Series
Monster Factory
Comedy
Monster Factory is a web series available in Polygon.com's official YouTube channel. The show is hosted by Griffin McElroy and his older brother Justin McElroy, Polygon's senior video producer and editor-at-large, respectively. The show's premise consists of both brothers opening character creation tools from several video and computer games and use their creations in-game as they cause all sorts of havoc.
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Seasons & episodes
1Randomly Generating Horrifying Faces in Dark Souls 24 May 2015 · 27mIn this pilot for a soon-to-be smash hit video franchise, Justin and Griffin create Squirtle using the character creation tools in Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin.
2Exploring Skyrim with Garfield12 May 2015 · 22mGriffin and Justin create a cybernetic Garfield and kill roughly two-hundred horses in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in this installment of Monster Factory.
3Recreating a Beloved Sitcom in The Sims 429 May 2015 · 23mJustin and Griffin turn their dark Monster Factory arts toward The Sims 4, and recreate a beloved television sitcom in the process.
4Prepping for Fallout 4 by Ruining Fallout 34 Jun 2015 · 19mFallout 3 is a really great game, so Justin and Griffin have decided to destroy it from within during this installment of Monster Factory.
5Failing to Clone The Rock in WWE 2K1429 Jun 2015 · 22mJustin and Griffin attempt to clone Rock "The Dwayne" Johnson, but spill a little big of Gogurt into the mix, birthing a Monster Factory creation they've lovingly named "The Pebble."
6Exploding Shepard's Face Bones in Mass Effect 213 Jul 2015 · 24mJustin and Griffin rebuild Commander Truck Shepard into something non-human and non-killable when they take Mass Effect 2 into the Monster Factory.
7Dino-crime in Ark: Survival Evolved7 Aug 2015 · 24mIn this episode of Monster Factory, Justin and Griffin try to solve a few dino-mysteries with the help of a time-traveling Angela Lansbury in Ark: Survival Evolved.
8The Boy-Mayor of Second Life11 Sept 2015 · 23mIn this harrowing episode of Monster Factory, we shape a new dictator for Second Life out of some primordial ooze we found in a dumpster behind the Citgo.
9Surviving Bloodborne with a Gun-hating Toucan Man12 Oct 2015 · 24mIn this installment of Monster Factory, Griffin and Justin abuse the character creation tools of Bloodborne and somehow end up with a human-bird hybrid who adheres to a strict anti-gun platform.
10Creating an Army of Banana-Men in Oblivion27 Oct 2015 · 26mJustin and Griffin create an army of beautiful banana men to fight against the noodly final boss of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion in this episode of Monster Factory.
11Fallout 4 (1)12 Nov 2015 · 34mGriffin and Justin play around with Fallout 4, and incidentally create one of the most horrific creatures to ever roam the wasteland.
12Fallout 4 (2)25 Nov 2015 · 23mHaving accepted her terrible losses in the last episode of Monster Factory, The Final Pam carves a path of destruction across the Commonwealth. Things get very, very, very violent.
13Fallout 4 (3)15 Dec 2015 · 28mThe Monster Factory ballad of The Final Pam comes to a close as we quite literally destroy Fallout 4 from the inside out.
14Melting Bart Simpson in Black Desert Online14 Jan 2016 · 25mGriffin and Justin discover the beautiful, intricate character creation system of Black Desert Online, and, naturally, use it to produce a nightmarish version of a beloved cartoon character.
15Throwing Everyone in Dragon's Dogma Off a Cliff29 Jan 2016 · 31mExplore the world of Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen with a team of legendary heroes: All-Star pitcher Randy Johnson, a boy named Panpan, Elsa from the movie Frozen and TV's Dr. Phil.
16Horrors of All Shapes and Sizes in Blade & Soul11 Feb 2016 · 27mGriffin and Justin make a couple of Monster Factory children in the new MMO Blade & Soul, but end up getting completely shut down by Big Analog.
17What If Dark Souls Were Made of Pizza?7 Mar 2016 · 31mJustin and Griffin play through an absolutely ruined version of Dark Souls while role-playing as a pizza-destroying mascot. Please note that framerate hiccups are on our end, not yours. Because, like we said, this version of Dark Souls is sick.
18Recreating Ourselves in WWE 2K1629 Mar 2016 · 32mJustin and Griffin attempt to recreate themselves in WWE 2K16, but along the way, something goes horribly wrong.
19Making a Rowdy, Dirty Boy in Dark Souls 315 Apr 2016 · 26mGriffin and Justin play Dark Souls 3 on launch day, create a rowdy, dirty boy version of The Joker, and then get absolutely manhandled by every enemy in the game. Welcome to Monster Factory!
20Second Life, Second Chances (1)16 May 2016 · 23mWelcome to Second Life, Second Chances, a three-week miniseries Monster Factory event, sponsored by Totino's. Can the Boy Mayor of Second Life reclaim his throne on the hard, hard campaign trail? Or will the endless march of Second Life sex clubs finally wear him down?
