Breed rare creatures, run a shop in a rain?soaked alley, navigate the demands of organised crime — and turn a profit. Japan?based independent developer and publisher sasoriken?games has officially opened the Steam store page for Monsters & Banknotes, a compelling new single?player “underworld × monster trading” simulation heading your way in Q1 2027.
Known in Japan as Mamono to Shihei, this isn’t just about collecting monsters — it’s about building a life, and a livelihood, on the edge of society, where every bloodline matters and every sale carries weight.
FROM DEBT TO DOMINION — THE SHOPKEEPER’S JOURNEY
You start with nothing but borrowed money and a tiny storefront tucked away in a perpetually raining, shadow?streaked backstreet. Your goal? Grow a modest monster?breeding operation into a thriving business — without getting swallowed by the criminal elements that run the city.
This is no simple collection game. You’ll need to:
- Source and purchase creatures from 141 distinct species, each with its own traits, temperaments, and market value
- Study bloodlines, individual stats, and rarity as you carefully pair monsters for breeding
- Uncover 69 possible mutations and hunt down hidden special pairings — whispered about in rumours, waiting to be discovered
- Tend to customers, negotiate prices, manage displays, and eventually hire staff and expand your premises
MORE THAN A TRANSACTION — WHEN MONSTERS HAVE LIVES
One of the game’s most distinctive touches: when you sell a monster, it doesn’t simply vanish from your world. That creature goes on to live with its new owner — and may return to you later, appearing in arena tournaments, city events, or grand auctions.
This creates a genuine emotional pull. Do you sell a beloved champion for a massive payout now — or keep them to breed an even more valuable lineage? The choice is yours, and the consequences stay with you.
Raise a monster’s value through 1?versus?1 arena duels, where victory boosts prestige and price. Or prepare your finest specimens for the annual grand auction — the biggest stage in the city, where fortunes are made and reputations cemented.
PROFITS AND PERIL — THE PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS
Life in the backstreets isn’t all peaceful breeding and friendly haggling. Organised crime casts a long shadow over the district — and your shop won’t escape notice. You’ll face demands, shakedowns, and difficult choices: pay up, push back, or find a way to play the factions against each other as you climb.
The game blends pixel?art characters against a rich, dimensional rainy cityscape — giving the world a moody, atmospheric charm that feels intimate yet immersive. Text support spans six languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Russian, ensuring players worldwide can run their own backstreet empire.
WISHLIST NOW — YOUR SHOP AWAITS IN Q1 2027
Monsters & Banknotes is slated for release on Windows PC via Steam in Q1 2027 — and you can already add it to your wishlist today to stay updated on pricing, pre?purchase details, and the exact launch date.
Whether you’re chasing rare mutations, mastering the market, or simply falling in love with creatures that return to visit you — this is one underworld story worth stepping into.
The rain is falling. The shop is yours. Breed wisely, trade shrewdly — and don’t let the city eat you alive.
Find out more here: Monsters And Banknotes
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