Always Sometimes Monsters (2014)
I made two indie discoveries in this summer’s GOG.com sale. They had never ended up on my radar before — perhaps because of their modest visibility, perhaps because of my own selective gaze. Both have nevertheless gathered a dedicated fanbase over the years, and I have to say that Always Sometimes Monsters from 2014 won me over as well. Beneath its naïvely cute exterior lies surprisingly serious thematic depth.
Always Sometimes Monsters was developed by the small Canadian studio Vagabond Dog, and it is their first game. A sequel is currently in development. The team has asked players to send in their save files for reference — they want to see the variety of choices players actually made and allow players to carry their personal game state into the next part.
For a mixture of adventure and role-playing, Always Sometimes Monsters offers a surprising number of branching paths. The game world can be explored rather freely, and the player structures each day — divided into three segments — as they see fit. The main plot is still followed, however. The immediate objective is to travel from one city to another, ultimately toward the destination introduced at the start of the game. A quick summary may not sound extraordinary, but Always Sometimes Monsters is not only a discovery — it is full of discoveries.
Everything falls apart before it has even begun
The game presents a clever way of selecting your playable character and their love interest, the person they will later long for. Larry, an employee of a major publishing house, hosts a party to choose the lucky writer who will receive a publishing contract. Once the novelist is selected, the player chooses their romantic partner. There are no restrictions on gender, race or appearance. Beautiful!
But things do not turn out well. The writer fails spectacularly and cannot finish their book. At the same time, the relationship breaks apart. The game begins when the player character is about to be evicted due to unpaid rent. In this moment of shock, an invitation arrives — to the ex-partner’s wedding, held on the far side of the country. It feels like the last straw to cling to.
From job to job, and from one person to another
The game progresses primarily by earning money through various odd jobs. There is always the temptation to steal or gamble for easy money, and the casino offers the possibility of growing a fortune — although by the time I reached it, money had already started to lose its meaning. The character’s well-being must be maintained by eating and sleeping, and money is ultimately gathered mainly for travel tickets. It can also be spent on food, collectible items and various trinkets.
The player also completes quests given by other characters inhabiting the world, and these play an essential role in moving the story forward. Taking sides in conflicts is a moral choice with consequences. Conversations between characters matter greatly. The player chooses lines of dialogue and, in certain situations, their actions. This game is character-driven — warm-hearted and tragic at the same time. It is sympathetic toward people and their weaknesses. Beautiful, again!
I did not manage to keep my character’s conscience completely clean, but it is difficult to say that Always Sometimes Monsters contains strictly “wrong” choices. Moral decisions are reflected upon several times during the story, and the ending can be happier or more tragic depending on the player’s actions. I experimented with different decisions in the final moments, but I could not win my love back. In hindsight, I accepted that I had not deserved it — I had been a self-pitying traitor to a friend.
The content matches the wrapping, yet still surprises
The graphics appear deceptively childlike, yet they make the game charming and entertaining. The music, in my opinion, is on the same level and complements the visuals well. They do not conflict with the dramatic content of the story, and there is little point speculating what a more realistic and adult style might have done.
Always Sometimes Monsters is written with a kind-hearted glint in the eye, and the dialogue was genuinely fun to read. As a whole, the story is multi-layered and the journey takes surprising turns. The society portrayed in the game — with all its inhabitants — is not black-and-white, but colourful in every sense.
Verdict
Always Sometimes Monsters held me firmly, and I most certainly did not want to leave it unfinished. Playing it again is tempting, because I know that one playthrough cannot show everything — and I do consider that “everything” worth experiencing.
There is nothing particularly inventive about the mechanics or the structure, but they work, and what truly matters is the game world and its characters. Every experience felt distinct in a pleasant way. I suspect that developers Justin and Jake have put a great deal of sincere emotion into it.
For this indie game that conquers hearts, I give a score of 81 out of 100.
Availability
Always Sometimes Monsters is available for Windows, Mac OS and Linux computers, as well as iOS and Android devices.