Monomoon Puts the 'Brain' in 'Metroidbrainia'

Monomoon is part of an interesting sub-genre called "Metroidbrainia", which revolves around the premise that combat is not present, leaving puzzles as the main loop of the game (hence the "brainia"), but set in a Metroidvania-style map, creating a quite unique and satisfying combination for fans of each genre alike.

Monomoon uses this hybrid genre to create a beautiful, calming fantasy world that mirrors the gameplay loop, and it feels more relaxing than similar games.

Embark on a quest guided by moonlight through an open world you can explore at your own pace, uncovering secrets in your own time. The Steam page says the main quests alone take around 10 hours, but you can delve deeper for an even more immersive experience, emphasising that the "game doesn't end after the credits roll" – which, in all honesty, is music to my ears.

This game places significant focus on the "brainia" part of the genre, and has puzzles ranging from straightforward challenges that you may have seen before, all the way up to cryptic and confusing ones that even hide game mechanics – so while this game is not the longest, it seems like there is quite a substantial amount of side and end-game content that can be enjoyed after you have gotten to grips with the puzzling and exploration.

An intriguing note on the Steam page is that the developer recommends sharing your own clues and discussing your playthrough and its struggles with a friend, as it enhances the experience; I think this is a really cool way to encourage cooperation indirectly, and more games should echo this sentiment.

Overall, Monomoon is a very interesting and unique game that does the Metroidvania in a charming yet equally mysterious way, with beautiful artwork that helps create the perfect atmosphere. If you think the same, then I would recommend checking out Monomoon on Steam.