Always Sometimes Monsters is an indie RPG that places players in the role of a struggling writer facing personal and financial ruin. The narrative centers on a journey to reclaim a lost relationship while navigating the harsh realities of everyday life on the road. Character creation allows selection of gender, race, and sexual preference, which directly influences how non-player characters respond and which opportunities or obstacles arise during play.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around exploration of urban areas and interactions that drive the story forward. Players move through environments in a top-down perspective, engaging in conversations that branch based on responses and prior decisions. Empathy and careful consideration of dialogue options serve as the primary tools for progress rather than any combat system. Subtle choices in how the protagonist behaves or what information is shared can open or close entire routes, creating a highly personalized experience shaped by the player's ethical outlook.
Consequences unfold through both major actions and minor conversational details. The game emphasizes relationships and emotional bonds, requiring players to weigh short-term survival needs against long-term goals. Time management elements appear as the protagonist deals with limited resources and pressing deadlines, adding pressure to each decision without relying on traditional leveling or equipment systems.
Game Modes
Always Sometimes Monsters operates as a single-player experience with no separate multiplayer or competitive modes. The structure encourages repeated playthroughs through its extensive web of diverging paths that respond to overt actions and understated dialogue choices. Each run reflects the player's personal compass, leading to different outcomes depending on how relationships are handled and which hardships are confronted directly.
Character selection at the start sets the tone for these variations, as NPCs react differently based on the chosen background. This system replaces conventional game modes with a focus on replayability rooted in narrative divergence rather than new objectives or rulesets.
Story and Themes
The plot follows a protagonist who has lost nearly everything and must travel across locations while attempting to salvage a broken romance. Mature subject matter forms the backbone of the experience, including depictions of substance use, strong language, prejudice, violence, and other difficult topics that surface depending on player choices. The writing presents these elements through realistic encounters rather than sensationalized events, forcing reflection on the lengths people go to when pushed to their limits.
Branching conversations reveal the personalities of supporting characters and highlight how individual biases affect daily interactions. The narrative avoids clear heroes or villains, instead presenting situations where survival often requires compromise or difficult moral calculations.
Is It Worth Playing?
Always Sometimes Monsters appeals most to players who enjoy narrative-driven indie RPGs centered on choice and consequence. Its strength lies in the way decisions shape both immediate circumstances and long-term story branches, rewarding thoughtful engagement with dialogue and character interactions. Those seeking traditional combat, exploration rewards, or ongoing content updates will find the experience limited, as the title remains a self-contained story from its original release with no additional seasons or expansions.
Reception highlights the game's ability to provoke thought about personal ethics and relationships, though some players note occasional technical issues and a deliberate pace that prioritizes emotional weight over constant action. It suits individuals comfortable with mature themes and branching narratives that can lead to varied, sometimes unsettling conclusions across multiple attempts. The soundtrack, available separately, complements the reflective tone for those who connect with the core journey.
