I am not a Monster: First Contact is a retro sci-fi tactical turn-based strategy game that blends single-player storytelling with multiplayer sessions on PC. Players navigate the Albatross space liner after lizard-like aliens overrun the vessel and begin infecting humans. The core loop centers on tactical combat, infection management, and uncovering the outbreak through missions that shift perspective across multiple characters.
Gameplay
The game operates on a turn-based system where participants issue commands for movement, shooting, special abilities, and melee strikes within timed rounds. Lizard monsters can infect passengers and turn them into allies, creating layers of risk and deception during encounters. Eight distinct heroes appear across the experience, each with unique traits that influence how players approach objectives like rescuing survivors or neutralizing threats. In single-player sections, control shifts between these characters on successive levels to reveal different facets of the events. Multiplayer matches support up to six participants who manage units simultaneously while coordinating to handle enemy charges and objective completion.
Game Modes
Three distinct multiplayer modes exist, with participants voting at the start of each session to select which one will be played. This voting system keeps lobbies flexible without dedicated queues for individual variants. The single-player campaign delivers a narrative-driven sequence of more than thirty missions that emphasize story progression and character viewpoints rather than competitive play. Both formats incorporate the same underlying tactical rules, though the campaign focuses on sequential objectives while multiplayer emphasizes group coordination and adaptation to the infection mechanics.
Story and Setting
The narrative unfolds aboard the Albatross, a space liner suddenly besieged by unknown alien lizards. Captain Laser leads efforts to contain the threat, but the full picture emerges only by experiencing events through the eyes of eight different heroes. Missions reveal how the monsters appeared and spread, mixing rescue operations with investigations into the outbreak. The retro pulp sci-fi tone shapes the dialogue and mission design, presenting twists that alter player understanding of who can be trusted at each stage.
Multiplayer Experience
Sessions require communication through built-in voice or text chat to manage roles, identify potential infections, and execute coordinated tactics. The six-player limit encourages direct interaction, where one wrong assumption about another participant can shift the balance. Matches remain brisk due to the turn structure and voting mechanic for mode selection. The game supports ongoing play without seasonal content or major post-launch expansions beyond the original campaign addition.
Is It Worth Playing?
This title suits players who enjoy tactical strategy combined with social deduction elements in a sci-fi setting. Those seeking a mix of solo story missions and group-based sessions will find consistent mechanics across both. The game maintains availability on PC with positive overall player feedback centered on its unique blend of XCOM-style tactics and infection gameplay. It offers a self-contained experience without reliance on frequent updates, making it a solid choice for fans of indie strategy titles that reward careful planning and group discussion.
