Relaxing puzzle game with depth
Thu Jun 10 2021 US_AtlasThe creators of this game have truly mastered the art form of creating a casual puzzle-explorer work of art that is as addicting as it is beautiful. True to the genre, the puzzles start out easy and get more complex as you play, exploring the realm island by island. The satirical “human museum” provides just the right amount of entertainment reward for progressing, and there’s more than just a little satisfaction at figuring out a tough island.
About the time you think the game has exhausted itself, you realize you haven’t nearly finished exploring all the map. Returning to previously “easy” puzzles, you find some islands where the advanced moves you learned after you had already passed open up new paths.
To explore the entire map, you have to combine several different islands into bigger and bigger puzzles. The depth and complexity of some of the more frustrating puzzles are masterpieces in design. At the end, it’s difficult to put the game down, but you walk away with the feeling that you’ve actually accomplished something, which is lacking in most app store games these days. It’s well worth the tens of hours it takes to wander through this surprisingly engaging world.
Fantastic open world puzzler
Mon Jan 25 2021 lumbauerThe open world concept is great, it lets you continue to make progress in other areas while you let puzzles you might be stuck on “marinate” in your brain for a while.
Groups of islands (archipelagos?) each have their own visual theme and usually introduce a new mechanic to the puzzle solving. Sometimes when I return to a different “archipelago” I need to re-solve an island or two to remind myself of what the trick to that bunch of puzzles tends to be.
The one downside, if you consider it to be one, of the open world system is that because each puzzle doesn’t have a clearly defined level number, it can be trickier to find hints online for those times that you are truly stuck. I’m glad it’s not trivially easy to get pointers, but after completing most of the game, I need something to point me to the right places where I could make progress- I believe most of what remains for me are interactions between multiple islands, and working out which ones I need to focus on seems to be more effort than my brain is up for.
Extremely clever puzzles.
Wed Oct 21 2020 ToolGuyThis game really hits the sweet spot for me. I like games that really make you think, but that I can pick up in my spare time and play as littlle or as long as I want. Although, sometimes it is hard to quit - just one more island LOL.
The map is HUGE, but fortunately, not linear. If you get stuck, you can usually just go a different direction and try your luck somewhere else. The mechanics vary slightly (but very logically) around the different areas of the "world". This is important because it keeps the game from becoming a repetitive "slog", but perhaps even more important, it helps you discover different techniques that you can use on some of the islands that previously stumped you.
And, speaking of previous "stumpers", they have a brilliant system to allow you to easily keep track of where you have explored (and been stuck) and to quickly move around to any of the areas you have explored without tedious backtracking.
Expansive, Beautiful, Deep
Sun Sep 20 2020 mrflipThis might seem deceptively repetitive in the early going, until you realize that beyond the planet-sized number of micro-puzzles you can use time-rewinding and space to couple them together. The genius of Draknek is that puzzles you thought we irrevocably constrained have a second level revealed by a small perspective shift. The sheep scope of the universe means you can noodle out a few levels while you're bored in line or work on finding a new extra piece when you have a stretch of time to play. And there's always multiple fronts if you are stuck.
I am having problems with game not getting saved with no data connection. It might? Be happening more often or only with thsecond slot. Game takes a super long time to restart and then you're back where you were on last connection.
LOVE
Sun Dec 19 2021 BlueSkeleton777I have only just started this game and I’m hooked! It is the best of both worlds I get to open explore the island while completing puzzles along the way it’s like the game was made for me! I meet get bored with it either I only stop playing when it’s time for my mommy and wife duties but whenever I get a break this game is my GO TOO! Playing this game gives me so much motivation not just with this game but in life!
Please continue to keep adding updates they are so exciting!!
One suggestion tho… can you do a Christmas theme park design like decorations on tress gift giving for us players to receive run festive lights an the trees?? That would absolutely make my Christmas !! 😁🤩😘
Diana C
A MIXED REVIEW
Tue Dec 01 2020 cattlovrrI found the game both enjoyabable and frustrating--in other words, a mixed experiece.
PROS
1. There is a gentle whimsiness about the game that's endearing.
2. The game loaded properly about 98% of the time.
3. There is no timer, so you can pro2. Because of this, there really shceed at a leisurely pace.
4. There is no violence, other than the wanton deforestation of hundreds of trees.
CONS
1. Many of the puzzles are simply way too hard and border on the unsolvable. For a number of them, you almost need the mind of a master chess player who can think eight moves ahead. That's not most of us.
2. There should be a hint feature.
3. The fact you can survey the overall map and jump to places you've been while in the mailboxes should be explained. I did not discover this until well into the game.
4. The short descriptions that accompany the museum pieces seem to be an attempt at cleverness or humor but really don't do either.
5. There is barely a story here and the ending offers no conclusion other than the "monster" is sailing home. What did he rescue? What did her learn?
With a few adjustments, the game would be far more satisfying, although it's still worth trying out for as long as a particular player's patience will endure.
Great exercise for your brain
Thu Oct 08 2020 tim1724I love this game. It's so cute and the puzzles make excellent use of a limited set of objects and rules. But every time you think you've exhausted the possibilities, a new island shows you new ways of solving problems.
Occasionally you will get stuck. That's ok! Either go find another island you haven't figured out, and work on that, or just quit the game and take a break. Staring at the same puzzle too long just gets you too invested in your incorrect solution. If you wait a day or two and come back it's easier to find a new approach. So often I'll open up this game and insantly see a solution to an island that had me completly stumped the day before.
Terrific puzzler!
Fri Aug 06 2021 BonepennyIf you enjoy spatial puzzling like sliding brick games, you’ll adore this one! I like that it doesn’t have too many absurdly easy levels in the beginning. Most puzzle games are made up of stupidly easy and insanely hard levels. What I want are lots of intermediate levels - those that give you a challenge, but are doable given careful thought. Monster’s Expedition seems to have a bunch of intermediate levels like this, which I love! Also… cute graphics and funny object descriptions. Fortunately I’ve not had save game issues that some players have had. 5* game for me!
One of my favorite Arcade games
Thu Jun 16 2022 ElektroduckThis has to be one of my favorite Apple Arcade games. It can be really challenging at times, but clearing a really hard island is so satisfying. Alongside the puzzles, there are also interesting and honestly pretty funny museum exhibits. Definitely worth the challenge. The different mechanics that you discover are pretty cool, and the addition of (optional) hints in the newer update is a good idea. As of writing this I am almost completely done with the game, I just have one snowman left. Highly recommend if you like puzzle games and map exploration/completion.
Incredible Depth of Mechanics!
Sat Sep 12 2020 HQ404404This game is fantastic! I loved the surprise when the “tutorial” section ends and the scale of the game unfolds (the map is HUGE!) The Devs put a lot of effort into level design, and although the game only has one core mechanic, they have made every section focus on a distinct aspect of the mechanic: one “section” featured small islands where you need to think about space carefully, another section where you need to put some logs down as “bridges” to access more parts of the same island, etc.
Would recommend to everyone that loves a challenging puzzle game that has a chill atmosphere!
![A Monster's Expedition - Full Walkthrough From Beginning to the Ending [Apple Arcade]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jEplCRDjjWY/hqdefault.jpg)
