Sometimes, games are coy about their inspiration, even if it's practically written on their forehead — but Beasties, an upcoming PC and Switch game that just launched its Kickstarter, is not one of those.
Beasties is a combination of monster trainer, match-3, and farming, with turn-based match-3 combat. It draws its inspiration from Pokémon, Forager, Ghibli movies, Gems of War, Monster Sanctuary, Darkest Dungeon, Moonlighter, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and — although it's not a game — climate change. And those are just the inspirations listed on the Kickstarter! We're also seeing elements of Neopets, Harvest Moon, Zelda, and even old-school JRPGs like Chrono Trigger.
The developer of Beasties is Rokaplay, a six-person studio who recently published Stolen Couch Studio's Castaway Paradise on the Switch. There's no release date for Beasties yet, but the Kickstarter ends on the 22nd June.
Does Beasties' blend of games intrigue you? Let us know in the comments!
Comments 17
Looks like a mobile game... I'd be surprised if it isn't, actually!
Edit: I just read the article... I was completely wrong. But I am surprised it isn't going to mobile. Regardless, it still looks like a mobile game, in more ways than one.
I enjoyed Puzzle & Dragons Z on my 3DS A LOT
Maybe this could be fun too
It's EVERYTHING mind blown
I'm sure there are people who will enjoy something like this but this seems like the most embellished pitch ever for a game that looks like more than half of the mobile market.
@Low_ink That was my first thought too. This looks like one of those mobile games that uses legitimate Pokemon artwork and gameplay for promotions lol
I think this game looks fun. if the game play is good i will be very interested in this.
Looks very much like a mobile game. No thanks.
The title of this article does the game no favors…
I am surprised Nintendo hasn’t done a Mario match three like this.
....Yeah, that looks NOTHING like Ghibli. Looks like a generic mobile game...that's not going to mobile for reason.
@rockodoodle Puzzle and Dragons did a Super Mario edition on the 3DS, it's quite fun.
Don't play the Studio Ghibli card unless you're ready to back it up. This looks very meh mobile game even before setting me up for that disappointment, but the worst of it all is how blatant the zigzag tailed electric rat is. You can create any wondrous beasties from your imagination you'd like, and you resort to copying three of the most obvious traits of one of the most well known fictional monsters in the world? Hard pass.
Edit: a second glance reveals its even worse than I first thought. Zigzag tail electric rat also has stripes, yellow colors, and even the classic pikachu ears. Like c'mon. And that art style couldn't be more mobile if it tried.
Hey @fireflydrake here rokaplay, the dev team behind Beasties.
When a developer talks about "inspiration", they are talking about many aspects. With "Studio Ghibli", it was about the feeling we wanted to achieve in the end. We mentioned that in our Kickstarter (because it's true), but we wouldn't use it in marketing to promote our product.
The fact that it looks like a mobile game is probably due to the popularity of the genre on smartphones. We're taking a cue from the classic Puzzle Quest or the more recent Gems of War. Both have a really tactical game depth that served as inspiration for us.
Have a nice day
Hey @Joeynator3000 here rokaplay, the dev team behind Beasties.
When a developer talks about "inspiration", they are talking about many aspects. With "Studio Ghibli", it was about the feeling we wanted to achieve in the end. We mentioned that in our Kickstarter (because it's true), but we wouldn't use it in marketing to promote our product.
The special thing about the game is that it is community driven. Anyone can send us their idea. Whether a cool side quest, a special Beastie design or a crafting recipe. We want to develop the project with the community. Everyone ca be a part of the game -> No skills needed.
Have a nice day
@Joeynator3000 I will have to check it out.... still surprises me that they haven’t gotten a simple game for mobile tho. It would probably sell very well
@roka_adrian alright, I'll bite. Inspiration can indeed come in many forms. But I'm not going to stick around to see if you manage to stick a Ghibli-esque landing when you've got such a blatant pikachu ripoff front and center. "Electric zigzag rodent" would've been obvious enough, but you also have to insist on using pikachu ears, stripes, and yellow colors? C'mon dude. How can I trust you to take me anywhere original or interesting when out of all the endless things you could've dreamed up for monster designs, you took the lowest hanging knock off fruit imaginable? Your mobile game vibes go a lot deeper than the artwork and base gameplay. You're not even out of kickstarting and the game already feels lazy and derivative.
Are... are those characters seriously just, walking, hopping, profile pics on a stand..? This indie studio just completely gave up on making in-game character art, didn't they? Mashing FarmVille together with Candy Crush, not to mention baiting console players with the PoKeMoN themes...
I'm disproportionately disgusted at the Frankenstein mess of this...
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