Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Jun 18, 2026 2 months ago
A legendary game series returns with an all-new adventure! Monster Boy is a colourful side-scrolling action adventure created in cooperation with Ryuichi Nishizawa, the creator of the Wonder Boy Monster World series (Trademark of SEGA Corporation Japan). Monster Boy is being created to bring back the enjoyment of classic games that shine by simplicity. Pure, exciting gameplay; upbeat music and smooth graphics. You'll need to overcome huge bosses, find hidden passages, discover powerful equipment and use all your wits and skills to remove a powerful curse. Monster Boy can transform into 5 different creatures, each with their own skills and abilities. Take advantage of all the unique powers to open new paths and advance in an epic story. Monster Boy is a love letter to gaming from the 80's and 90's - will you join us and celebrate together with us?
What it’s like
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is a polished love letter to 16-bit era platformers, delivering a tight, precision-focused Metroidvania experience. The premise follows a prince cursed into various animal forms, each granting unique traversal and combat abilities that unlock new world areas. The tone is vibrant and energetic, prioritizing mechanical mastery over complex narrative depth. Gameplay revolves around fluid movement, precise jumping, and strategic use of transformations to solve environmental puzzles and defeat challenging bosses. The structure encourages thorough exploration, rewarding curiosity with hidden paths and upgrades. Visually, it boasts crisp, hand-drawn animation and distinct biomes that feel alive and cohesive. Audio complements the action with upbeat, catchy tunes that enhance the retro aesthetic. While the story provides a functional framework, the true appeal lies in the satisfying loop of skill-based progression and the joy of mastering its demanding but fair challenges.
Strong in Audio / MusicExploration / WorldGameplay / MechanicsPolish / PerformanceProgression / ReplayabilityVisuals / ArtAtmosphere / MoodCombatDifficulty / ChallengePacingSystems Depth / Build Variety
Keep in mind The narrative is thin and serves primarily as a vehicle for gameplay, so players seeking deep lore or complex character arcs may find it lacking. The difficulty curve can be steep for those unaccustomed to precision platforming, potentially causing frustration if patience isn't part of the package.
AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from opencritic.com, metacritic.com, reddit.com, gamespot.com.
Screenshots
Releases
| Platform | Region | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 04, 20188 years ago |
| PlayStation 4 | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 04, 20188 years ago |
| Xbox One | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 04, 20188 years ago |
| PC (Microsoft Windows) | Worldwide | Full release | Jul 25, 20197 years ago |
| Google Stadia | Worldwide | Full release | Jul 01, 20206 years ago |
| PlayStation 5 | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 02, 20215 years ago |
| iOS | Worldwide | Full release | Jun 18, 20262 months ago |
| Mac | Worldwide | Full release | Jun 18, 20262 months ago |
