🚀 First Release: 43 Monkeys is Live!

After a semester of design, iteration, and caffeine-fueled debugging, 43 Monkeys is officially out!

Developed in Godot 4.4 as part of COMP 460: Video Game Design at Rice University, 43 Monkeys is a top-down 2D pixel-art roguelike about genetically enhanced monkeys escaping a high-security research facility. Real-time combat, permadeath, and squad management drive the gameplay as you explore, recruit, and survive.

🧠 Core Features • Squad-based roguelike gameplay: Start solo, rescue other monkeys, and build your team. • Real-time combat: Navigate combat scenarios with mutants, guards, and traps. • Unique monkey variants: Each monkey brings new abilities and tactical options.

🎮 What’s In This Release?

This first release includes: • A complete 3-level gameplay loop • Core monkey rescue and control mechanics • Basic enemy types and puzzles • Polished art, music, and sound

🛠️ What’s Next?

This is just the foundation. Here’s a glimpse of what we’re planning: • Monkey biographies + lore items • More active abilities and item pickups • Combat upgrades and trade-off mechanics • Expanded level interactions (doors, notes, terminals)

Play it now on itch.io and tell us what you think!

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Built by: Zach Kepe, Grant Thompson, Kevin Lei, and Micah Kepe

Music by: Bospad

Follow the development on GitHub

Read the devlog: The Making of 43 Monkeys