A Monstrous Competition: ‘Frankenstein’s Monster’ Pits Mad Scientists Against Each Other

The tale of Frankenstein’s monster is one of creation and tragedy, but a new game is adding a competitive twist to the gothic horror story. Frankenstein’s Monster, a competitive creature-building game, is a fresh take on the classic narrative, turning the solitary act of reanimating a corpse into a frantic race against your peers. While the name may be associated with various board games and video games, a new video game under this title was recently previewed at Develop: Brighton, offering a unique blend of exploration, strategy, and player-vs-player mischief.

The game’s premise is a mad scientist’s dream: you and your rival scientists are in a fierce competition to build the ultimate monster. The game is divided into two phases, and the first is all about scavenging. Players must run around a sprawling, interconnected map, digging up graves to find the perfect body parts. However, this is no simple scavenger hunt. When you take a body part, you must leave one of your own behind, forcing you to make difficult strategic decisions about what to give up. The game also allows for a bit of backstabbing, as you can sneak into other scientists’ homes to steal parts and swap them with unwanted ones. This element of direct player interaction adds a layer of chaos and fun to the game.

Building and Battling Your Rivals

The heart of Frankenstein’s Monster is in the construction of your creation. You need a few key parts to complete your monster: a head, a torso, arms, and legs. But it’s not enough to just find any parts; to create the best monster, the parts must have similar attributes, which are represented by a number. The more closely aligned the numbers are, the higher your monster’s score will be. This scoring system, which is determined by a panel of your peers, adds a layer of depth and strategy, as you must constantly balance the need to find the perfect part with the risk of getting caught by your rivals. Speaking of rivals, the game introduces a brilliant mechanic where other scientists can send out their previous creations to hunt you down and stun you, which can waste your time and give them a competitive edge. This turns the seemingly peaceful act of grave robbing into a high-stakes, frantic chase.

The game’s open world and various secret pathways encourage exploration, and the threat of getting hunted by a rival’s monster keeps you on your toes. Once you’ve successfully gathered all the parts you need, you can assemble your monster and present it to the panel for judging. The scientist with the highest-scoring monster is crowned the greatest of all. While some have noted that the tutorial can be a bit lengthy, the core concept and gameplay have been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback. The game is a unique and engaging take on the Frankenstein story, and its blend of creative building, strategic decision-making, and competitive gameplay makes it a must-watch for fans of indie titles. The game is currently in development, with a release date to be announced, but the early look at the game promises a monstrously good time.

Key Features of Frankenstein’s Monster:

• Genre: Competitive, Strategy, Exploration, Building
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Release Date: To be announced.
• Gameplay: Scavenge for body parts in an open-world map, build a creature, and compete against other players.
• Key Features: Direct player-vs-player interaction, a deep crafting system, and a unique scoring system.

In this world, the only way to succeed is to outsmart your peers. A new monster is waiting to be built, and the greatest scientist of all is about to be crowned. Are you ready to get your hands dirty?