Line #123 Main/MonsterCompendium


1	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BehemothBestiary_9684.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A typical Monster Compendium entry.]]
3
4	Also called a "monster encyclopedia" or "bestiary", this is a feature of various {{RPG}}s that allows you to review the types of enemies, monsters, and beasts (if not more) that you've encountered, battled, and slain throughout your quest. Related to the EnemyScan, except that while the Scan is a tool you use during actual combat, the Monster Compendium is a reference guide for you to peruse later at your discretion.
5
6	The amount of actual information shown on a given Monster Compendium page varies from game to game; it can range from mere FlavorText to a full blueprint of the enemy's statistics (including [[ElementalRockPaperScissors elemental affinities]], {{money\|Spider}} and {{item drop\|Mechanic}}s), possibly even tips for battling them more easily. Occasionally, you may gain the ability to [[SummonMagic summon the]] [[{{Mon}} said enemies]] or [[PowerCopying utilize their powers]] by filling in a Monster Compendium page.
7
8	As a rule of thumb, Monster Compendiums always start as an empty book, with information on each monster appearing only after you've encountered a monster "in the wild" (this avoids {{spoil\|er}}ing the player about future monsters or, especially, {{Boss Battle}}s to come). Sometimes you must actually ''slay'' the beast before it will appear on the Compendium's pages, or you need to register it by using the EnemyScan; on the other hand, sometimes merely spotting the beast on the field is enough to unlock its corresponding Compendium entry. In some games, the Monster Compendium will unlock only a partial entry at first, and you'll need to repeat the unlock (possibly multiple times) to reveal the full entry. There may also be different unlock requirements for different pieces of information. For example, loot that RandomlyDrops may be listed only after successfully receiving it.
9
10	Achieving OneHundredPercentCompletion on a Monster Compendium (i.e. registering every enemy type in the entire game) is tough work -- some monsters, like the MetalSlime, are naturally elusive and thus difficult to register an entry for (especially when you have to successfully defeat them); [[UndergroundMonkey different variations]] of the same monster archetype might have different Compendium entries; and some monsters only appear in [[UniqueEnemy specific places]] (or times) requiring the player to really search to find them. Most annoyingly some Compendium entries are {{permanently missable\|Content}} if they aren't scanned or slain (or otherwise registered) at the first opportunity you get to do so. Fortunately, completing the Compendium is always optional, although some games may actually reward the player (in [[CosmeticAward some manner]]) for full completion.
11
12	Often part of a much broader LoreCodex. In horror-flavored works, the Compendium may be something of a TomeOfEldritchLore, because the creatures it describes tend to be pretty darned eldritch. The Monster Compendium is a commonly added feature of a VideoGameRemake if the original version didn't have one to begin with; it's also one element that generally carries over to a NewGamePlus. See also AllThereInTheManual.
13
14	A subtrope of MonTech.
15	----
16	!!Examples:
17	[[foldercontrol]]
18	[[folder:Anime]]
19	%%* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': The Analyzer exist for this purpose.
20	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': The Pokédex appears frequently, and, at times, is of use to the protagonists beyond merely identifying species of Pokémon. In three instances, it serves to ruin [[AssInALionSkin Meowth's disguise]], as it identifies him as a Meowth (rather than the Sunflora, Nuzleaf, and Kirlia, respectively, that he's dressed up as). It has more functions in the game as it is used as an I.D for the owner and it can identify moves that an individual Pokémon can use in battle. In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon'', the Pokédex is a full-fledged character in itself as it incorporates a [[HauntedTechnology Rotom]] into it, becoming the Rotom Pokédex.
21	[[/folder]]
22
23	[[folder:Fan Works]]
24	* ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone'': George [[VoluntaryShapeshifting becomes a number of exotic creatures]] that he hadn't done in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' but won't explain where he learned about them. The others wonder about this but respect his privacy and don't press. Later, [[spoiler:near the end of the book, after they've learned that they're actually in a giant {{MMORPG}}, George immediately cries out, “That's what I've been trying to tell you!” Not that he knew all along that they were in a game, but that he'd learned about his new monsters by poring over gaming books and magazines that he'd had his assistants dig up for him. Durothé apologetically explains that she cast a spell on him (all four, actually, which is why they didn't press him) to make him not think about games and gaming, because it would have been disastrous if the four figured out what was going on before she could get to them.]]
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
28	* ''Literature/SpaceAssassin'': You can get your hands on an item called the "Digital Encyclopedia", which can identify the various kind of mutants and abominations on board the ship of the MadScientist main villain you're opposing. The book tends to be rather creative when it comes to describing monsters, for instance referring to a Toroid as a "giant doughnut with teeth".
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Literature]]
32	* ''The Bestiary'' is a 2016 book involving editor Ann [=VanderMeer=] (Creator/JeffVandermeer's wife) and Creator/ChinaMieville providing artwork and a story. ''The Bestiary'' is a book containing 28 fictional beasts with accompanying short stories from writers from the NewWeird and other fantastical speculative fiction genres including Creator/CatherynneMValente.
33	* ''Dracopedia'' and its follow-up ''Dracopedia: The Great Dragons'' by William Connor, are field guides to the habitat and biology of the many dragon species.
34	* ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', a guide to the magical beasts which exist in the world of ''Franchise/HarryPotter''.
35	* ''Literature/ImpossibleCreatures2023'' begins with the Guardian's Bestiary, which lists most of the magical creatures who live in the Archipelago. InUniverse, Frank Aureate wrote it, and he gives it to Christopher when it's time to tell him their family are guardians of the Waybetween.
