How to survive Monstrum?

Rotterdam, The Netherlands - October 15, 2020

Monstrum is only a week away from releasing on console with a physical edition. On October 23, you can pick up a physical copy of the survival horror game on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. But are you ready to survive Monstrum?  

In the game, you’ll find yourself trapped on a massive, derelict cargo ship. Without a clue about how you got there, you’ll soon discover you’re not alone. Hunted by a horrific predator, you must scavenge the ship for clues and tools to find a way out. However, you’re left completely defenseless against this prowling beast and you only have one chance! Permadeath and no save points means that once you get killed, you’ll have to start all over again. If you're interested to learn more about the frightning story of Monstrum and the horrorrific tales of our other horror games, you should check it out here. 

In Monstrum, the procedurally generated ship not only ensures you stay lost in the labyrinth of rooms and pathways, but it also changes the items with each new game and randomizes the monster hunting you. With three terrifying monsters, each having their own distinct characteristics and behaviors, only the hardiest player will be able to escape. There is the Brute, an enormous savage beast that can be heard from a distance, the Fiend, a ghastly, hovering creature that makes zero sound, and the Hunter, an alien-like monster that creeps around in air vents and sneaks up on you when you least expect it.  

So, what does it take to stay alive in Monstrum? One thing we can guarantee is that it isn’t going to be easy, but if you’re determined to get off that ship, then we’ve got you covered! Here are our top 10 tips on how to survive Monstrum:

1.    Know which monster you're up against

One of your best bets to stay alive, is to know which monster is chasing you. This will help you determine which tactics you can use best to outsmart your predator. One way to know which monster is after you, is when you see hunter traps. These are pustule-like egg sacs that are left by the Hunter. Make sure to not go near them though, as the Hunter could burst out of them. The Hunter’s footsteps sound like wet slaps on the floor and it makes several screeching sounds. It will also appear almost immediately when it hears an alarm or radio go off, which is another way to deduce which monster you’re up against. The Brute has very heavy footsteps, a loud roaring voice and a bright orange light that emits off of its face, making it especially noticeable in darker areas. The Fiend on the other hand is the only creature whose footsteps you can't detect by sound, which means you need to rely on sight more than sound in order to detect it. To spot it in time, you need to pay attention to the flickering lights, as it causes all electricity lights to short out within a fairly wide distance.

"Almost every room on the ship has some form of hiding spot and monsters will not be able to find you if you choose your hiding spot well"

2.    Hide, hide and hide! 

When you’re getting chased by a monster, one of the best ways to stay alive, is to hide. Almost every room on the ship has some form of hiding spot and monsters will not be able to find you if you choose your hiding spot well. They cannot see you through gaps between stairs or metal bars and they also won’t be able to spot you if you’re hiding under a table or desk. These hiding spots are a good way for you to keep an eye out on the monster too. It can also be a good idea to already open the door of a hiding spot in every room, such as a cabinet or locker. It will come to your advantage when you’re getting chased and need a hiding place fast. However, you should never attempt to hide somewhere as long as the monster can see you! This will lead to your downfall, since they will go to your hiding place and kill you.

3.    Run Forrest, run!

Another way to avoid getting caught when you’re being chased by a monster, is to run as fast as you can. This may seem obvious, but it is good to point out that none of the monsters are able to outrun you when you’re at full sprint. The Brute can get pretty close, but if you run at full speed, you’ll still be able to stay ahead of it. So, whenever a monster has you in its sights, the best thing you can do is make a run for it!

                       "Whenever a monster has you in its sights, the best thing you can do is make a run for it!"

4.    A fire extinguisher is your best friend 

If a monster is very close to catching you, or if it has spotted you going into a hiding spot, your best chance of survival is to quickly startle the monster before it can reach you. The fire extinguisher is a perfect tool to do this. It is the only item that can temporarily stop all monsters. Spraying any of the three monsters with a fire extinguisher will halt them from moving for a few seconds, which can possibly save your life when you’re in a tough spot to get out. During a normal chase, it won’t be that useful, but if you’re stuck in a room, hiding spot or a dead end, it could really save your life! You can use a fire extinguisher four times before it becomes useless.

