Play Monster Tale Online

Monster Tale is one of those DS games that makes you wish more developers took advantage of the dual screens. You play as Ellie, a girl who stumbles into a monster world and teams up with a little creature named Chomp. The setup sounds cute, but don’t be fooled—those bratty kid rulers are vicious, and you’ll need every trick in your arsenal to survive.

The top screen is your classic platformer—Ellie whips enemies with her purse (yes, really) and shoots plasma from her bracelet. Meanwhile, the bottom screen is Chomp’s little sanctuary where he munches on enemy drops to level up. The cool part? He evolves into different forms, each with unique abilities. One might let him smash barriers, while another boosts his speed. You’re constantly swapping him between screens, either to help in fights or solve puzzles, and it never feels gimmicky.

What really stuck with me was how well the two screens work together. Some bosses attack Chomp’s sanctuary, forcing you to multitask—dodging attacks above while tapping furiously below to guide him. It’s chaotic in the best way. And the pixel art? Gorgeous, with these expressive monster designs that make you want to see every evolution.

If you missed this back in the DS days, it’s worth tracking down—it’s like someone mashed up Metroid, a monster-raising sim, and a whip-smart platformer.