36	* ''Literature/InCryptid'' has a field guide in the back of each book briefly describing the cryptids encountered so far in the novels. The author's website has a [[https://seananmcguire.com/fieldguide.php much more comprehensive version]], complete with illustrations.
37	* ''Invisible Beasts'' by Sharona Muir is a small press book involving the documentation of many normally invisible beasts as seen by an amateur naturalist who's family has an intergenerational gift for seeing the invisible. Note that humans are a type of beast and one example are the Keen-Ears who are short, hairy humans that can hear the blood pulsing through the veins of a distant animal.
38	* ''Literature/TheSpiderwickChronicles'': The Field Guide, an extensive and detailed compendium of magical creatures penned by Arthur Spiderwick. It has considerable value in-universe, as it's the most comprehensive study of these beings in existence -- humanity as a whole doesn't know of the magical world, and most intelligent magical beings lack humanity's drive to obsessively pick things apart to learn from them -- and as such a lot of people would like to get their hands on it.
39	* ''The Spook's Bestiary'' is a supplemental bestiary of the supernatural creatures featured in Literature/TheWardstoneChronicles and includes the means of hunting and defeating them as this book is a guide for those in [[WhoYouGonnaCall the Spook]] occupation.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
43	%%* ''Series/{{Airwolf}}'' has a database on board that does this thing.
44	* ''Series/TeenWolf'': Allison's family, who have been hunters of supernatural creatures for centuries, keep record of everything they've ever hunted. [[BadassBookworm Stiles]] knows that it's called a bestiary and thinks that it's probably an old book. Allison remembers that she's seen her grandfather with a book like that, and she, Stiles and Scott decide that they need to read it. Later, it turns out that the real bestiary is on a flash drive, and the book that they went to such great lengths to get hold of is actually [[OhWaitThisIsMyGroceryList a cookbook]].
45	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': In the earlier seasons, John Winchester's journal serves as the main reference for the creatures Sam and Dean hunted, but they then started consulting Bobby's library and ended up finding the Men of Letters library. Eventually, Charlie wrote an iPad app for this.
46	* ''Series/Charmed1998'': The [[GreatBigBookOfEverything Book of Shadows]] serves as this, containing entries on the various types of hostile monsters and demons that the sisters encountered (or, at least, everything that their ancestors had encountered before them; sometimes, they would face a threat that would not have been documented previously). It also contained spells and potion recipes, and the sisters themselves would add to it as they mastered their craft.
47	* ''Franchise/UltraSeries'': Many attack teams keep profiles of kaiju that either they or previous teams faced so as to have the means to take them down easier in case of a return.
48	** ''Series/UltramanMebius'': GUYS has access to files from all the previous attack teams in the M78 universe, allowing them to prepare themselves for the many returning kaiju and aliens in the show. The only creatures missing in their databases are some such as [[Series/UltramanLeo Nova]], which first appeared on Earth after its show's attack team, MAC, was wiped out leaving no one able to make a file based on it.
49	** ''Series/UltraGalaxyMegaMonsterBattle'': ZAP Spacy carries on GUYS' files, but they also got information on Kaiju that had never shown up prior. Sometimes these archives will pop up at the end of an episode detailing a monsters' power and abilities which also started a tradition for later shows to follow.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
53	* Almost any pen-and-paper RPG ever conceived has additional material in the form of "Monster Manuals". However, they mostly aren't available in-character; they are reference material primarily for the Game Master's world-building. Much more common in fantasy, space fantasy, or sci-fi [=RPG=]s than in modern horror or historical, where the antagonists are usually the same things as the [=NPCs=]. The TropeNamer is the old ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' Monstrous Compendiums, which in the game's earlier editions were batches of monsters specific to different themed settings that were sold in a packet. Making lore checks allows players to make an EnemyScan of sorts.
54	* ''TabletopGame/TheBookOfUnremittingHorror'' was originally D20 supplement but was then reworked to be used for ''TabletopGame/FearItself'' and ''TabletopGame/TheEsoterrorists''. As such this monster compendium is treated as files and case studies of the various creatures from the Outer Dark and how the [[AncientOrderOfProtectors Ordo Veritas]] has dealt with them using modern detective work and occasionally military-grade firepower.
55	* One of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''s sets based on ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=563125 one of these]]. Since Monster Manuals are game sourcebooks that don't actually exist in-universe, this qualifies as LeaningOnTheFourthWall. [[labelnote:Also...]][[FridgeLogic Why are a Beholder and the Tarrasque on adjacent pages? Haven't they heard of alphabetical order?]][[/labelnote]]
56	* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' and other horror games inspired by the work of Creator/HPLovecraft, though, there are often in-setting compendia -- TomesOfEldritchLore that the heroes must consult, at terrible risk to their sanity, in order to understand what they are fighting.
57	* An [[https://www.philmasters.org.uk/RPGs/Discworld-Dungeonworld.pdf article]] by Creator/PhilMasters on dungeon-delving in the ''TabletopGame/DiscworldRolePlayingGame'' introduces the Order of Subterranean Taxonomy, a group of monks who really do make ''Monster Manual'' type books in-universe, and who join delving expeditions to research the monsters.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Video Games]]
61	* ''VideoGame/TheAllianceAlive'' has one that can only be accessed from a Library Guild Tower. It contains information such as HP, dropped items, a description, the enemy's 3D model, and a list of its attacks, which you can see being performed. Some enemies such as Beastfolk soldiers aren't listed.
62	* ''VideoGame/AncientDomainsOfMystery'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack'' have their own varieties. ''ADOM'' comes complete with some [[EasterEgg easter eggs]] thrown in -- try entering the Creator's name, the names of several playtesters, or the name of your own character.
63	* ''VideoGame/{{Angband}}'': Built up over multiple plays. Your characters are assumed to pass down a log of their experiences. The first time one of your characters runs into a monster, you get minimal information. As you encounter more of them, do damage, and take damage, the log automatically fills with lower and upper bounds of damage, AC, and hit points. In most variants it will also record damage resistances and immunities, attack types, known spells and spell-like abilities, apparent intelligence, and so forth as these things become visible to the character.
64	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': Alongside the LoreCodex, there's a database listing all enemies that were [[EverythingSensor scanned]], providing an exposition on them, details about each of their abilities, and their total health/[[BodyArmorAsHitPoints armor]] points.
65	%%* The ''VideoGame/AtelierSeries'':
66	* ''VideoGame/AtlanticaOnline'' has an interesting variation in that each enemy of a type you kill has a chance to give you its Monster Info, split into three parts: General, Location, and Items. Getting the complete Info also increases the number of items dropped. The Info can be shared between players and is sometimes required for a certain quest, probably the most concrete use of this trope in gaming history. The game additional also offers tons of information about [=NPCs=], items and other points of interest without the need to unlock it (though information about which monster drops items is obviously tied to the Monster Info).
67	* ''VideoGame/TheBattleCats'' has the Enemy Guide, a list of all monsters you've defeated, each one having a ridiculous bit of text describing them. Since it was added early on in the game's life and hasn't been updated the way that the Cat Guide was, it's just a long list with one enemy after the other, but thankfully the scroll bar at the top can be used to quickly get to the section a given monster is located in.
68	* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' has the Hierarchy of Laguna, which provides you with a summary of what the enemy in question's role is and where they rank amongst the other angels (First Sphere, Second Sphere, etc).
69	* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'' has one featured in ''Afterbirth+'', which chronicles the amount of times you've encountered, killed, were hurt by, and were killed by individual enemies and bosses, though it's a bit buggy, particularly when it comes to multi-segmented bosses like Larry Jr. and adding an "encounter" to [[spoiler:Delirium's]] encounters [[spoiler:every time it transforms]]. Completing it unlocks the "Feels Like I'm Walking On Sunshine!" pill.
70	* ''VideoGame/{{Bionicle}}: Maze of Shadows'' has one of these that fills up with entries after you defeat the monsters.
71	* ''VideoGame/BookwormAdventures'': The Tome of Knowledge, which allows you to replay the enemies' attack, hit and defeat animations, as well as read their flavor text. In ''Volume 2'', it also lists the {{Easter egg}}s you've found, as well as mention which work (if any) each enemy is inspired by.
72	* ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'': There's a compendium as part of the larger D's Journal, which also has character profiles and tells [[PowerCopying what abilities you can learn from them]]. As the game is a GenreThrowback to the earliest ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' tiles (which as mentioned above have this feature in their remakes, this makes sense.
73	* ''VideoGame/BubbleTanks 2'' has this. One of the enemies (Sapper Fighter) was unobtainable, however, as a bug in the game made it such that it never appeared at all.
74	* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'': These provide details on the enemies and bosses found along the way:
75	** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' puts it in the shop/library, but each enemy and boss will only count as registered when, after meeting it for the first time, you return to that location (this includes the last two bosses, so you'll need to use a [[EscapeRope Library Card]] in the midst of the battle against Dracula in order to include him and Shaft as well).
76	** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDissonance'': The Monster Tome has to be found to unlock the Secret Info: Encyclopedia, monsters are filled in as they're defeated.
77	** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow'': Monsters are filled in as they're defeated.
78	* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': While not present in the original version, the remake includes a bestiary to describe the monsters fought over the course of the adventure.
79	%%* ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'': The "Monster Notes" in ''Dark Chronicle''. Alternatively, Sheriff Blinkhorn can fill this role.
80	* ''VideoGame/DeadAheadZombieWarfare'': The Zombiepedia records any enemies the player have encountered, listing their stats alongside a short description. (Some of which are misleading or outdated.)
81	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': The [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 first game]] contains elaborate monster descriptions (called "Enemy Files") which grow more detailed as you fight them, recording every attack they use against you. The sequels also have Enemy Files, but they only have short descriptions, paragraphs or FlavorText, and by nature, are static text without the gimmick of recording every attack information.
82	* By completing secret in-game tasks in ''VideoGame/DiceyDungeons'', you unlock profiles for the various enemies, listing their hobbies and motivation for participating in Lady Luck's game.
83	* ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity'' has a log for all the monsters you killed the game. [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential It will also include harmless animals and innocent people that you've slaughtered.]]
84	* ''Franchise/DragonAge'' and ''Franchise/MassEffect'' both have a giant encyclopedia called a Codex that tells you tons about the setting. For the latter, it's written from the perspective that it's an in-universe encyclopedia with certain facts known by players and Shepards being incorrect such as [[spoiler:Sovereign being called Saren Arterius's flagship and not as a Reaper]] while still being educating on things never shown such as the summary of the Krogan Rebellion or information on other species such as the Elcor.
85	* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
86	** The [[VideoGameRemake DS remakes]] of ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV IV]]'', ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestV V]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVI VI]]'' have the Big Book of Beasts, which shows you every type of enemy you've fought, as well as how many you've beaten, how easy they are to recruit in ''V'' (though you shouldn't trust [[RandomNumberGod those chances]] too much), what items you've gotten from them, and their in-battle sprite. You can even press A to see their attack animations.
87	** ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII VIII]]'' has a similar monster list, which also shows their character models and allows you to see their attack animations. Completing the monster list by defeating one of every monster (including bosses) netted you a secret item that would eliminate random encounters.
88	** ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIX IX]]'' had the defeated monster list, which showed the models, animations, and obtained drops of all the defeated monsters. The Thief ability "Eye For Trouble" added a second page of flavor text and revealed all the items the monster can drop.
89	* ''VideoGame/EndlessOcean'' has a non-violent version of this, as the player's whole role (before you start receiving [[spoiler:threatening e-mails that VaguenessIsComing]]) is to catalog the various creatures found around a fictional south Pacific coral reef. You do this by interacting with them.
90	* ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy'': These appear starting from the second game, with [[VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy2 the second game]] having 27 entries and [[VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy3 the third game]] having 75. You fill them by using the [[EnemyScan scan ability]].[[note]]Scanbot in the second game, Lance's Scan in the third game, the Scanbot in the fourth and the scan action everyone has in the fifth[[/note]] Filling the Bestiary also gives you medals, which is required to access secret areas in 3.
91	* ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'' has the highly memorable autopsy reports conducted on anatomically impossible creatures by a man losing his mind from dealing with them. Said man turns out to be [[spoiler:Maximilian Roivas, Alex's ancestor]], and once you find them, they get added to the titular TomeOfEldritchLore as part of its LoreCodex function.
92	* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'': The games have the [[PunnyName Monstrous Index]], which provides a brief description of each enemy, FOE, boss and MiniBoss encountered so far, as well as their drops, resistances and weaknesses.
93	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' didn't always have these, but the remakes of ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI I]]'' through ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI VI]]'' have them, as do some of the newer games.
94	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' in particular, is known for its heavy use of PurpleProse and AntiquatedLinguistics in its monster descriptions. Killing a certain number of a given monster unlocks further monster lore, usually about whatever Loot item the creature drops. The lore gives implications that several monster species (like the early-game [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves]], and Malboro Kings) [[WasOnceAMan used to be humans]], and there are many ways that a slain person will later rise up as a zombie of some variety.
95	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'': Monsters have a hidden "Libra" statistic, usually less than 100. Completing that monster's Bestiary entry requires you to accumulate 1000 points. There is an accessory which speeds things up a little.
96	* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' has two: the Enemies section in your Adventurer Handbook and the Living Beings section in your main Archive. The former acts more like a utility piece as it lists each type of enemy, what levels they are currently at relative to your World Rank, what items they carry, and where they can be found. The latter (introduced in Version 1.3) is for general completion purposes, as it lists every distinct enemy and allows you to view their models with some flavor text. They can be added by simply defeating them in battle, and the Archive also includes non-enemy wildlife and the pets in settlements.
97	%%* ''VideoGame/{{Germination}}'': The Nursery.
98	* ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'': The "Perilous Foes" section of the Codex serves as a bestiary of enemies that can be encountered in each biome. Compared to the usual examples of this trope, it leans more towards FlavorText, however, since the Codex entries are written by Achilles and contain his perspectives on them.
99	* ''VideoGame/HarryPotter'': In the video game adaptations of ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' and ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', you are given such a compendium. In the [[UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor GBC]] RPG and its successor on [[UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance GBA]], you have to cast Informus on enemies to obtain their entries. In the home console version of ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', the book for some reason only contains the Dementor's page when first obtained.
100	-->'''Lupin:''' [[LampshadeHanging It has a few pages missing, but I'm sure you'll be able to find them at Hogwarts.]]
101	* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' has the Hunter's Journal you get from [[BloodKnight the Hunter]] in Greenpath, which provides a name and brief description of all the creatures you can fight in the game. Killing enough of each opponent provides an additional blurb from the Hunter himself. [[InvincibleMinorMinion For enemies that cannot be killed]], there are hidden areas scattered around the map that are related to the enemy somehow, and which will fill in their Hunter's Journal entry when inspected.
102	* In ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'', the bestiary of Vertumnan fauna, which provides a brief summary of the alien creatures you encounter on the planet, can be viewed any time at the expedition outpost.
103	* ''VideoGame/{{Infinitode}}'': The Handbook has a section for enemies, describing their traits and tower resistances.
104	* ''VideoGame/KhimeraDestroyAllMonsterGirls'' works a little differently, since you don't complete the bestiary by defeating the various enemies, but by finding all of the notebooks scattered everywhere in the game world.
105	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': There's a bestiary maintained by Jiminy Cricket. It also has Character profiles. In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' you can also use it to view their reaction commands (and how many times they have been used), while ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' and its remake also shows the cards you collected so far.
106	* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' has the [[BribingYourWayToVictory donation item]] [[PunnyName Monster Manuel]], a haunted monster codex which records monster stats and gives out amusing factoids as you defeat them, as well as letting you obtain items from certain monsters that [[CosmeticAward change your avatar's appearance to said monster]].
107	* ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' has a series of cards which could be collected at the end of a stage. They depict the monsters of the game, including the bosses. Thanks to their random nature, it's possible to get cards for enemies [[InterfaceSpoiler far earlier than you would encounter them]]; the boss cards are yours after you defeat them.
108	* ''VideoGame/KlonoaHeroesDensetsuNoStarMedal'' has a Bestiary. It only unlocks the full data for each enemy after beating several dozens of them. In the case of bosses, it is needed to fight the rematch for each one in the Momett House.
109	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrails'' series has the Combat Notebook, a journal that records and lists all of the statistics and details of every enemy encountered.
110	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
111	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' features one composed of statues of all the enemies (and the {{NPC}}s, too) with short descriptions of each. So how do you fill this out? Three pictograph pictures at a time, one statue a [[InUniverseGameClock day/night cycle]] (done faster in the Wii U remake with twelve pictures at a time, three statues a cycle).
112	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'' has a figurine collection, though with a different method of obtaining them. Figurines are obtained by spending Mysterious Seashells at a [[RandomDrop dispenser machine]], with your chances of getting one you don't have yet based on how many figurines you have and how many shells you spend. Most of the figurines are available from the get-go, but others (like bosses, including the final boss) have to be unlocked by progressing through the game [[DoubleUnlock and then won from the drawing]].
113	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has the Hyrule Compendium feature, a LoreCodex that also covers weapons, flora, fauna and treasures in addition to monsters. Each entry is filled in by photographing the subject with the Sheikah Slate's Camera rune, with the photos you took becoming the icons in the Compendium. They can be replaced by later pictures as long as the subject registers on camera. If you want guaranteed clear photos or have [[PermanentlyMissableContent missed a chance to take a picture of something]] -- the game's LevelScaling means that weak monsters are gradually replaced by stronger variants, removing the ability to photograph them -- photos can also be purchased from Symin in the tech lab where you get the Camera feature. However, each regular photo costs 100 Rupees while photos of bosses cost ''500 Rupees each''.
114	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'' also features the Hyrule Compendium.
115	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy'': In the first four games, you get entries by talking to friendly characters and defeating enemies (And getting damaged by the invincible ones). In ''The Legendary Starfy'', they are unlocked via a [[LuckBasedMission random-chance toy machine]], which makes getting the last few entries a pain.
116	* ''VideoGame/MapleStory'' has a codex that stores information on enemies the player has killed after the player obtains the larger cards with a colored background they have a chance to drop, after which they can see that enemy's health, mana, and item drops. The game tries its best to prevent monsters from becoming [[PermanentlyMissableContent permanently lost]], such as the Prime Minister boss in the Mushroom Kingdom level who can only be fought once but has his card obtainable from a friendly NPC in case the player misses it.
117	* ''VideoGame/{{Mardek}}'' has an included Bestiary from its [[AllThereInTheManual Encyclopedia]] section, which also includes other information obtained throughout the game.
118	* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'': The collectible secret disks contain data of enemies, bosses and characters, which you can check at Cerveau after you acquire them in the stages (or by talking to people at the base).
119	* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'': The log function records not just enemy information, but almost anything you can scan, including item pickups, puzzle mechanisms, local/ancient lore, and so on.
120	%%* ''VideoGame/MiniRobotWars'' has a similar concept with the good Minirobots and evil Machines.
121	* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'':
122	** Starting with ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2'' (the fifth installment), the series has one within the Hunter's Notes. Instead of flling in naturally (by hunting the monsters), you have to buy them yourself, and it only shows your kill count of said monster and some lore facts about it. So if you want to know what's the monster's weakness, you have to figure it out yourself... [[GuideDangIt or use a guide.]] Thankfully, later games rectify this: ''Monster Hunter Generations'' has a character who updates your Notes as you hunt the monsters, providing one extra page in the recorded entries which goes into detail on how to deal with such creatures. ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' introduced [[AntiFrustrationFeatures a more useful version of the Hunter's Notes]] that unlocks info on monster weaknesses and [[RandomlyDrops part drop rates]] as you research the monsters via following tracks and traces, breaking vulnerable parts, and slaying or capturing them.
123	** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterStories'' has two Monsterpedias: one for wild monsters, and one for playable [[{{Mons}} monsties]]. You get a reward whenever you defeat or hatch a species for the first time. ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterStories2WingsOfRuin'' does away with the rewards, but it adds a third encyclopedia for [[LegoGenetics genes]].
124	* ''VideoGame/MonsterSanctuary'' has the Monster Journal, which contains lore and unique artwork for every monster encountered in addition to their item drop rates. It's mainly sorted by area, with the exception of monsters added to secret rooms after most of an area was initially developed (such as [[spoiler:the Manticorb]]), and the {{superboss}}es.
125	* ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER 3}}'' has the Battle Memory, which not only gives you info on all the enemies but lets you practice fighting them in safety. Collecting all of them (including the front and back sprites) unlocks some extra features. Said compendium is ridiculously hard to complete thanks to UniqueEnemy, PermanentlyMissableContent, and the fact that the game moves on in chapters. If you're not following a guide all the time, it's impossible in practice. And if you can only fight an enemy one time, you'd better remember to turn it around to get the back sprite.
126	* ''VideoGame/{{Mousehunt}}'' has one for all the mice that can be caught in the game. It also features FlavorText and shows the number you have caught.
127	* ''VideoGame/MSSagaANewDawn'' has one for all of the bad guys and it's possible to get all but one due to being out of the way and only available during one part early in the game.
128	* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' has an encyclopedia of monsters you encounter, all gorgeously illustrated. It also provides hints on any weaknesses the monster might have.
129	* ''VideoGame/OperationSalvage'', a video game based on the ''Series/WalkingWithBeasts'' series, includes a database which the player helps to fill by scanning animals and enemy equipment. It also includes information on your equipment, the plantlife in particular time periods, and a lot of other related information.
130	* ''VideoGame/{{Opoona}}'' has the Rogue Book. Completing it is actually a sidequest you can get rewards for, and it's more difficult than it appears -- some enemies are [[MetalSlime vanishingly rare]].
131	%%* ''VideoGame/TheOtherRosiesRoadOfLove'': As part of the StarterEquipment, and called a "Monster Book".
132	* ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon Orta'' has an in-game encyclopedia that contains lore for all the bosses and enemies that you have defeated, such as mutants, pure-type monsters, Imperial machines, and digital lifeforms.
133	* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'': Starting with the second game, each title has had one in some shape or form. To wit:
134	** ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'' features the ''Piklopedia'', which allows players to observe any creatures that have previously been defeated (alongside decorative plants that have been run into) and throw Pikpik Carrots at them to see how they will interact. Additionally, it lists how many Pokos the creature is worth when carried back to the Ship (when applicable), how many Pikmin have been lost to the creature in question (when applicable), and how many of said creature have been defeated [[RuleOfThree (when applicable)]]. Finally, each creature has a description in the form of "Olimar's Notes", which describes the creature from a scientific point of view, presented as notes from the titular captain. Defeating the final boss unlocks a second set of these notes, focusing on Louie and [[spoiler:how to [[EatingTheEnemy properly cook and eat them]] [[OverlyLongGag (when applicable)]], to varying results]]. It has distinct sections for regular enemies and bosses and also lists scenery plants.
135	** ''VideoGame/Pikmin3'': While not present in the original game, ''[[UpdatedReRelease Pikmin 3 Deluxe]]'' includes a new Piklopedia, this time listing how many times the creature in question has been killed and where it's usually found, alongside a video demonstration of the creature. Each of the five playable captains has notes describing the creatures; Olimar and Louie follow the same trends they did in ''2'', while the three Koppai captains have unique outlooks, with Alph taking an engineer's look and describing the creature's structure, strengths, and weaknesses, Brittany describing the creature's appearance and habits, and Charlie noting the creature's attacking techniques and how to fight them.
136	** ''VideoGame/HeyPikmin'' features the ''Creature Log'', which displays a model of the creature and a silhouette of a Pikmin to compare the sizes. Again, descriptions for each creature from Olimar's point of view return, though unlike previous entries, it instead lists his personal thoughts on the creature rather than scientific notes.
137	** ''VideoGame/Pikmin4'' sees the return of the Piklopedia, unlocked by rescuing the castaway Dalmo. In addition to his comments, the Piklopedia allows you to engage the enemies in training battles, so you can learn their patterns without risking losing your Pikmin for real. [[spoiler:As with ''Pikmin 3 Deluxe'', Olimar and Louie have their own comments which are unlocked after reaching certain points in the story.]]
138	* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' has a detailed and illustrated encyclopedia of just about everything you encounter in the game, enemy or not.
139	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' has the Suburban Almanac (a reference to the real-life Farmer's Almanac), which not only contains info on the zombies, it also gives info about your own plants. In addition to useful information, each entry contains humorous FlavorText that gives more characterization to a game otherwise short on it.
140	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
141	** The main series has the Pokédex, which lists every Pokémon you've seen and gives more details on the ones you've actually owned at some point (even if you've evolved, released, or traded them since). From the series' third generation until its sixth, all games begin with a regional Pokedex listing only the Mons native to an individual region, and upgrade it to the National Dex later (usually after beating the game), which lists every Mon in the series up to that point. ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' omit the National Pokédex due to it instead being included in the companion application ''Pokémon Bank''. For the next generation, ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' similarly leave out the National 'Dex, instead having separate Pokédexes for Galar (the main region), the Isle of Armor (the first DLC area), and the Crown Tundra (the second DLC area). Since the expansion areas have a lot of the same creatures as the main area, this means you can start the Isle of Armor with over half of the entries already filled in. The National 'Dex is still found in ''Pokémon HOME'', the successor to ''Pokémon Bank''.
142	** ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and its [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness sequel]] do not give the player a Pokedex, but a "P*DA" instead which performs similar functions: The "Snag List" / "Shadow Monitor" options display information relating to Shadow Pokemon only, while the "Strategy Memo" displays information about any Mon the player has seen in battle. Like the ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium'' games before them, the player can also view and rotate the Mons' 3D models from any angle.
143	** ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' does not use a Pokédex either, instead giving the player a "Ranger Browser" which logs every Mon the player has captured in battle and can search through them according to a Mon's field move or elemental Assist type.
144	** ''Pokédex 3D'' and ''Pokedex 3D Pro'', are 3DS apps that are ''primarily'' a Monster Compendium, with a few other bonus features besides. The original was released as a stand-alone version of the [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Unova]] Regional Pokeédex, while ''Pro'' was an upgraded National 'Dex that also included [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Kalos]]. Unfortunately, it has not been updated to include any new regions since, likely because an Pokédex function was included in both ''Pokémon Bank'' and ''Pokémon HOME''.
145	* ''VideoGame/{{Pronty}}'' has one that's literally called a "Monster Compendium", which adds an entry every time you encounter a new enemy or boss. Oddly enough, said compendium lists ''you'' (a fish-boy) as well as your RobotBuddy.
146	* ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryII'': The VGA remake adds a monster compendium to the game, which offers a lot of hints that are very useful due to the upgraded combat system. A new side-quest is also added to the game, and the compendium is the reward for completing it.
147	* ''VideoGame/RakenzarnTales'' grants you one in Chapter 6 after Nodoka joins the party. However, since it's impossible to fight every enemy in the game, since some bosses require you to face one form in exchange for the other, you can never get every entry in a single playthrough.
148	* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'' has the Monsterpedia. Most enemies you fight are added to the list, along with a picture of them, a brief description, and their stats (health, defense, toughness, and damage). At any point, the list can be accessed from the Help section of the pause menu.
149	* ''VideoGame/RType Final'' has a compendium that slowly fills as you rack up kills against those enemies.
150	* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' has the Slayer Codex, a book of almost every monster in the game that you can assigned to kill by a Slayer Master. In order to complete the Slayer Codex, you must [[GottaCatchThemAll capture a soul from each monster using an item called an Ushabti]], which has a chance of capturing a monster's soul every time you kill one, and then turn it in at the sunken pyramid.
151	* ''VideoGame/{{Sabrewulf}}'' provides two compendiums, one for "[[MonsterAllies good creatures]]" and one for "[[{{Mooks}} bad creatures]]." Since the game emphasizes avoidance over combat, you get information on the latter as soon as they appear rather than having to defeat them first.
152	* ''VideoGame/{{Scathe}}'' provides a mini-screen on your left that flashes new information whenever you encounter a never-before seen enemy.
153	* ''VideoGame/SeriousSam'': NETRICSA provides this for each new enemy Sam kills, except the bosses, whose description pops out as soon as they do.
154	* ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' has the Library, which adds entries for every monster you encounter. ''Covenant'' and ''From The New World'' add their stats and other pertinent information if you take the enemy's picture. There's a reward for getting every enemy; since the game is counting the FinalBoss you have to get it on a NewGamePlus.
155	* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'':
156	** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'' had the demons you ally stored in the Compendium. This trend continued throughout the entire franchise, and has gameplay purposes beyond being a mere bestiary: as you [[FusionDance fuse together]] your demon allies, the original ones are lost. However, if you recorded your customized demons in the Compendium, you can summon them again and again as long as you have the funds, and use them once more as allies or fusion fodder. Additionally, more recent versions of the Compendium explain the mythology behind each demon.
157	** ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'': Both games have, besides the Persona Compendium, the Enepedia, which collects information on the different Shadows you have defeated.
158	* ''VideoGame/SkeletalAvenger'': The Monsterpedia, which is located in the sorcerer's lair, has information on every monster encountered in the game.
159	* ''VideoGame/SolastaCrownOfTheMagister'' has a page with all the monsters and bosses that you've fought. After slaying a monster, your characters will make a DC to see if they improve the monster's lore. Success will give you more entries in the log with additional information, such as feats, skills, saving throws, spells, special abilities, etc.
160	* ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice'': Librom, a sapient diary, contains lore entries for not only the Archfiends and the Foul Creatures, but also the game's entire world.
161	* ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'''s HD remake features a journal which fills out with information about enemies, locales, items and traps as you encounter them.
162	* ''VideoGame/SporeCreatures'': The Sporepedia's Species Guide allows you to view each of the core creatures you have encountered, their stats, available Bio-Powers, the number of them you've killed and befriended, and some brief flavor text about them. There's also the Saved Creatures guide which allows something similar with any player-made creations, albeit without descriptions.
163	* ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'' has the stats for every unit (yours and the enemy's) available in the menu. It even tells you which units are best used to counter each other.
164	* ''VideoGame/Strider2014'' features "Character Intel" collectables, which provide some backstory and a model viewer of most enemies and bosses in the game.
165	* ''VideoGame/{{Sudeki}}'': Has a Monster Compendium that starts out blank and grows as you encounter and kill various enemies in the game. It lists their strengths and weaknesses, as well as how best to defeat them.
166	* ''VideoGame/TheSuffering'' has detailed entries of all freakish enemies in both games.
167	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
168	** ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
169	*** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' has one, although scanning in the first game (as well as the second) also provides a permanent benefit in that you can see the health bars of all further enemies of that type you'll encounter. ''Thousand-Year Door'' also avoids one- or two-time entries being [[PermanentlyMissableContent lost]] if you check Professor Frankly's trash can.
170	*** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' turns this feature into a card collection sidequest. Monster cards detail each creature's stats and give you an attack boost against it. Cards drop from enemies but can also be bought at stores in true TCG-style booster packs.
171	*** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' has the Origami Characters gallery in the Musée Champignon, which lists each kind of enemy that Mario has already defeated in each major in-game area alongside a picture and brief description.
172	** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'':
173	*** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion1'': The Game Boy Horror has a profile section for the Portrait Ghosts Luigi has captured; the information includes their age, their hobbies (whether before or after death), and on rare occasions how they died.
174	*** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'' and ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion3'' have E. Gadd's Vault, where the ghosts Luigi has captured in his quests (both in the story mode and in the Scarescraper) are recorded. Each ghost type (be it mook, mini-boss or boss) has its own log entry.
175	** ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'' has the Glossary, a list of every enemy and boss that Peach has defeated on the current save file; for invincible enemies such as Big Chain Chomps and Urchins, their glossary entries are unlocked simply by encountering them. Each page includes a brief writeup that either describes the enemy/boss in question or gives a hint on how to defeat them.
176	** ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS'' has a ''museum'' of enemies, which are added by hitting them with an egg in the main game.
177	** ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise'' has a subsection on the treasure guide that lists every enemy Wario has defeated, along with a description of them. If you haven't defeated the enemy yet, there will be a silhouette of them. The bosses, however, do not have a silhouette and have their own pages that appear after completing the level.
178	** ''VideoGame/AbductedToad'': In this fangame, there are a different number of Info Discs scattered in each level that show information on each enemy and boss in the game and how some of them came to be.
179	** The ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' remake includes a Monster List which has details about every monster and boss you encountered and marks an entry as complete if you used Mallow's [[EnemyScan Thought Peek]] (originally named Psychopath in English) on them which also adds their thoughts. There's a Monster Guide Agent [[AntiFrustrationFeatures who will fill in any missing entries]] to avoid PermanentlyMissableContent. As a bonus, they'll complete the entries before Mallow joined you for free, where you couldn't have used Thought Peek on them.
180	* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' has one for all characters and mecha, both good and evil. Even more, the pilots tend to have soundbites you can play where they say popular phrases. The same goes for its Gundam-only counterpart ''VideoGame/SDGundamGGeneration.''
181	* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'': While it's not the main focus of it, the trophy collection doubles as this, especially in ''Brawl'', as it features a trophy and profile for every non playable enemy in the games.
182	* ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'':
183	** ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' gives Raine a title if you fill in 100% of all enemies, which are automatically logged when encountered. It's still a good idea to scan them, though, as it will give you information that simply seeing them won't (Health, Weaknesses, etc). However, to truly complete the book, you need to use Raine to scan them. Otherwise, you'll lack their location info.
184	** ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'': Building a compendium is one of the game's major sidequests for one of your characters who is a monster hunter.
185	* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' has one included in "Journey's End" update, which adds entries about [=NPCs=], critters, enemies, and bosses. The bestiary describes the lore of the entities, their stats, and their drops. The entries need to be filled out depending on how much experience the player had with the entity in question. For critters, it's how many the player came in close proximity with. For [=NPCs=], it's how much they chatted with them. For enemies, it's how much were killed, with more additional info being revealed depending on the kill count, with 50 kills completely filling out the entry. For bosses, the player only has to kill one.
186	* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': The UniverseCompendium ''[[http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Perfect_Memento_in_Strict_Sense Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'' is also one of these, the only official source for information on the various {{youkai}} that inhabit Gensoukyou.
187	* ''VideoGame/{{Ultrakill}}'': The Terminal contains lore entries for all of the enemies encountered by V1, although they have to be defeated to unlock their lore. Simply encountering the enemy at least unlocks their strategies on how to deal with them effectively.
188	* ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'' has one which lists the monsters, a written description of the creature and a listing of its elemental resistances.
189	* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': Scanning enemies adds entries to your codex detailing info about them, including their stats, their weaknesses, their locations and what they drop. Most entries require scanning multiple enemies to complete an entry. Entries about [[BloodSport Index]] combatants and [[TrialByCombat Rathuum]] executioneers fill out automatically as you meet them (since you can't use scanners there).
190	* ''VideoGame/WarhammerOnline'': The Tome of Knowledge keeps track of the types and numbers of monsters you've killed. Killing certain numbers of them will sometimes reward the player with things like titles.
191	%%* ''VideoGame/WildArms'': Several games in the series have this.%%ZCE
192	* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' has an extensive bestiary. Note that you have to acquire that information first through various means. The entries give tips to the monsters' weaknesses and many body parts and alchemy ingredients that you can only collect if you have the appropriate entry.
193	* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' keeps a database of all the [[TheHeartless Noise]] you've defeated. It also lists the pins that they drop, combined with the difficulty required, and drop rate. Of course, you actually have to have defeated them at whatever level for it to list. Cue a lot of players getting frustrated at [[ThatOneBoss Sho Minamimoto]], and the various [[BossInMookClothing Elephant Noise]].
194	* ''VideoGame/XCom'': The [=UFOpedia=], which contains information on the enemies that you researched after capturing or killing them, as well as their ships, their weapons, their useless but interesting technology, and their society. It also contains all the relevant information on ''your'' ships, weapons, items, and base facilities, making it the one-stop-shop for any info you're looking for. {{Spiritual Successor}}s like the ''VideoGame/UFOAfterBlank'' trilogy, ''[=UFO=] Extraterrestrials'' and ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}'' feature a similar mechanic.
195	* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'' has the Enemy Index, which lists most species of enemy in the game (a few non-unique mission enemies are not recorded), along with their stats and material drops. More information is added as members of each sub-species is defeated (except for bosses and [[BossInMookClothing Tyrants]]). It also displays some notes about the species' biology or culture, and certain special Tyrants may have additional details about them.
196	[[/folder]]
197
198	[[folder:Web Comics]]
199	* ''Webcomic/AstralAves'' has one from the "monsters'" point of view, describing various human characters.
200	[[/folder]]
201
202	[[folder:Web Animation]]
203	* ''WebAnimation/StarWarsGalaxyOfCreatures'' is a look into various creatures of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' universe, giving facts and information about various creatures of the galaxy, with the end of each episode capping off with extra ones, such as creature size, coloration, and diets.
204	[[/folder]]
205
206	[[folder:Web Original]]
207	* ''Website/GoodbyeStrangers'' is a bestiary dedicated to cataloging the mysterious, semi-tangible creatures [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment called Strangers.]] Solid and visible but completely unnoticed to most of the world and despite resembling living organisms, they defy any known laws of nature or physics.
208	* ''Monster Girl Encyclopedia'', a bestiary dedicated to cataloging all the different kinds of {{Cute Monster Girl}}s in the world.
209	* The ''Website/WanderersLibrary'' has two books that serve this purpose, [[http://wanderers-library.wikidot.com/system:page-tags/tag/howes-bestiary#pages Howe's Bestiary]] and [[http://wanderers-library.wikidot.com/system:page-tags/tag/the-spirit-world#pages The Spirit World]].
210	[[/folder]]
211
212	[[folder:Other]]
213	* See the IndexOfFictionalCreatures.
214	[[/folder]]

Context Main / MonsterCompendium