5.    Radios can be used to divert the attention of the monster  

There are plenty of radios across the ship and if you turn one on, it will start playing music, which will attract the monster to its location. This makes a radio a great item for distraction. You can activate one and run away, or drop it from a higher floor, such as the upper deck, to mislead the monster. A radio will only stop playing music when it’s turned off or destroyed, which will ensure you that the monster will go towards the radio once you turn it on. All three monsters will search for the active radio, although it’s good to keep in mind that especially the Hunter will be fast, since it can appear almost immediately from a nearby vent. In any case, it’s important to know that you shouldn’t activate a radio when the monster is nearby, as it will start playing music immediately. This might reveal your location and makes it hard for you to find a safe way out. 

6.    Use an egg timer to distract the monster  

Egg timers are another tool to divert the attention of the monster. They are easy to find throughout the ship, more notably on the upper decks, and they’re able to attract all three monsters to its location when you activate it. Though contrary to radios, egg timers have a 30 second countdown from the moment you turn it on. Afterwards, it will ring loudly three times. Once it stops producing sound, the monster will lose its interest to go after it. This makes it a less reliable tool to mislead monsters. However, they are safer to use when the monster is nearby, as they won’t immediately produce sound. If you find yourself cornered in a room and the monster won’t leave the area, you could distract him by placing an egg timer in a nearby hiding place. Then go into another hiding place and wait for the monster to inspect the egg timer, which will give you a chance to run pass the distracted monster.  

7.    Duct tape can help save your life

Good old duct tape can be used in multiple ways. It not only helps you to repair the holes of the life raft in your mission to get off the ship, but it can also help you to stay undetectable. You can disable security cameras with it, which will prevent them from setting off an alarm that’ll reveal your location to the monster. This is especially useful when you’re getting chased by the Hunter. And the good thing is, duct tape is very easy to find around the decks of the ship. Many of the deck rooms have duct tape laying around and it’s often in drawers or on benches. However, once you use it on the life raft, you won’t be able to find duct tape anymore. This isn’t the case when you use it on cameras, so if you plan to disable cameras, it’s better to do that before fixing the life raft.

8.    Flashlights will help you detect a nearby monster 

A flashlight is the only item in Monstrum that can reveal if a monster is nearby. This is especially the case when the Fiend is hunting you, since it will cause the flashlight to dim significantly when it’s getting close. So, if you suspect that the Fiend is the monster that’s after you, it’s specifically useful to search for a flashlight. This is also the case with the Hunter, because its almost transparent and slender appearance makes it hard for you to see this beast, especially in darker places. It’s also good to know that the monsters won’t react to the flashlight, even when you’re hiding somewhere. However, you need to use your flashlight wisely, as it is an uncommon item with a short life span. The light will begin to flicker after about four minutes of active use and then it will gradually die off. Once your flashlight stops working, you won’t be able to replace the battery. So only use the flashlight when you think the monster might be around.

                             "A flashlight is the only item in Monstrum that can reveal if a monster is nearby"

9.    Use the randomly located pit-holes to your advantage

These hazards can sometimes be found on the upper decks of the ship and are damaged sections of the floor that are unsafe to walk or run across. When you do, you’ll trip and fall to the ground, so you need to pay attention and jump over a pit-hole while sprinting. Luckily for you, the Brute and the Hunter may also trip over these pit-holes, which makes it a possible way for you to shake off your predator. Just know when to jump over them during a chase! However, keep in mind that the Fiend is not affected by these pit-holes. 

10.  Create fire to ward off the Fiend and the Hunter 

Fire can be used as an effective means to prevent the Fiend and the Hunter from catching you. Both monsters are vulnerable to fire. Especially the Hunter, who will stop chasing you completely and retreat to the nearest exit. However, the Fiend will only stop chasing you when there’s a big fire and just wait for it to go out before resuming its chase. In order to make fire, you need a lighter and a fuel canister.  Spilling enough fuel in a line or large area will effectively create a fire on that exact spot, which is a great way to block a certain path or set up a trap. Once you’ve spilled the fuel, you light up the lighter and drop it onto the fuel. The fire itself will burn for several seconds before dying off. Though keep in mind that you’re not safe to fire either. If you stand in it, you’ll die quickly, so be careful when creating fire.  

   "On October 23, you can pick up the physical edition of Monstrum on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One"

These were our top 10 tips on how to survive Monstrum! We hope they will help you get off the ship alive, although in Monstrum you can never be sure...  
 
Monstrum released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in May of this year with a digital edition. As of next week, October 23, you can pick up the physical edition as well! Still curious to learn more about Monstrum? Then have a look at the ‘What is Monstrum’ video below!