PC Critic Reviews

A bold take on roguelike card battling that layers smart systems into a uniquely satisfying strategic challenge, one that still finds the time to make dick jokes while incisively lampooning our established political systems.

Prime Monster is a fun, colourful experience, but the gameplay can get a bit repetitive, and it suffers from the challenge created by the randomness of all roguelikes.

In the hot seat at Number 13, survival typically takes precedence over morality, but developer Cavalier delights in letting you feel the sting of your actions. [Issue#425, p.121]

Prime Monster blends political satire with inventive card-based strategy, turning parliamentary debate into a roguelike battle for power. Beneath its humor is a ingenious system that encourages corruption and shows how easy it is to become part of the problem.

Prime Monster delivers a different and challenging experience, underpinned by good ideas and a charismatic theme. Although some balancing and accessibility adjustments would be welcome, the game manages to offer engaging matches for those willing to face its complex nature and learn to survive in this chaotic monstrous parliament.

I’d really like to love Prime Monster, because it ticks off so many boxes for me in terms of my personal interests. And it shows signs of being an inventive game. But showing signs of being interesting doesn’t mean actually interesting, and it’s hard to see how this game bridges that substantial gap without some pretty major changes.