Do not feed the monkeys is a surveillance-based indie game developed by Fictiorama Studios. It stands out immediately because of its concept. Instead of action or combat, the game puts you in front of a computer screen and asks you to watch people’s lives unfold through hidden cameras.
It sounds simple, but the game quickly becomes something much deeper. It mixes observation, deduction, and moral decision-making in a way that feels uncomfortable at times, but also extremely engaging.
Story and Narrative
The do not feed the monkeys story is not told in a traditional, linear way. You play as a new member of the Primate Observation Club, an organisation that watches people referred to as “monkeys” through illegal surveillance feeds.
There’s no single plot-line. Instead, the game is made up of multiple small stories, each tied to a specific camera feed. Every cage you unlock introduces a new situation, and you have to figure out what is happening using limited information. You pick up clues from conversations, background details, objects in the environment, and keywords that you can research on your in game computer.
What makes the storytelling strong is how indirect it is. The game never explains everything clearly. You have to connect the dots yourself. Some stories are funny or strange, but others are dark and serious, dealing with crime, loneliness, or desperation.
The central rule, do not feed the monkeys, means you are supposed to watch without interfering. However, the game constantly gives you the option to break that rule. You can contact the people you are watching, influence their decisions, or even exploit them. This is where the narrative becomes personal, because your choices directly affect how these stories end.
Gameplay
The gameplay revolves around managing your time, money, and attention while observing different camera feeds.
At the centre of everything is your computer. You switch between live camera feeds, a notepad where you record clues, a database where you search keywords, messages and emails, and basic life management like bills and food.
Each camera feed is essentially a puzzle. You watch carefully, note down important words or names, and then search them to uncover more information. Over time, you build a clearer picture of what is happening in each scenario.
At the same time, you have to manage your own survival. You need to pay rent, buy food, and sleep enough to stay functional.
This creates pressure. You cannot watch everything all the time, so you are constantly deciding where to focus your attention.
The most important mechanic is choice. You can follow the rules and only observe, intervene and try to help, or manipulate situations for profit.
Each option leads to different consequences. Sometimes helping someone works out. Other times it makes things worse. The game never guarantees a correct decision, which keeps it unpredictable.
Style and Presentation
Visually, the game uses pixel art, but it is not just for nostalgia. The limited detail actually adds to the experience. Since you cannot see everything clearly, you are forced to pay closer attention and interpret what is happening.
The interface is designed to feel like an old, slightly run-down computer. This fits the tone of the game perfectly. It feels grounded and believable, which makes the surveillance aspect more convincing.
Sound design is minimal but effective. Background noise, short pieces of music, and occasional dialogue snippets create atmosphere without distracting from the gameplay. Silence is used well, especially during tense moments when you are waiting for something to happen in a camera feed.
Themes and Ideas
This is where the game really stands out.
The main theme is surveillance and privacy. It puts you in a position of power and forces you to question how you use it. Watching people without their knowledge already feels wrong, and the game leans into that discomfort.
Another key theme is control. You are given the ability to influence people’s lives, often without them understanding what is happening. The game shows how small actions can have large consequences.
There is also a strong focus on morality. The game does not clearly label actions as good or bad. Helping someone might lead to negative outcomes. Ignoring a situation might be the safer choice. This ambiguity makes every decision feel more meaningful.
Strengths
The biggest strength of the game is its concept. Very few games make observation the main mechanic and manage to keep it interesting. The combination of investigation and decision-making keeps you engaged.
The storytelling is also a major highlight. Each scenario feels distinct, and the fact that you uncover everything yourself makes it more satisfying.
Another strong point is the sense of tension. Even though there is no combat, the pressure of managing time, money, and choices creates a constant low-level stress that works in the game’s favour.
Weaknesses
The pacing can feel slow, especially at the start. Some players might find the waiting aspect frustrating, since progress often depends on observing events that happen in real time.
There is also a level of repetition in the gameplay loop. You are often doing the same actions, watching, writing, and searching, over and over. Whether this is a problem depends on how much you enjoy the core idea.
Finally, the lack of clear direction can be a downside. While it is intentional, some players might prefer more guidance instead of having to figure everything out themselves.
Final Verdict
Do Not Feed the Monkeys isn’t a game for everyone, but it does something genuinely different. It takes a simple idea, watching people, and turns it into a complex mix of puzzle solving, storytelling, and moral decision making.
If you’re looking for fast action, this is not the right game. But if you enjoy slow, thoughtful experiences where you piece things together and make meaningful choices, it’s highly rewarding.
Overall, it’s a clever and unsettling game that stays with you because of the situations it puts you in and the decisions it forces you to make.
Also see this take. Credit to the YouTube creator, Call Me Kevin.
Rating: 8/10
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