There is something special about a co-op game that understands how much fun can be had when everything goes horribly wrong. Monkey Bizniz looks like the sort of multiplayer experience that might provide a few laughs before everyone moves on to something else, but there is considerably more to it than first impressions suggest. Between its unpredictable physics, ridiculous obstacles, and seemingly endless opportunities to make life miserable for friends, it proves to be a surprisingly entertaining climb that is difficult to put down once the chaos begins.
The objective is straightforward enough. Collect bananas, make your way up a mountain, and try not to fall all the way back down. Easier said than done, of course, as even relatively early obstacles can turn a promising climb into a disaster. Fortunately, failure rarely feels like a complete waste of time. There is always another approach to try, another obstacle to overcome, or another opportunity to discover just how badly things can go wrong. Bananas can also be exchanged for useful items and weapons, adding another layer to the climb. The grapple frog is a particular highlight, and experimenting with the available tools makes it easier to appreciate just how much potential Monkey Bizniz has for ridiculous physics-based antics.
The physics are ultimately what make the experience work so well. Traps, springboards, mushrooms, and other hazards turn even the simplest stretches of the mountain into potential disasters. Getting launched into the air or watching a carefully planned manoeuvre fall apart is funny enough on its own, but the real entertainment comes from sharing these moments with other players. Monkey Bizniz has a knack for creating situations that are difficult to plan for and even harder to forget. The world is packed with obstacles, encounters, and strange sights that keep the journey interesting, including the sort of bizarre environmental details that make you wonder what was going through the developers’ heads. A wooden crane featuring a monkey holding a roughly 20-foot pole between its legs is just one example of the game’s wonderfully questionable sense of humour.
The colourful presentation complements the absurdity nicely. Monkey Bizniz has an appealing art style that gives its world plenty of personality without getting in the way of the action. Character customization is another welcome addition, offering plenty of opportunities to give your monkey a distinctive look. It is a relatively simple feature, but it fits the game’s personality and provides another reason to embrace the silliness. More importantly, the game does not seem particularly concerned with players behaving themselves. Although it is possible to play solo, the experience is considerably more entertaining with friends. Helping one another reach the summit is satisfying, but deliberately ruining someone’s progress after they have spent several minutes getting into position can be just as rewarding. Cooperation is encouraged, though there is nothing stopping a group from turning the entire expedition into an exercise in mutual sabotage.
Unfortunately, Monkey Bizniz has some rough edges that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The controls feel looser than they should, which can make certain climbing sections more frustrating than challenging. Considering that the playable characters are monkeys, having them struggle with some of the basic demands of getting around is particularly noticeable. There are also bugs that can interfere with the experience, although they do not appear to be severe enough to make the game unplayable. Performance is a more pressing concern, especially when streaming, where the frame rate can drop below 30 frames per second. Further optimization would go a long way towards making the experience more consistent. Ultrawide support is a welcome inclusion, but it does little to offset the need for some additional technical polish.
The lack of direction can also make progress difficult to follow. Monkey Bizniz largely leaves players to figure things out for themselves, which suits its unpredictable nature to a point, but more guidance would help make the climb less confusing. Completing a full run can be particularly challenging when everyone has different schedules, and coordinating a group across multiple time zones is not always easy. Even so, there is plenty of entertainment to be found without necessarily seeing the entire journey through to its conclusion. A few hours of falling, recovering, and making questionable decisions with friends can be more than enough to demonstrate what the game does well.
Monkey Bizniz is a welcome surprise for anyone looking for a co-op game that prioritizes unpredictable fun over a carefully structured adventure. Its loose controls, performance issues, and limited guidance are genuine drawbacks, but they do not erase the appeal of its physics-driven chaos or the sheer number of ways a group can make a simple climb go spectacularly wrong. It is best approached with the right expectations, particularly if you are hoping for a polished and straightforward experience. Those willing to embrace the nonsense, however, will find a colourful multiplayer adventure with plenty of laughs to offer. It might not be the smoothest climb, but getting to the top is only part of the fun.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided.
Images taken from Steam.