Simple, Basic, but ridiculously addictive!
Toy Monsters is a single player tower defence game on the meta quest platform developed by Habaduda Games. It has a PEGI 7 rating and was released on 11th April 2024.
Its available now on the Meta Quest store and is playable on Quest2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro for only £10.99.
Browsing the Quest Store can feel overwhelming, with countless titles vying for your attention. It’s easy to scroll past many of them without a second thought. I often do the same, but recently, I took a chance on ‘Toy Monsters’ and was pleasantly surprised. I highly recommend giving it a try!
‘Toy Monsters’ is a simple yet charming tabletop tower defence game available in VR and MR (mixed reality). As an adult, you might find yourself breezing through it, but it truly shines when played together as a family. Remember the addictive fun of ‘Plants vs. Zombies’? ‘Toy Monsters’ offers a similar experience, enhanced for the Quest with the option to play in full VR or MR using either hand tracking or controllers.
From the moment you load the game, you’re presented with a virtual tabletop. Drop the game in your play space, and you’re instantly immersed in the first level. Although designed with children in mind, its simplicity and relaxed gameplay make it enjoyable for all ages.
One of the standout features of ‘Toy Monsters’ is its user-friendly hand tracking. Unlike many other Quest games that can be challenging for kids, this game excels in ease of use. Our children had no trouble putting down the controllers and engaging fully with their hands. They absolutely love it!
In summary, ‘Toy Monsters’ is a delightful addition to the Quest Store that’s perfect for family gaming. Its straightforward gameplay, combined with the fun of hand tracking, makes it a must-try for both kids and adults alike.
PLOT
In this delightful tower defence game, your mission is to prevent waves of enemies from crossing a bridge by strategically placing animated toys on the left side. While the premise might seem straightforward, don’t let that fool you—there’s plenty of fun and challenge to be had.
As you progress through the levels, the chaos and carnage intensify, turning each stage into a thrilling test of your strategic skills. The simplicity of the game’s mechanics is one of its strengths, making it accessible yet addictive. I found myself replaying levels multiple times, eager to achieve higher scores and perfect my defense strategies.
Each toy has unique abilities and deals different types of damage, and as the game advances, the variety of enemies increases, requiring you to adapt your tactics. The strategic depth grows with each level, demanding careful consideration of which defenses to deploy.
With over 30 levels to conquer, including formidable boss battles, and an endless mode for those who crave continuous action, this game offers plenty of content to keep you entertained. It’s pure joy from start to finish, with a charming simplicity that invites you to master its challenges.
GAMEPLAY
Game play – This screenshot of toy monsters gives a clear view of what to expect. what’s not to love about using toys to fight off monsters?
Toy Monsters is a charming VR/AR game that combines accessibility with engaging gameplay, making it a joy to play from the very beginning. The flawless hand tracking ensures you won’t face any frustrations with the controls, allowing you to dive straight into the fun. The tactile pleasure of moving objects around in a virtual space is endlessly enjoyable, and Toy Monsters captures this delight perfectly. Even in its simplicity, the game offers a satisfying experience as you lean in to inspect the whimsical goblins and toys up close.
The game kicks off with a straightforward setup: a single-column platform extending from left to right. As the game begins, a small drawbridge lowers on the right side, and goblins start their march across the platform. Your mission is to stop these goblins by deploying animated toy defenses. The first toy available is a burning candle—a quirky choice that might not remind you of childhood toys, but it’s surprisingly effective in halting the initial waves of enemies. The first level serves as a gentle introduction, allowing you to get a feel for the game mechanics without overwhelming you.
Toy Monsters incorporates various in-game currencies that you use to upgrade and place defences. Stars are the first currency you’ll encounter. You can even place a star generator on the platform, which will shoot more stars into the air for you to collect by pinching them with your virtual hands. These stars are then used to purchase new defences. Each toy, from tanks to teddy bears, has unique abilities that help you fend off the advancing goblins and monsters. The primary goal of each level is to earn three stars, which allows you to progress to the next stage.
As you advance to level five, the platform widens to three columns, introducing new strategic elements. At this point, you’ll also encounter a new currency: Crystals. These purple crystals unlock special abilities, such as shooting lasers from your hands. This feature adds an exciting twist to the game, letting you channel your inner Tony Stark as you blast goblins off the bridge. The third currency, blue potions, grants temporary boosts to your defences, increasing their damage output for a short period. This is similar to a rage spell, providing a strategic edge in tougher battles.