21Second Life, Second Chances (2)23 May 2016 · 23mThe Boy-Mayor and his campaign manager, Totino's, do a quick makeover, then make some highly targeted appearances all across the wonderful world of Second Life.
22Second Life, Second Chances (3)31 May 2016 · 21mThe day of reckoning is upon the Boy-Mayor of Second Life. It's Election Day, and we're honestly unsure whether Totino's and the Boy Mayor's actions have gained or lost them votes. Either way: We're going to throw the greatest party this video game has ever seen.
23Cosplayers and Leather Daddies in Soul Calibur 524 Jun 2016 · 28mCan Mëlissa complete her nearly perfect Sly Cooper costume before the big con? Or will her attempts at cosplaying be thwarted by her nemesis, Leather Daddy Voldo? Find out in this installment of Monster Factory, featuring the character creation tools of Soul Calibur 5.
24Making a Golf All-Star in Tiger Woods '088 Jul 2016 · 31mNow we're getting into our core competency: Being good at Golf. In this episode, we borrow the core facial structure of a late, great character actor, and then mold it into something dark and profane. Behold: DAZ.
25Stopping All of the Crimes in Saints Row: The Third22 Jul 2016 · 32mThere is one thing you need to know about Trüllbus — this tough dude absolutely hates crime. He hates it nearly as much as he loves Dairy Queen, and boy, does he love Dairy Queen.- 26Creating The Sequel To Dogs in Spore9 Aug 2016 · 22mLook at your current household pet. What a sweetheart! Now, pick them up and put them in the garbage can. Because here at Monster Factory, we dream big. Why would you ever own a dog or cat or a fish or a bird when you could own ... a JAA'M? Thanks to Spore, that dream can be a reality.
- 27Reviving The Shrek Franchise With Spore30 Aug 2016 · 22mWe weren't anticipating our encounter with Spore to turn into the latest three-part Monster Factory saga, but here we are. The game is so rich with potential, but also so rich with game-ruining crashes and design problems that it makes it difficult to stick with any one creation. Hence our abandonment of the "Sequel to Dogs" project — our apologies, Jaa'm — and our migration to a new cause: The long-overdue revitalization of the Shrek intellectual property.
- 28Building an Even Better Shrek in Spore7 Oct 2016 · 22mJustin and Griffin perfect their Shrek-like creation, and — thank God — bring their time in Spore to a close.
- 29Training a Perfect Super-Athlete in Wii Sports Resort28 Oct 2016 · 22mMeet Turbovicki: Sports Champion, Ruthless Warrior and our latest Monster Factory creation. None can stand in her way on her quest for Wii Sports Resort domination — though a particular former vice president will try.
- 30Turbovicki vs. The Foot Clan in Wii Sports Resort14 Nov 2016 · 22mIn this, the second part of our exploration of Wii Sports Resort, Hyper-Athlete Turbovicki faces her greatest challenge yet: The endless hordes of the Cheney Foot Clan.
- 31Saving the World One Knife at a Time in Champions Online13 Jan 2017 · 22mKnife Dad is not the hero that the world needs, but he is also not the hero the world deserves. It MIGHT be a stretch to call him a hero at all — he could be more accurately described as "a bunch of knives stuffed into a shirt."
- 32Forming a Super Group With Knife Dad's Family27 Jan 2017 · 22mIn the last episode, a legend was born — a legend made out of knives and, like, rat fur. But leveling up in an MMORPG takes too long, so in this episode we seek help from dozens of monstrous, heroic strangers.
- 33Having a Nude Bonanza in Conan Exiles17 Feb 2017 · 22mPlease do not tell on us to YouTube for this episode. We tried to hide every bepis that we saw, but we saw A LOT of them.
- 34Flying Through Dragon Age Inquisition with a Slime DJ10 Mar 2017 · 22mWARNING: Individuals with photosensitive epilepsy should be advised that this video contains flashing lights and could be dangerous to those susceptible to seizures. Viewer discretion is advised.
- 35Monster Factory Wrestling Federation: MONSTER MANIA2 Apr 2017 · 22mIn this special episode, Eleven of Polygon's most dangerous monsters collide in the squared circle at Monster Mania. See friendships tested, rivalries unleashed, and barriers broken. This is the grandest stage-- the final confrontation. This is Monster Mania!
- 36Sweeps Week Ep. 1: Improving Your Favorite TV Sitcoms7 Apr 2017 · 22mWe're kicking off a new miniseries here in the Monster Factory! It's called Sweeps Week, and it's going to CHANGE THE FACE OF TELEVISION AS YOU KNOW IT.
- 37Sweeps Week Ep. 2: Making Full House Too Full5 May 2017 · 22mIn the second episode of Monster Factory "Sweeps Week", Griffin and Justin play a fun game with the Full House family and make Dharma and Greg pay the blood price.
