The Monster Breeder 1.0 Set to Launch This May
After more than three years in Early Access, The Monster Breeder is finally ready to step into the spotlight. Developer Fantasy Creations has announced that version 1.0 will officially launch on May 6, 2025.
Originally released in Early Access on January 19, 2022, The Monster Breeder has earned a Very Positive user rating on Steam for its unique blend of tactical turn-based combat and deep monster breeding mechanics. Players crossbreed creatures, manipulate traits through alchemy and surgery, manage a medieval base, and fight for gold and glory in deadly arena battles.
The full release will introduce a graphic overhaul, new hybrid monster classes, character bonuses, and a range of fresh content—like expeditions, new species, and revamped crafting systems that now include shields, bows, and staves. Monster abilities are also being expanded, opening new strategies for both breeders and battlers.
I’m very curious to see if the wait was worth it when the game leaves Early Access on May 6, on PC via Steam. Below is an overview, screens and trailer.
About This Game
This is a turn-based fantasy strategy game with RPG elements. The game has two main layers: the first is monster breeding, and the second is tactical turn-based arena combat.
Players can purchase eggs and juvenile creatures from local hunters. The next step is to set up a magical treatment to enhance the creatures’ strength, agility, and other attributes. Nearly all these traits can be manipulated with magic scrolls, potions, blood infusions, and runestones, although overuse of magic and potions can cause severe illness, infertility, decreased lifespan, or even death.
Natural species are weak and perform poorly in the arena, but all have at least one valuable ability. There are three classes of creatures available: Insectoid, Reptile, and Carnivora. Players can only crossbreed species within the same class, and the best offspring can then be selected for magic treatments to improve their combat performance. Only eggs and juvenile creatures can be treated. Adult monsters earn experience fighting in the arena and learn new skills when leveling up, but these skills are not inheritable.
There are multiple options for players to house their monsters in the various chambers and cellars of the Old Keep, or they can build a small hut or kennel in the courtyard and upgrade it. Depending on their temperature tolerance, some creatures can live in a flooded dungeon cellar while some others need a warm environment to remain healthy. Only healthy creatures can fight and earn money for their masters.
Combat in the arena is tough but not always deadly. Beginners can participate in non-lethal tournaments without the risk of losing a character or monster. Lethal combat pays much better, but this is a game with permadeath, so be aware!
How much risk are you willing to take? Which tournament are you going to enter? Only you decide. Players get money if they take part in a tournament, but only the winners receive the glory and extra rewards.
Warriors, archers, and sorcerers can be hired to fight side-by-side with monsters in the arena. Players can personalize their training and equip them with weapons that match their skills and strength, although to be overburdened with armor comes with serious penalties in combat.
Characters earn experience in the arena and gain new skills when leveling up, and older warriors can be valuable trainers depending on their intelligence and trainer skills. Some hired characters may refuse to participate in lethal tournaments, but slaves can also be trained for combat.
Players need to hire a blacksmith and alchemist to be able to craft items like weapons, armor, or potions. Every craftsman has unique skills and traits affecting their products’ quality, their rate of work, and the amount of material they use.
Various types of equipment can be purchased to enhance productivity: recipe books, alembics, and extractors are all useful accessories of the alchemist’s lab, while weapon and armor molds, alloy smelters, and special forges are exceedingly beneficial to the blacksmith. Apprentices can be hired to improve productivity and players can employ them as blacksmiths or alchemists when they graduate.
Players can construct or upgrade various types of buildings, allowing them to keep more monsters, incubate more eggs, create more weapons and potions, or increase storage capacity and the size of their living quarters.
Some buildings have unique features: Hatchling’s Cabin provides the possibility of using runestones and magic fields to modify juvenile creatures’ traits, while the Alchemist’s Shack and Blacksmith’s Hut provide more places to hire craftsmen and also give an efficiency bonus. The Old Keep is the default building at the beginning of the game. It has multiple chambers and cellars, all of which can be assigned to any purpose.
