Monto: TB or not TB is a free-to-play idle RPG for PC that runs as a taskbar companion. Players select a stage and leave their Monto to battle enemies, defeat the boss, gather loot, and repeat the process automatically while the game stays open. Progress halts if the game closes or the PC shuts down, with no offline rewards available. The experience centers on steady advancement during active sessions alongside normal desktop use.
Gameplay
The core loop involves choosing a stage where the selected Monto engages in continuous combat against stage-specific enemies and the boss. Loot drops accumulate during these runs, and the cycle restarts automatically. Players check in briefly to review drops, swap gear, tweak skills, apply food buffs, or switch stages. Each Monto grows through levels, skill trees, elemental affinities, equipped items, and evolution paths unlocked with skill points and materials.
Gear appears in multiple tiers and carries affixes that influence performance in boss fights, survival, farming speed, or targeted matchups. Players compare pieces, equip fitting items, and salvage the rest. Runes and scrolls allow affix addition, removal, rerolls, or locks on strong drops. Monto Eggs and Soul Pieces support hatching new companions and advancing evolutions, turning each creature into a long-term project shaped by its unique path.
Game Modes
PvE focuses on stage progression through increasingly difficult content, including Infernal tiers. Individual stages feature distinct Monto families, enemy types, bosses, and dedicated drop pools. Players farm targeted stages for eggs, soul pieces, materials, and gear before advancing to harder content and competing on PvE leaderboards.
PvP operates asynchronously through server-simulated battles. Participants prepare a defense build, issue challenges to others, and observe outcomes determined by gear, stats, skills, evolution forms, and elemental advantages. Results feed into seasonal rankings that track overall climb.
Progression and Customization
Advancement ties directly to active playtime. Hatching new Montos expands options, while evolution forms require collected materials and allocated skill points. Gear systems encourage experimentation across builds optimized for different goals, from resource gathering to specific PvP counters. Stage selection remains persistent until changed, allowing uninterrupted farming in the background.
Elemental matchups and family-specific traits add layers to both PvE farming and PvP planning. Players adjust strategies by targeting stages with desired rewards and refining loadouts through repeated runs and affix modifications.
Economy and Trading
Selected valuable drops, such as Monto Eggs, high-roll gear, and Unique Evolution Items, enter the player-driven economy at launch. Participants can trade these through the Steam Community Market, keep strong finds for personal use, or hatch eggs into bound companions. The system keeps powerful progression elements circulating among players rather than through direct developer sales.
Is It Worth Playing?
This title suits players seeking an idle RPG that integrates into daily desktop routines without demanding full attention. The taskbar format keeps the game accessible for quick checks between tasks while maintaining active progression. Those who enjoy build experimentation, asynchronous competition, and targeted farming will find depth in the gear systems, evolutions, and dual PvE-PvP structure.
Seasonal PvP rankings and stage-specific loot pools provide ongoing goals for dedicated participants. The absence of offline progress emphasizes consistent open sessions, which aligns with the companion design. Players comfortable with free-to-play mechanics centered on active play and market trading will appreciate the focused loop and customization options.