Each time you complete a level, you unlock a new defence toy, each with its unique ability to combat the hordes of goblins and other monsters. The variety of toys keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging, ensuring that both kids and adults will stay entertained. From tanks that can withstand heavy attacks to teddy bears that pack a surprising punch, these lovable characters are your main line of defence against the relentless waves of enemies. The game’s increasing complexity demands thoughtful strategy and quick reflexes, particularly as you face tougher enemies and more challenging scenarios.
In this image, we see the full array of toys available to take into battle !!
Boss Battles and the Minimap: A Layer of Depth
After completing 11 levels, you’ll face your first boss battle. By this point, the enemies are more formidable, often jumping halfway across the board, requiring quicker responses and more strategic thinking. Additionally, you’ll need to start selecting your army carefully, as you’re limited to seven different types of troops. The games minimap (see below) adds another layer of depth to the game. This small 3D map, reminiscent of Super Mario World’s 2D map, reveals new sections as you progress and responds to your touch, adding to the immersive experience. This feature not only ties the game together but also provides a pleasant break from the main levels, giving you a sense of exploration and discovery.
A screenshot of the mini-map taken in ‘Toy Monsters’. We loved the inclusion of this feature in the game as it really tied in a nostalgic feel.
Graphics and Audio
One of the most captivating aspects of ‘Toy Monsters’ is its graphics. While the visuals are quite basic, the game’s vibrant colours and rich saturation combined with the 3D feel from the Quest will breathe life into its animated characters and settings. This simplicity doesn’t detract from the experience; instead, it proves that high-end graphics aren’t necessary to create an immersive world.
The charm of Toy Monsters lies in its ability to merge this vibrant, animated world with your own surroundings through mixed reality. This blend enhances the gameplay, making each battle against the hordes of enemies feel even more engaging. The seamless integration of the game’s lively visuals into your real-world environment keeps you focused and enthralled, demonstrating that effective immersion can be achieved without cutting-edge graphics technology.
Overall, Toy Monsters’ graphical style is a testament to the power of creative design and vibrant animation, providing an engaging and immersive experience that stands out in the realm of VR/AR games.
Upon loading Toy Monsters, you’re greeted with a delightful classical music piece, setting a pleasant tone for the adventure ahead. As you dive into the game, a variety of casual background tracks accompany you, providing a soothing and immersive backdrop to your gameplay.
The audio experience in Toy Monsters is dynamic and tailored to each level. For example, in levels with an Egyptian theme, not only do the enemies don Egyptian headdresses, but the music also shifts to match this ancient style, enhancing the overall atmosphere. This thoughtful integration of music and setting creates a cohesive and engaging auditory experience that complements the visual and gameplay elements beautifully. The sound effects also reflect the visuals within the gameplay, and had the children laughing for more!
The game’s ability to adapt its soundtrack to fit the thematic elements of each level adds a layer of depth and immersion, making Toy Monsters a delight for the ears as well as the eyes.
Options and Accessibility
With the option to play Toy Monsters with or without controllers, it’s a game that the whole family can enjoy. My five-year-old, Paige, often struggles with console, PC, and Quest games due to the size of adult controllers and her small hands. However, in Toy Monsters, she had no trouble at all. She was able to jump right in and start playing effortlessly, making it an excellent choice for younger players or those who find traditional controllers challenging. This accessibility feature ensures that everyone, regardless of age or hand size, can fully enjoy the game. I will add that this game can also be played single handedly if required.
Conclusion: Endless Fun and Engagement.
Toy Monsters is a delightful blend of strategy and VR/AR innovation that promises hours of entertainment for players of all ages. The variety of defences, intuitive mechanics, simplistic gameplay and immersive interactions make it a standout game in the VR/AR genre. Its charming simplicity, combined with strategic depth and engaging gameplay, ensures that you’ll keep coming back for more. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to VR/AR, Toy Monsters offers a captivating experience that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down.
Thanks for taking the time to read our review, and we hope you half as much fun as we did in ‘TOY MONSTERS‘. The game is available now on the quest sore. We’d also like to give a thank you to Hubaduda games and Beyond Frames for the game code.
