school games. The story is a little light, but the gameplay is almost perfect, and this is an excellent monster-taming adventure and Metroidvania game all rolled into one.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
Prima Games
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
Siliconera
Checkpoint Gaming
SECTOR.sk
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis…and 16 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Monster Sanctuary Update 2.2 out nowJul 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- ❗Update RequiredOct 3, 2025
- Aethermancer Launch Celebration - Monster Sanctuary Giveaway!Sep 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary - Relics of Chaos UpdateMay 9, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary 2.1 Release Date Announcement!Apr 26, 2023
- Monster Sanctuary 2.1 Update soon and announcing our next game - Aethermancer!Mar 9, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary - Free Forgotten World DLCJun 30, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Update 1.3 - Counter Attack UpdateDec 13, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Final Community Contest Winners & "Counter Attack" UpdateOct 18, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Announcement: Monster Sanctuary Free DLC & a new Community Monster Contest!Sep 7, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Hotfix!Sep 2, 2021
- Monster Sanctuary - Legendary Keeper Update (1.2)Aug 19, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Preview of Update 1.2Jun 19, 2021
- Monster Sanctuary Update 1.1Apr 9, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Update on the state of 1.1 + Monster JournalsMar 26, 2021
- Monster Sanctuary Preview of Update 1.1Feb 13, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary is now available with new launch content!Dec 8, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Progress Update & Monsters PreviewOct 2, 2020
- Monster Sanctuary September UpdateSep 4, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Small Balancing Update 0.10.1.3Jul 28, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Content Update #6 - Mystical WorkshopJul 22, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary June UpdateJun 17, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Underworld hot-fix patch (0.9.1)May 21, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Content Update - UnderworldMay 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Arachlich Monster TeaserMay 7, 2020
- Monster Sanctuary Battle Overhaul and Balancing UpdateApr 8, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Magma Chamber - Update 1 - Fixes and BalancingMar 11, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Content Update 4 - Magma ChamberMar 6, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary 0.7.3 Update - QoL featuresJan 22, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Content Update #3 – Online PvPDec 18, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary Horizon Beach Hotfix!Nov 22, 2019
- Monster Sanctuary Horizon Beach UpdateNov 13, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Update Preview - Horizon BeachNov 6, 2019
- Monster Sanctuary Content Update #1Oct 14, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Sanctuary hotfix 0.4.1Aug 30, 2019
…and 12 earlier patch announcements.