I’ve always been one to support a developer crowdfunding their masterpiece of an indie game, whether it’s A Hat in Time, The Artful Escape, or Massive Chalice. Indie games, when made for the passion of gaming, typically fall into two categories, in my experience: groundbreaking experiences or inspired interpretations.
Limbo was a completely new experience, like games like Five Nights at Freddy’s or Celeste; or they can be new takes on established genres but throw a curveball, like Dokie Dokie Literature Club. On the other hand, you get indie games that show their influences, games where you can tell which games inspired the developer.
Monster Crown: Sin Eater is the latter and carries its JRPG and Pokémon influences a lot in its manga, giving the player something familiar and comfortable. Following 2021’s Monster Crown and original creator Jason Walsh passing the baton to Studio Aururm, Sin Eater attempts to learn the lessons from the first and give fans something to sink their teeth into. The question is, however, do they do enough to prevent people from judging the book by its cover?
You begin the game tucked into your bed, only to be woken up by your brother, Dyeus, who has returned to the family farm after being away for a year. Having spent his time learning to be a monster tamer, Dyeus confides in you that he is seeking to overthrow the kingdom’s hierarchy and destroy Lord Taishukutem and the Four Heavenly Kings.
Monster Crown: Sin Eater
Qualification: Monster Crown: Sin Eater
Genres: JRPG, Adventure, Strategy
Released: April 14, 2026
Developer: gold study
Available in: Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, PlayStation 5
Price: $24.99
Play Xbox anywhere: ❌
Xbox Game Pass: ❌
After the Inquisitor visits you and arrests your brother, it’s up to you to find him, perhaps become a tamer, and take down Lord Taishukutem and the Four Heavenly Kings.
The preconception I had of this game is important, as looking at it at face value made me dive in with the expectation that I would be playing some sort of love letter. It’s a love letter, but I was immediately put at a disadvantage, as the conversations between you and your family made me realize that I was in for more than just a narrative.
It was from there that I abandoned any preconceived notions I had about this game and began to become more and more intrigued about where I was going. Over the 5 and a half hours I played, one thing I was able to notice was that the influences didn’t override the story and that the characters felt fresher than other indie JRPGs I’ve played in the past. The writing is fantastic and intense, which led to some altercations that made me sit up and pay attention, instead of thinking I’m playing a “by the numbers” story.
The soundtrack, by Joscha Beab, is the highlight, the perfect mix of nostalgia and creativity to stand on its own, with melodies that will accompany you throughout the game, and you will surprise yourself by leaving the dialogue alone as you immerse yourself in the atmosphere it creates. The same goes for other JRPGs, such as Nobuo Uematsu with the final fantasy In the series, music plays a pivotal role in your experience, as what may seem like a generic village comes to life and makes exploration a necessity rather than just another settlement to pass through. This is especially the case when you look at the magnificent pixel art of the world.
Once you’ve conquered the opening area, Windy Providence, you can venture north towards the central spire. This tower is right in the middle of all the provinces and allows you to travel to whichever one you want. This is your adventure and Sin Eater allows you to write your story in any order you want.
Sin Eater’s battle system is similar but evolved compared to the first game, with typical RPG menus: attack, defend, items. Sin Eater’s main battle feature this time around is the ‘Synergy Bar’: when you unleash attacks that have a big effect, or perhaps your monster can withstand your opponent’s attack, your synergy bar will fill up, giving you the opportunity, when it’s full enough, to “crown” an attack, basically turning it into a super version. It’s a great addition that can not only save your life when your monster is a couple of levels short, but it’s also a great way to build tension and excitement.
Taming monsters has a special appeal for players, who want to catch them all while creating the best group possible. There are around 200 monsters you can tame in the game world, each with the ability to belong to one of five types: Will, Brute, Malicious, Unstable or Relentless. With the ability to fuse or breed each monster, completionists will groan knowing that this creates 1000 different variations to find.
On top of that, you can take your monsters to the Breeding Barn to breed or fuse them. Breeding is the cheaper but slower of the two options, allowing you to keep your monsters and the egg they produce. Once the egg has hatched after staying in your party incubating for a while, you will create a level 1 monster with a combination of attributes from both parents.
Fusion, on the other hand, is the faster but riskier of the two, as it produces a monster at the average level of both parents, but you will also lose two of your monsters. I hope you don’t form any kind of bond with your monsters if you want to go down this path, as not only will you lose your favorites, but you won’t be sure what the outcome will be.
Monster Crown: Sin Eater is now available on Xbox Series|S, steam, PlayStation 5and nintendo switch
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