A brand-new co-op board game packed with legendary monsters, memory challenges and giant book-shaped boxes is on the way later this year!
Encyclopedia of Monsters has officially been announced by Hachette and Scorpion Masque, with a July release currently planned. Designed by Antoine Bauza, Corentin Lebrat and Theo Riviere, the game is aimed at younger players while still looking like something families could easily enjoy together.
And honestly, the presentation alone is probably going to catch people’s attention straight away!
A Monster Hunt
In Encyclopedia of Monsters, players work together to search for legendary creatures, spirits and monsters hidden across different parts of the world.
The game is split across five colourful “volumes”, each designed to look like its own encyclopaedia book. Every volume represents a different continent and contains components tied to three unique countries within that region.
Each country introduces different creatures, challenges and gameplay twists, giving the game a bit more variety than a standard memory game setup.
It is a really fun idea visually, and the whole book format makes the game feel much more like an adventure than just a stack of cards on a table.
Memory Game With A Twist
At its core, Encyclopedia of Monsters is a cooperative memory game.
Players take turns using Monster cards and applying that monster’s special rule while trying to locate the matching token hidden somewhere on the board.
If players successfully find the right monster, it stays visible. If not, one of the game’s Candles is blown out and every monster gets flipped face-down again.
That means players need to remember where monsters were located while also dealing with different effects and mechanics depending on which creature they are trying to find.
The rules sound simple enough for younger players to pick up quickly, but there is clearly enough happening to keep the game engaging for parents and older siblings too.
Big Names
One thing that stands out immediately is the design team involved.
Antoine Bauza in particular is one of the best-known names in modern tabletop gaming, with credits including 7 Wonders, Hanabi and Takenoko. Corentin Lebrat and Theo Riviere have also worked on a growing number of family and strategy games over the last few years.
That experience makes Encyclopedia of Monsters especially interesting because it suggests this is more than just a simple children’s game release.
The focus seems to be on creating something accessible while still feeling polished and creative.
Built For Younger Players
The game supports two to four players and is designed for ages six and up, which puts it firmly in the family gaming category.
That also makes the July release window pretty smart timing.
Games like this tend to do especially well during school holidays because they are quick to set up, easy to teach and work well for mixed age groups.
And compared to a lot of larger board games, Encyclopedia of Monsters sounds like something families could realistically get to the table without needing loads of preparation beforehand.
One Of The Best Looking Family Games This Year?
Even beyond the gameplay, the visual design here really seems to be doing a lot of heavy lifting.
The encyclopaedia-style boxes instantly make the game stand out from other family releases, and the idea of physically opening different “volumes” to explore new monsters and countries is a genuinely clever touch.
Family games often live or die on presentation because they need to grab attention quickly, especially with younger players. Encyclopedia of Monsters already feels like it understands that side of things very well.
Right now, the game is set to release in July, just in time for summer game nights and rainy holiday afternoons!
