Cassette Beasts

 PC
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. RPGamer
    May 12, 2023
    70
    Cassette Beats is generally a good game that takes the classic Pokémon formula and tries to iterate upon it in almost all areas. For the most part, the ideas are indeed a step up from the first few Pokémon generations, but the execution doesn’t quite come off in the pace of battles and its more obscure puzzles. The double-battle nature of the game and the beast customization offers players a great deal of strategy to engage with while listening to an excellent soundtrack. With such a broad open-world setting, RPGamers will likely find themselves immersed far beyond the fifteen hours of mainline content the game has to offer.
  2. TheGamer
    Apr 26, 2023
    70
    I had a great time with Cassette Beasts, but it was undeniably frustrating in places. It iterates on the Pokemon formula in nearly every possible way, and exploring the world via companion quests rather than just doing a big circle on your Gym challenge creates a wonderful sense of adventure. Cassette Beasts tries a lot of new things and most of them are successful. The story is compelling, the characters are engaging, and the battle system is one of the best I’ve ever used. It doesn’t pull everything off, but I’d much rather play a game that takes risks, rather than one that rehashes the same old formula time and time again.
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  1. Eurogamer
    Apr 28, 2023
    Cassette Beasts is classic Pokémon expertly remixed for those who feel they have aged out of the series' target audience. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  2. Polygon
    May 2, 2023
    With some of the same problems that plague its source of inspiration, Cassette Beasts doesn’t so much evolve the formula as it does swap it out for a different type. It’s fun, it looks and sounds great, and it runs beautifully on Steam Deck, for what it’s worth. But its shininess is only surface-level, with the underlying mechanics, chain reactions and all, matching but not surpassing Game Freak’s best adventures. Of course, given the two-person development team here, that’s an achievement unto itself. At the end of the day, Cassette Beasts is a remix of a song you like. Just don’t expect a remaster.
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Apr 26, 2023
    The fact this is all the work of mostly two developers also just blows my mind a tiny bit, too. I don't think it will convert those who have never enjoyed a Pokémon game before, and I can also see its in-depth elemental system being a bit too much like a GSCE chemistry lesson to capture the attention of those Pikachu-loving ten-year-olds. But for those who have felt increasingly like the Pokésphere just doesn't cut it for them anymore, there's definitely a lot to like and admire here. Pokémon will always likely be the dominant force in the monster-catching genre, but Cassette Beasts is a smart, evolutionary offshoot from the Game Freak family tree that I hope has a long and happy life ahead of it.

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best PC Game of 2023
62
#62 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 4 out of 42
  1. LJswitch
    May 26, 2023
    10
    Loving this, very refreshing take on formula. Lots of ways to great combos and customise both character and monsters. Gorgeous art style.
  2. Vapourknight
    May 3, 2023
    10
    Definitely a 10/10 game! It has amazing gameplay, story, graphics and a really brilliant fusion mechanism. We have all always wanted a fusionDefinitely a 10/10 game! It has amazing gameplay, story, graphics and a really brilliant fusion mechanism. We have all always wanted a fusion kind of game that has almost unlimited combinations and here we have it.

    The monster in this games are well designed and having fusion does not make your monster became weird but interesting. They way they handled this game makes me wanted more DLCs or eventually giving us global PVP with some tweaking to their stickers.

    Without a doubt this game deserves everyone’s attention, even without discount, it worth more than what it has listed now. You have to play it to understand why we think so highly of this game.

    Looking forward to collect’em all!    … Full Review »
  3. Evil_MC
    Apr 28, 2023
    9
    I have been waiting for a game like this outside of nintendo land and this is perfect.

    It can only be described as being like pokemon.    I have been waiting for a game like this outside of nintendo land and this is perfect.

    It can only be described as being like pokemon. Catching monsters and battling in a cute child friendly rpg that adults can just as easily enjoy. It’s like pokemon but it’s no clone. It has enough of its own ideas that really makes it stand out. I can’t wait for this to also come to Xbox and I’m hoping cross save will join it. My only criticism is I’m not the biggest fan of pixel graphics and it would be nice to see some lighting and detail like octopath traveler style.    … Full Review »
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