Monster Survivors

By Solar Smash Online

Monster Survivors Solar Smash Online is a roguelike action survival game that throws you onto a battlefield filled with waves of enemies. You're up against all sorts of monstrous creatures, from swarming bugs and flesh-eating plants to eerie pumpkins and crabs (yes, you read it right, very aggressive crabs!) And just when you think you've got a grip on things, evil bees swoop in to ruin your day. The goal is straightforward. Stay alive, level up, and take down massive bosses that won't go down without a fight.

Controls

Move: Drag your mouse.

Choose Your Weapon

Right from the start, you pick your playstyle. Want to get up close and personal? The steel sword lets you slash through enemies with raw power. Prefer a bit of distance? The wooden wand allows for magical attacks, giving you space to breathe. No matter which one you choose, the challenge remains the same: fight, survive, and get stronger.

Survival is More Than Fighting

Here's the tricky part: simply killing enemies doesn't earn you experience points. You have to collect the loot they drop, which means constantly moving around the battlefield. If you just stand still and fight, you'll quickly fall behind in power. And once you die, that's it. No second chances. Game over. That's the charm of the roguelike, isn't it?

My best strategy was to run in very big circles. It sounds ridiculous, but it works. By keeping enemies in a loop, you can avoid getting overwhelmed while scooping up XP from fallen monsters. Just make sure you don't back yourself into a corner, or you'll regret it.

Get Stronger or Die Trying

As you gather XP, you unlock upgrades to make your attacks stronger, faster, longer and more efficient. You can also improve the durability of your survivor. The longer you survive, the tougher enemies become, so leveling up is absolutely necessary. You'll need every bit of power to deal with the waves coming your way. Each time your XP fills up, you'll pick a skill to level up. The best strategy is to maintain a balance among your skills as you progress. However, if you prefer a more tactical approach, you can select skills to upgrade based on your individual playstyle.

Boss Fights

Surviving the regular waves is one thing, but the boss fights are where things get serious. When a boss appears, the battlefield shrinks, forcing you into an intense one-on-one battle. You'll experience the deep auto-attack arena shooter style gameplay. Dodging becomes harder, space is limited, and if you mess up, there's no running away. Defeat the boss, and you're thrown back into the normal map, ready for more chaos. Lose? Well… better luck next time. In the main menu, you can use your coins to improve your armor, damage, health, healing or simply revive at the max level you reached before.

Final Thoughts: the Good and the Bad

Let's be honest, this game is tough. It's fun, but it doesn't hold your hand. The one-life rule means every mistake matters. You can't just button mash your way to victory; you need to be smart about movement and upgrades.

That said, there's a lot to love here. The enemy variety keeps things interesting, and the leveling system makes each run feel unique. Running circles around monsters while collecting loot gives a satisfying rhythm to the gameplay, even if it gets stressful when things get crowded. The boss fights are a great change of pace, adding real tension when the arena shrinks.

Some runs can feel unfair if you don't get good upgrade choices early on. And when the screen fills with enemies, things can get a bit chaotic, sometimes in a fun way, sometimes in an "oh shoot, what just happened?" way.

To sum up, Monster Survivors Solar Smash Online is a roguelike RPG with cute 2D visuals. It's all about balancing combat and movement, making smart upgrade choices, and figuring out how to survive just a little longer each time. If you love games that push your reflexes and decision-making skills, you'll have a blast playing other defense games like Endless Siege. But be warned that one wrong move and it's all over.