[3] MOTW is a Powered by the Apocalypse game and as such has a simplified ruleset when compared to tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons or Cyberpunk.
In 2015, Sands, at the encouragement of Fred Hicks, partnered with Evil Hat Productions to make a revised edition of the game and publish it through the company's platform.
[8] Sands also worked with Marek Golonka, who contributed to The Tome of Mysteries, to develop The Codex of Worlds, a second expansion book with new party mechanics and alternate settings, which was released in hardcover in September 2023.
[3][9] MOTW has had a generally positive critical reception since its release, with reviewers lauding its quick pacing and accessibility for new tabletop gamers.
R. Talsorian Games designer Cody Pondsmith wrote of MOTW in 2022: "Monster of the Week's streamlined resolution system allows you to focus on playing your character and moving the story forward without getting slowed down by additive math and complex rules.