Mascot horror continues to grow as one of gaming’s most unusual modern genres, and Monterey Jack is the latest to step into the spotlight.
Launching right now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC for £12.49 (at least from the Xbox Store), this eerie adventure traps players inside a decaying cheese factory with a towering, wisecracking monster made entirely of cheese.
It’s strange, unsettling, and deliberately theatrical; exactly the kind of experience fans of modern mascot horror have come to expect.
Factory Frights – The Essentials
- Game: Monterey Jack
- Price: £12.49
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre: Mascot Horror / Puzzle Adventure
- Developer / Publisher: DangerousBob Studio
- Modes: Story Mode and Survival Mode
Mascot Horror Gets A New Face
Over the last few years, games like Poppy Playtime and Garten of Banban have helped define what mascot horror looks like – colourful characters mixed with unsettling environments, puzzle-driven exploration, and enemies that feel both cartoonish and deeply threatening.
Monterey Jack fits neatly into that space.
Instead of an abandoned toy factory or strange kindergarten, players explore a ruined cheese factory, searching for clues about what happened there while avoiding the monstrous Monterey Jack himself.
Like the best entries in the genre, the threat isn’t static. The Cheese Man listens, reacts, and becomes more aggressive as you progress, ensuring tension builds steadily as you explore deeper into the factory.
If you’ve been following the rise of mascot horror, you’ll know how quickly this genre has evolved – something we explored when we ranked every Poppy Playtime chapter in our feature piece.
Monterey Jack feels like another step in that same direction; quirky on the surface, unsettling underneath.
Run, Hide, Solve
You play as Gordi, a teenager searching for his missing friend Mikey, last seen entering the abandoned factory. What begins as a rescue mission quickly turns into a fight for survival.
Progression revolves around:
- Exploring the factory’s ruined interior
- Solving environmental puzzles
- Unlocking new areas
- Avoiding Monterey Jack and his minions
- Making choices that influence multiple endings
The adaptive AI driving Monterey Jack adds unpredictability to each encounter. The longer you survive, the more dangerous he becomes, forcing you to rethink how you move through the environment.
For players who enjoy replayability, Survival Mode provides an additional challenge once the main story is complete.
A New Mascot Horror Challenger
Mascot horror thrives on memorable antagonists, and Monterey Jack certainly qualifies. Equal parts unsettling and absurd, the cheese monster delivers a personality-driven threat that stands out from more traditional horror villains.
Whether it can join the ranks of genre icons remains to be seen, but fans of Poppy Playtime, Garten of Banban, and other mascot horror experiences will likely find something to enjoy here.
Monterey Jack is available now on Xbox Series X|S (here’s your Xbox Store link), PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam) for around £12.49.
Just don’t get caught in the factory after dark.
