70
If you're just here to knock monster heads around, you'll get bored quickly. $30 is too much to recommend this one, unless you're a really big fan of kaiju action and story, or you want to get really deep into the customization aspect. Without unlockables or much variety in gameplay, the game's initial punch of awesome fades quickly. Still, this game could be just the start of something bigger. If Dawn of the Monsters turns out to be just the dawn of a new series, perhaps its sequels could build more on the foundation of this one's ruined cityscapes. [Issue #60 – July/August 2022, p. 27]
80
Dawn of the Monsters isn’t reinventing anything, but that lets it focus on what counts – punching big monsters in the mouth. If that sounds like fun to you, then you won’t be disappointed.
85
Dawn of the Monsters should be on your list if you’re looking for a great co-op kaiju beat ’em up. The beautiful artwork and range of different characters and abilities will have you changing up who you pick until you find the one that fits your play style. Boss battles are tough but manageable, but they will require you to customize your character with the different augments best suited to the fight. I’ve been playing solo and with my kids, who absolutely love playing as a giant beast, smashing through the landscape, and taking out the monsters. And frankly, who wouldn’t love that?
8
A fun kaiju-themed beat 'em up that can be played with a buddy in couch co-op. Fans of "Godzilla", "Gamera", "Pacific Rim" and "Ultraman" will love this. Especially since the four playable characters are all based on those properties. The fighting is more comparable to "River City Girls" than "Streets of Rage 4". Combat is flashy, but not fast. You have to put a little strategy into defeating enemies. You can block and dodge attacks along with customizing your special abilities. The game's colorful magna-inspired look is great. Overall, I'd rate this with an 8 out of 10.
8
A very solid game it is! Love the customization system and can't punch enough monsters in the game.
7
After my initial, less favourable, review I’m gonna be a bit more lenient with this one. For what it is, the gameplay is pretty solid. If you come in expecting a fast paced streets of rage 4 you may be disappointed, as this has a slower, more lumbering feel too it. The levels can also be a bit samey. However, in co-op it can be pretty fun to bulldoze your way through the stages, and the bosses present a nice challenge. I’m just hoping they patch out a couple of the issues I had (like the arm things sometimes not spawning when you have to kill the egg, making it impossible to beat).
Dawn of the Monsters
Released On:
Mar 15, 2022
Metascore
Generally Favorable
81
User score
Mixed or Average
7.0
My Score
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All Platforms
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Based on 7 Critic Reviews
81
Based on 2 Critic Reviews
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Based on 5 Critic Reviews
76
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tbd
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
tbd
Metascore
Generally Favorable
86% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
14% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Mar 16, 2022
90
Even with some small issues like a lack of clarity with the Rank system and levels feeling a little repetitive, Dawn of the Monsters is still a ton of fun. There are plenty of goodies to unlock, a two-player mode and a riveting story. If you’re at all a fan of the kaiju genre and are looking for the next great thing, here it is. I honestly think this is the best game to date by 13AM Games, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store next.
Apr 8, 2022
85
Dawn of the Monsters should be on your list if you’re looking for a great co-op kaiju beat ’em up. The beautiful artwork and range of different characters and abilities will have you changing up who you pick until you find the one that fits your play style. Boss battles are tough but manageable, but they will require you to customize your character with the different augments best suited to the fight. I’ve been playing solo and with my kids, who absolutely love playing as a giant beast, smashing through the landscape, and taking out the monsters. And frankly, who wouldn’t love that?
User score
Mixed or Average
67% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
17% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
17% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Oct 14, 2025
8
A fun kaiju-themed beat 'em up that can be played with a buddy in couch co-op. Fans of "Godzilla", "Gamera", "Pacific Rim" and "Ultraman" will love this. Especially since the four playable characters are all based on those properties. The fighting is more comparable to "River City Girls" than "Streets of Rage 4". Combat is flashy, but not fast. You have to put a little strategy into defeating enemies. You can block and dodge attacks along with customizing your special abilities. The game's colorful magna-inspired look is great. Overall, I'd rate this with an 8 out of 10.
Aug 28, 2022
8
A very solid game it is! Love the customization system and can't punch enough monsters in the game.
Apr 19, 2022
80
Dawn of the Monsters isn’t reinventing anything, but that lets it focus on what counts – punching big monsters in the mouth. If that sounds like fun to you, then you won’t be disappointed.
Mar 23, 2022
80
The basic concept of Dawn of the Monsters gives the game a big push at the start line, but it’s the solid gameplay mechanics that keep this machine moving. You get a nice mix of encounters and behaviors to deal with, and you have a fair number of options at your disposal. The sheer amount of content here will keep you playing for a long while, and although it can get a little repetitive over time, it really does take some time for that to set in. Fans of either beat-em-ups or giant monsters will want to grab this game sharpish and get to smashing and demolishing the enemy forces.
Mar 18, 2022
80
Dawn of the Monsters stumbles into some of the more common pitfalls of belt-scrolling fighters, but it has enough flair, polish and excitement to be a more than worthy offering, particularly played in couch co-op with a friend. We wish there were a few more playable creatures, but the ones on offer here are all very distinct and enormous fun to get to grips with. It's a richly rewarding game, with higher ranks unlocking new skins and upgrades from the in-game shop (don't worry, no microtransactions here) which offer an incentive to keep playing — though the real reason you'll stick with Dawn of the Monsters is that it is, quite simply, very good indeed. While it has a few problems, they're nothing that will stop you having a blast with this Brobdingnagian beat-'em-up.
Mar 16, 2022
80
There’s a lot of game here, and there are a lot of places they can take this franchise. DOTM is a fun time, and one I’ve greatly enjoyed.
Jun 28, 2022
70
If you're just here to knock monster heads around, you'll get bored quickly. $30 is too much to recommend this one, unless you're a really big fan of kaiju action and story, or you want to get really deep into the customization aspect. Without unlockables or much variety in gameplay, the game's initial punch of awesome fades quickly. Still, this game could be just the start of something bigger. If Dawn of the Monsters turns out to be just the dawn of a new series, perhaps its sequels could build more on the foundation of this one's ruined cityscapes. [Issue #60 – July/August 2022, p. 27]
Mar 25, 2022
7
After my initial, less favourable, review I’m gonna be a bit more lenient with this one. For what it is, the gameplay is pretty solid. If you come in expecting a fast paced streets of rage 4 you may be disappointed, as this has a slower, more lumbering feel too it. The levels can also be a bit samey. However, in co-op it can be pretty fun to bulldoze your way through the stages, and the bosses present a nice challenge. I’m just hoping they patch out a couple of the issues I had (like the arm things sometimes not spawning when you have to kill the egg, making it impossible to beat).
SummaryThe cataclysmic battle between giant monsters has begun in this manga-inspired, side-scrolling, kaiju beat-'em-up! Titanic creatures known as Nephilim have invaded Earth, and the only hope of stopping them is DAWN (Defense Alliance Worldwide Network), which unleashes its own colossal combatants to defend against the enemy hordes! Take co... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox Series X
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Initial Release Date:Mar 15, 2022
Developer:
Publisher:
