monkey raft โ The core loop
About
OverviewMonkey Raft is a roguelike raft-building survival game by Fullflower Studio, set on a prehistoric ocean. Each run you collect materials, expand your raft, fight sea creatures, and evolve your monkey at the end of every round. This guide covers the core loop, crafting, classes, combat, and the achievement system so you can survive longer and go further.
What is on this page
Contents
The core loop โ rounds, evolution, and the storm
Step
Each round you need to sail toward the orange circle on the map until you reach the island with the flag. Once your whole team interacts with the DNA helix effigy there, the round ends and everyone votes on an evolution. A purple storm slowly closes in from the edges of the map, dealing 5 damage per second to you and your raft if you get caught in it.
- Head for the orange circle sail toward the flag marker each round and dock at the island it marks.
- Interact with the DNA helix every player on the team must collect it to complete the round.
- Vote on an evolution the game picks two options at random from Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity.
- Watch the storm if it catches you, both you and your raft take 5 damage every second.
- Prepare for the final round after all your selected rounds are done, one extra round follows where far more enemies and obstacles spawn.
- Turn off the storm if you qualify once you hit level 10 you can start games from the Level 10+ lobby section, which lets you disable the storm without affecting your XP gain.
What evolution actually changes
Table
At the end of every round you choose one of three stats to raise. They affect more than just numbers โ each level also unlocks specific crafting recipes you cannot access otherwise.
| Strength | raises your max health and max hunger, and increases melee damage; Strength 2 unlocks the Anvil and Hammer, Strength 3 unlocks the Iron Hammer and Shark Tooth Sword. |
| Dexterity | raises ranged damage, max stamina, and swim speed, and reduces fall damage; Dex 2 unlocks the Harpoon, Dex 3 unlocks ranged weapons at the Chemistry Set. |
| Intelligence | extends tool durability and unlocks the most crafting recipes; Int 2 opens basic raft parts and soups, Int 3 opens the Sail Raft, Chemistry Set, and Scissors, Int 4 opens the Poison Sword and Bulldozer Raft. |
Building and maintaining your raft
TipsRaft parts are square segments you bolt onto your main raft to add floor space and absorb damage. Heavy parts slow you down; light ones help you go faster. Placing the same type of part next to another of its kind triggers Adjacent Synergy, giving bonus speed, health, or damage โ though some synergies trade one for the other. If your main raft is destroyed, the voyage ends immediately.
- Repair damaged parts with a Hammer or Iron Hammer; it costs one rock to fully repair any tool at an Anvil.
- Use Scissors to detach and reposition a part, and a Bucket to put out fires.
- You can drop items onto a loose raft part sitting on the ground to carry more than two items at once, using it like a makeshift backpack.
- Base Rafts are the only uncraftable part you can attach to your raft; stray parts you find on islands can be used even if you cannot craft them yet.
Crafting stations and what each one makes
Summary
There are four crafting stations, and each one handles a different category of items. Some recipes also require a minimum stat level before they appear.
Enemies and how to handle them
Tips
The ocean and islands are full of creatures that will come after you or your raft. Knowing each enemy's attack pattern lets you fight smarter rather than just tanking hits.
- Sharks and Tiger Sharks chase your raft and lunge at it.
- Tiger Sharks have a wider detection range than regular Sharks and become as common as them after round 23.
- The Whirlpool Warden dives and attacks the underside of your raft โ it is the only enemy that can damage itself with its own attack.
- Snakes wind up before lunging and can poison you; Iguanas latch on with their tongue but are briefly stuck if they miss โ both give you a window to strike back.
- Turtles spin-attack when you get close, then sit exhausted for a few seconds.
- Grubs will not attack you at all โ they only eat bananas you drop. Feed one enough and it grows larger and drops a chest when killed.
- Offensive raft parts like the Spike Raft, Lava Raft, and Bulldozer Raft can damage sea creatures automatically, especially when combined.
Classes โ which to pick and when
CheckYou choose a class in the lobby before a run. Most classes unlock through your account level alone, but Demigod, Soldier, and Prometheus require rebirths โ earned by reaching level 99. Each rebirth also makes you level up 10% faster, and multiple rebirths add onto one another.
- Worker (level 35) spawns with a Hammer and repairs structures for 50% more health per swing.
- Fisher (level 45) spawns with a Harpoon.
- Mage (level 50) has a 30% chance to craft a duplicate of any item.
- Archer (level 75) spawns with a Bow and deals 20% extra ranged damage.
- Demigod (1 rebirth) automatically revives once per run when you would otherwise die.
- Soldier (2 rebirths) spawns with a Gun and deals 20% extra ranged damage.
- Chef (level 15) the whole party loses hunger 10% slower; does not stack.
Reviving teammates and the resurrection totem
Step
When a teammate dies, they drop a skull. Someone else on the team needs to pick that skull up and bring it to the resurrection totem, which sits on the island with the orange circle and flag. Interact with the totem while holding the skull and the dead player returns to the game.
- Pick up the skull grab it from where the teammate fell.
- Sail to the flag island the resurrection totem is on the island marked by the orange circle.
- Interact with the totem stand at the totem while carrying the skull and interact with it to bring your teammate back.
Golden Bananas and achievements
TableGolden Bananas are the shop currency used for cosmetics and monkey calls. You earn them by completing achievements across six categories. Press M or click the star icon on the left of your screen to check your progress. Each category runs from stage 1 to stage 10, with the same reward structure across all of them.
| Stage | Reward (Golden Bananas) | Threshold (each category) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | First milestone (e.g. 1 voyage, 10 fish, 10 mobs) |
| 2 | 10 | Second milestone |
| 3 | 20 | Third milestone |
| 4 | 30 | Fourth milestone |
| 5 | 50 | Fifth milestone |
| 6 | 75 | Sixth milestone |
| 7 | 100 | Seventh milestone |
| 8 | 150 | Eighth milestone |
| 9 | 200 | Ninth milestone |
| 10 | 250 | Final milestone |
Glossary
Glossary- Voyage
- A single run in Monkey Raft, made up of multiple rounds; it ends automatically if your main raft part is destroyed.
- Round
- One leg of a voyage, completed when your whole team reaches and interacts with the DNA helix on the flag island.
- Evolution
- The progression system where your team votes to raise Strength, Intelligence, or Dexterity at the end of each round.
- Adjacent Synergy
- A bonus โ like extra speed or damage โ that activates when two raft parts of the same type are placed directly next to each other.
- Rebirth
- A prestige reset earned by reaching level 99; it resets your level to 0 and unlocks high-tier classes while making future levelling 10% faster.
- The Storm
- A purple border that slowly shrinks inward on the map and deals 5 damage per second to anyone caught inside it.
- Golden Bananas
- The shop currency earned through achievements, used to buy cosmetics and monkey calls.
- Whirlpool Warden
- An ocean enemy that dives and strikes the underside of your raft from below; it is the only enemy that can hurt itself with its own attack.
Common questions
FAQWhat happens if my main raft part is destroyed?
The voyage ends immediately and automatically.
How do I plant fruit on my raft?
You need a Planter Raft attached to your raft, which requires Intelligence 3 and a Big Leaf to craft at the Crafting Table. Once it is placed, put a fruit into it and wait โ it will grow and produce fruit three times before stopping.
Can I use raft parts I cannot craft yet?
Yes. If you find a stray raft part on an island, you can pick it up and attach it to your raft even if you do not meet the crafting requirements. Base Rafts are the only type that is uncraftable but still attachable under all circumstances.
How does the fishing minigame work?
When a bite triggers on a Fishing Raft, a minigame starts where you must keep a moving circle inside a white outline by clicking or tapping repeatedly. If the circle exits the outline, or you stop, the fish escapes.
What is the point of feeding a Grub bananas?
Feeding bananas to a Grub makes it larger and increases its health, turning it into a Full Grub. When you kill it, it drops all the bananas back along with a chest.
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