History Main / MonsterCompendium

* ''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 or FlavorText, and without the gimmick of recording every attack information.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' 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 or FlavorText, and without the gimmick of recording every attack information.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' contains elaborate monster descriptions which grow more detailed as you fight them, recording every attack they use against you. The sequels also have monster compendiums, but they only have short descriptions.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has the Hyrule Compendium feature, which 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''.

Often part of a much broader EncyclopediaExposita. 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.

* The ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' Analyzer exist for this purpose.
* The Pokédex appears in the Anime/{{Pokemon}} anime, and, at times, was of use to the protagonists beyond merely identifying species of Pokémon. In three instances, it served to ruin [[AssInALionSkin Meowth's disguise]], as it identified him as a Meowth (rather than the Sunflora, Nuzleaf, and Kirlia, respectively, that he was 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 the ''Sun and Moon'' saga, the Pokédex is a full-fledged character in itself as it incorporates a [[HauntedTechnology Rotom]] into it, becoming the Rotom Pokédex.

* In ''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.]]

* The Field Guide from ''Literature/TheSpiderwickChronicles''.

* ''Series/{{Airwolf}}'' has a database on board that does this thing.
* On ''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]].
* In the earlier seasons of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' John Winchester's journal served 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.
* The [[GreatBigBookOfEverything Book of Shadows]] from ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'' served 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.

* 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.
* In ''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.

*** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' has one, though 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.

** The ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' series does not use a Pokedex 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.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ultrakill}}'': The Terminal contains lore entries for all of the enemies encountered by V1, though 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.
* In ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon Orta'', the game 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.

* The free MMO ''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).

* The ''VideoGame/XCom'' games have the [=UFOpedia=], which contained information on the enemies you had 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.
* The Tome of Knowledge in ''VideoGame/WarhammerOnline'' 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.

* The original ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' contained elaborate monster descriptions which grew more detailed as you fought them, recording every attack they used against you. The sequels also have monster compendiums, but they only have short descriptions.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' gave Raine a title if you filled in 100% of all enemies. Fortunately, an enemy is logged in the book without scanning, so you don't need to scan any of them to get the prize. 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.
** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', building a compendium is one of the game's major sidequests for one of your characters who is a monster hunter.
* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' had a detailed and illustrated encyclopedia of just about anything you encountered in the game, enemy or not.
* The ''{{VideoGame/Atelier}}'' series.

* The [[VideoGameRemake VGA remake]] of ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryII'' 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 that quest.

* ''VideoGame/AncientDomainsOfMystery'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack'' also 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.

* ''VideoGame/MSSagaANewDawn'' had one for all of the bad guys and it was possible to get all but one due to being out of the way and only available during one part early in the game.
* The console-based ''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.''
* ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' had a series of cards which could be collected at the end of a level. They depicted the monsters of the game, including the bosses. Thanks to their random nature, it was possible to get cards for enemies [[InterfaceSpoiler far earlier than you would encounter them]]; the boss cards are yours after you defeat them.
* ''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.]]

* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' ''Maze of Shadows'', there is one of these in the game that fills up with entries after you defeat the monsters.
* ''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/alchemy ingredients you can only collect if you have the appropriate entry.

* The ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy Starfy]]'' series has these. In the first 4 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.

* ''VideoGame/BookwormAdventures'': The Tome of Knowledge, which allows you to replay the enemies' attack, hit & 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.
* ''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).
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': In the videogame 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.

* ''VideoGame/TheOtherRosiesRoadOfLove'': As part of the StarterEquipment, and called a "Monster Book".

** Starting with ''Freedom 2'' (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, ''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.

** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'':
*** The first game's 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.

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'': Starting with ''Freedom 2'' (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, ''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.

** While not present in the original ''VideoGame/Pikmin3'', ''[[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.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' is another Square Enix game that got bestiary for the remake.
* ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' has one. As 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.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' preceded Bravely Default as a Square Enix game with this as part of a journal though. Like the above 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... Square Enix really likes this feature.

Often part of a much broader EncyclopediaExposita. 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.

* The Field Guide from ''Literature/TheSpiderwickChronicles'' .

* The 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]].

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' has the Suburban Almanac, which not only contains info on the zombies, it also gives info about your own plants. It's not only filled with useful information, but each entry contains humorous FlavorText that gives more characterization to a game otherwise short on it.

** ''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.

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'': In ''Maze of Shadows'', there is one of these in the game that fills up with entries after you defeat the monsters.

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' has the Suburban Almanac, which not only contains info on the zombies, it also gives info about your own plants. It's not only filled with useful information, but each entry contains humorous FlavorText that characterize various plants or zombies.

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' has the Suburban Almanac, which not only contains info on the zombies, it also gives info about your own plants.

* ''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.

** ''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 was completely destroyed and therefore never archived.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''" Starting with ''Freedom 2'' (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, ''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.

%%* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'': All modern games have this, except ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCircleOfTheMoon'', which [[CanonDiscontinuity doesn't count anyway]]. ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' puts it in the shop/library, which both [[PamphletShelf makes sense]], and [[{{Backtracking}} doesn't]].%%ZCE -- what about the compendium itself?

** ''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, three statues a cycle).
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'' has a similar 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 then won from the drawing]].

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': In the fan game ''VideoGame/AbductedToad'', there are a different number of Info Discs scattered in each level that showed information on each enemy and boss in the game and how some of them came to be.

* ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy'': These appear starting from the second game. 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:
** [[VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy2 The second game]] has 27 entries.
** [[VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy3 The third game]] has 75 entries.

* ''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.
** [[VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth Persona Q]] and [[VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth Persona Q2]] besides the Persona Compendium, also includes the Enepedia, which collects information on the different Shadows you have defeated.

* Enemy bestiaries are a staple of ''VideoGame/TalesSeries''.

** 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 Crowned 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''.