In Making Monsters, players take on the role of mad scientists competing at the Monster Maker Science Fair, where only the most brilliant and bizarre creations will earn prestige and fame.

Each round, players secretly choose how many monster parts to order—hoping to outwit their rivals and gather the right materials. Then, using a push-your-luck bag-building mechanic, players simultaneously draw and assemble monster parts, trying to complete powerful creatures before their lab experiments collapse. Build too cautiously and fall behind, but push too far and your monster might fall apart in spectacular fashion.

Completed monsters grant points and special upgrades when re-animated, and each one adds to a growing tableau of increasingly wild and strategic upgrade and prestige point options. Players can also earn bonuses from their helpful robotic assistant, Lester, and manipulate the science fair for an edge in future rounds.

At the end of the game, the science fair concludes with a Grand Finale: a final simultaneous challenge where each player selects their five favorite monsters from their lab and attempts to build them from their remaining resources. Success earns prestige; failure can cost dearly. It’s a final test of strategy, memory, and risk management as players race to complete their ultimate monster squads before the fair closes.