Monterona Demo Review – Build Cozy & Colorful Stories

OVERVIEW In Monterona players will build and decorate cute little streets from their Italian grandmother’s stories. The Monterona demo lets players build one of those stories, and get accustomed to the game’s adaptive decorating mechanics. Monterona Gameplay Experience The gameplay in the Monterona demo was simple. Placing terrain, buildings, and even little characters could be…

Camisha

August 6, 2024

2–3 minutes

OVERVIEW

In Monterona players will build and decorate cute little streets from their Italian grandmother’s stories. The Monterona demo lets players build one of those stories, and get accustomed to the game’s adaptive decorating mechanics.

Developer: Slava Korolev (Solo Developer)
Release Date: TBA
Price: TBA
Platforms: Steam (PC), later other platforms

Monterona Gameplay Experience

Screenshot of characters talking in the monterona video game.

The gameplay in the Monterona demo was simple. Placing terrain, buildings, and even little characters could be done with just a click. A key feature of Monterona is how decorations adapt to their surroundings. You can place a tree and turn it into a bush, or pull it onto pavement and it turns into a potted plant. This feature was a lot of fun, I liked not having to scroll through an endless tab of decorations.

The first-person “walking” mode was a great addition to the game. Being able to walk the streets that you create and see them come to life is interesting. I am looking forward to the camera mode, and being able to see what other players create from the same story prompts.

Accesibility in the Monterona Demo

The Monterona demo gets the “ChromaGlitch Gaming While Parenting” seal of approval. Since the main mechanics of the game can all be done with just a mouse, it was easy to play with one free arm. You are also able to change the text font on the story prompt letters from cursive to a more readable font, which I found helpful.

A Cozy and Warm Experience

Screenshot of gameplay in the Monterona demo

The art style of Monterona is cozy and does a good job of capturing the look and feel of an Italian street. Everything is bright and feels warm and welcoming. The music also further captures the vibe of a trip to Italy. I could easily see myself spending hours just building tiny streets and enjoying the music.

Final Thoughts on the Monterona Demo

Overall the Monterona demo was enjoyable and does a great job previewing what the full game will be. The gameplay was accessible and the art and music were phenomenal. I would say if you enjoy games like Cloud Gardens and Townscaper, you may like the Monterona demo and should check it out while it is on Steam.