Codex Arcana: Grimoire of Monsters
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About Codex Arcana: Grimoire of Monsters
Codex Arcana: Grimoire of Monsters is a strategy game where you command squads of Monster Girls to battle the Dark Lord’s forces. Inspired by Capsule Monsters, it blends tactical combat with a collection-based grind. Developed by Updog Software, it launched on PC and Linux on September 30, 2026. The game pits you against endless waves of enemies, with each victory rewarding new Monster Girls to summon. Think of it as a mix of monster-collecting and grid-based strategy, with a focus on team composition and elemental weaknesses. If you’ve ever wanted to lead a team of feral, cute, and deadly creatures into war, this is your jam.
Gameplay
Combat in Codex Arcana unfolds on a hexagonal grid, where you deploy Monster Girls for turn-based battles. Each unit has unique abilities, elemental affinities, and synergy bonuses with other monsters. For example, a Fire Imp pairs well with a Frost Witch to trigger chain reactions. Between fights, you manage a roster of up to 40 summoned creatures, leveling them up and unlocking passive skills. Missions vary from clearing enemy camps to defending bases under siege, with difficulty scaling to your team’s strength. The real-time summoning mechanic, selecting a monster to join the battlefield mid-fight, adds a layer of urgency. Sessions last 30, 60 minutes, depending on challenge mode.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate Codex Arcana 4.3/5, with 78% completing the main campaign. Average playtime is 25 hours, though 32% of players hit 50+ hours chasing achievements. The community moods skew enthusiastic: 62% describe it as “addictive,” while 18% call it “repetitive.” Critics on Metacritic gave it a 82, praising the monster design but noting shallow lore. Achievement completion sits at 89% for most players, with the final boss fight being a common sticking point. Positive reviews highlight the “100+ unique summon options,” while detractors gripe about the “slow early-game grind.”
PlayPile's Take
Codex Arcana is a solid pick for strategy fans who enjoy team-building and incremental progression. At $39.99, it offers decent value with regular DLCs adding new monsters. The combat is deep but leans toward grind-heavy, so casual players might find it tedious. With 237 achievements and a 4.5-hour average session to unlock them, it rewards patience. If you’re into optimizing monster synergies and don’t mind repetitive enemy AI, this is worth the price. Skip it if you prefer fast-paced or story-driven tactics.
Game Modes
Single player
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