Do you enjoy battling monsters against each other in tournaments? Do you enjoy Gachapon? Ok, what about sorting out your inventory in games like Resident Evil? Yes to all three? Then NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters might just be the game for you. This is a PVP tournament-style game where you buy monsters from a Gachapon-style machine, fit them into your inventory in certain formations, and battle your opponent, all while creating new combinations of monsters and powering them up to build the best team you can. I’ve never been the best at strategy when it comes to any kind of deck or team builder style games, but I found myself putting in extra effort to ensure I could win as many battles as I could. Now, this game might not be for everyone, but it has enough charm to warrant giving it a try. Now if you don’t mind, I’m off to play some more.
ℹ️ Reviewed on Steam and Steam Deck| Review code provided by PR/publisher, this review is the personal opinion of the writer. Got unanswered questions about this game? Get in touch on X!
| Developer | DiceHit Games, Rogue Duck Interactive |
| Publisher | Rogue Duck Interactive, The 4 Winds Entertainment |
Things I liked!
- Simplicity | This game doesn’t throw you too far into the deep end. It gives you enough room to allow both experts at the genre and beginners alike to enjoy. There is a handy hints menu provided which you can look up at any time to make sure you get the best out of your battles and you will find yourself just enjoying the experience rather than stressing too much about the logistics. Oh, and as a small addition – They have an ADHD mode which is amazing!
- The Monsters | Also called Cosmions are as cute as they are deadly. If you enjoy creating new abominations… I mean Creatures, you can fuse Cosmions together with each other and give them new powers as well. You have so many combinations to create and choose from that you might just find yourself laughing like a mad scientist. Seriously though, the care and detail put into these Cosmions, in terms of aesthetics and gameplay, is just wonderful.
Mixed & disliked!
- Development | My only real issue is that the game is still in development, and really it’s not a huge issue at all. The developer is very active and is adding hot fixes at a commendable rate, and there is a road map for the game available for all to see. Honestly, I have no real issues with the game at all at the moment.
CONCLUSION
Score: 86 /100 – A fun wee game for those of you with an hour or two to kill, be very careful though because that hour or two can turn into a lot more. Grab NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters and just have fun.
I’m just a tall bearded bald Scotsman who loves games of every type. I’m a voice actor as well and have been for a few years now. I have an odd sense of humour.