MonCon (v1.0)

A single day at an isolated fan convention becomes a surreal coming-of-age RPG where small talk feels more dangerous than any dungeon. Joey arrives on Mondoton Island hoping to meet revered game designer Mr. Miyashiro and earn an autograph, but his severe social anxiety turns the packed halls of MonCon into a nightmare. Every attendee becomes a grotesque, exaggerated monster through his eyes, transforming ordinary introductions and awkward conversations into high-stakes confrontations. The result is colorful, strange, and empathetic rather than grim, using geek-culture chaos to frame a personal story about connection.

Players guide Joey around the convention, meeting attendees, pursuing leads, and pushing toward his encounter with Miyashiro. Conversations drive the adventure, but Joey experiences them as psychedelic rhythm-based verbal battles, where reading personalities and keeping pace matters more than swinging a sword. Each encounter represents a different social obstacle, from overwhelming enthusiasm to intimidating confidence, giving the RPG structure a clever emotional purpose. Joey gradually receives support from Karl, an exuberant fellow fan, and Marnie, a determined podcaster whose curiosity pulls the group into the convention’s stranger corners.

MonCon stands out because it treats anxiety as both the central subject and the game’s defining fantasy lens: monsters are not evil invaders, but distorted impressions created by fear. Its convention setting offers plenty of room for affectionate genre references, eccentric personalities, and recognizable moments for anyone who has navigated crowded fan events. The rhythm-battle presentation makes dialogue feel active and expressive, while the focus on Joey’s relationships keeps the experience grounded beneath the absurdity. Players who enjoy character-led indie RPGs such as Undertale or EarthBound-inspired oddities, especially stories with humor and heart, should find MonCon an appealing short-form adventure; veterans of traditional combat-heavy RPGs should expect a more narrative, socially focused trip.