I Wish They Could Have Called It Super Monkey Souls, But Otherwise Hell Yeah

August 7, 2026 - 09:15

The indie scene has a new challenger, and it is bringing some serious monkey business to the genre of hardcore action RPGs. While the team behind the project openly jokes about their naming regrets, the game itself is far from a joke. The title, which the developers admit they wish they could have called "Super Monkey Souls," has finally launched, and it is delivering exactly the kind of brutal, punishing combat that fans of the genre crave.

The premise is as simple as it is absurd: you play as a small, determined primate wielding a stick. But do not let the cute protagonist fool you. The game borrows heavily from the "Soulslike" playbook, featuring stamina management, unforgiving enemy placement, and a dodge roll that requires frame-perfect timing. The art style is a stark contrast to the grimdark settings usually associated with this type of game, opting for a vibrant, almost toy-like aesthetic that makes the violence feel even more jarring.

Early reviews are praising the tight controls and the clever level design that encourages exploration and risky shortcuts. The difficulty is steep, but the sense of accomplishment after downing a massive boss is reportedly immense. It is a strange mix of whimsy and frustration, but it seems to be working. For those tired of the same old medieval knights and dragons, this simian adventure offers a fresh, furry coat of paint on a very familiar, and very painful, formula.