- 38Sweeps Week Ep. 3: Boba Fett Hates Raymond19 May 2017 · 22m"Everybody Loves Raymond"? Not Boba Fett, he HATES HIM. Featuring the cast from the OC.
- 39Sweeps Week Ep. 4: Todd Coolbody's Sitcom Spectacular2 Jun 2017 · 22mIn the conclusion of Monster Factory Sweeps Week, television exec Todd Coolbody wraps up his streak of improving all the classic sitcoms you know and love. And Family Guy.
- 40Cid Finalfantasy’s Cat Man Quest30 Jun 2017 · 22mGriffin and Justin create a sad brain man who yearns to be a cat man.
- 41Stang Is Totally Not Sting Trying To Play Basketball18 Aug 2017 · 22mGriffin and Justin play some b-ball with Stang, who is absolutely not Sting in a disguise.
- 42Just Like Art: The Pink Man13 Sept 2017 · 22mWelcome to Monster Factory: Just Like Art, a new series where we push Skyrim's character customization to the limit in an attempt to create genuine, gallery-worthy masterpieces.
- 43Making a SWEET ALIEN BOY in Everybody's Golf15 Sept 2017 · 22mGriffin and Justin try to teach a small alien boy how to play golf in a respectable way.
- 44Just Like Art: Chomp Mom20 Sept 2017 · 22mWelcome to the second episode of Monster Factory: Just Like Art, a series where we push Skyrim's character customization to the limit in an attempt to create genuine, gallery-worthy masterpieces. This week, we learned two very valuable lessons: a) art isn't always beautiful, and b) motherhood is its own reward.
- 45Just Like Art: Jerry Potter27 Sept 2017 · 22mWelcome to the third installment of Monster Factory: Just Like Art, a series where we push Skyrim's character customization to the limit in an attempt to create genuine, gallery-worthy masterpieces.
- 46Just Like Art: Snakel from Frands11 Oct 2017 · 22mWhat's the one thing that could make Skyrim better? Recreating one of the most popular '90s sitcoms inside of it. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Snakel from Frands.
- 47Just Like Art: The Real Boogerman18 Oct 2017 · 22mIn the final episode of Monster Factory: Just Like Art, Griffin and Justin give themselves an easy task: creating the most powerful and poignant work of art in the history of mankind.
- 48Tony Hawk???? The Skateboarding Flat Man20 Oct 2017 · 22mOn the latest episode of Monster Factory, Griffin and Justin make a rebellious, long-armed skateboarder whose three dimensions are seriously in question.
- 49Zeke Teenweed Takes Us To Fart School3 Nov 2017 · 22mZeke Teenweed is just your typical teen. He loves skateboarding, drawing Shrek graffiti, and not being an undercover cop.
- 50Adult Cool Needs More Hats8 Dec 2017 · 22mGriffin and Justin's galactic adventure with Adult Cool is just getting started.
- 51Adult Cool's Powerful Kicks Are Unstoppable15 Dec 2017 · 22mGriffin and Justin take Adult Cool on a galactic kicking adventure in part two of their Phantasy Star Online 2 extravaganza.
- 52Arby "The Meathead" McDonald Is Back in the Ring2 Feb 2018 · 22mIt's been a while since Arby "The Meathead" McDonald donned his wizard shirt and stepped in the ring. So maybe it's high time Griffin, Justin, and special guest Wrestling Expert Patrick Gill bring Arby's famous tooth out of retirement.
- 53Arby McDonald Dearly Loves His Sons23 Feb 2018 · 22mGriffin and Pat get Arby ready for his first match by spending entirely too much time on his intro. Still worth it.
- 54Arby's True Nemesis is Revealed9 Mar 2018 · 22mAlliances are broken. Enemies become friends. Will Arby be able to pull off his special finisher? All that and more on the exciting conclusion of Arby "The Meathead" McDonald's epic trilogy.
- 55Halo 666 Finishes the Fight13 Apr 2018 · 22mMonster Hunter: World is so metal and it doesn't even know it.
- 56Dr. Sexgun's Menagerie of Deadly Secrets5 Dec 2018 · 22mThe boys are back in town, baby! Gather the children 'round, cause this new hidden object game is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family.
- 57Dr. Sexgun is back with a brand new invention2 Jan 2019 · 22mIf you thought you'd seen the last of Dr. Sexgun and his clandestine cache of audacious armaments, think again.
- 58Jim "Captain Cool" Johnman's Don Bradman Cricket 146 Feb 2019 · 22mDonny, you're out of your element.
- 59Jim Johnman is playing baseball in Don Bradman Cricket 146 Mar 2019 · 22mAt long last, it's Jim Johnman's turn at bat. And also pitching. And also refereeing.
- 60Freddy "Slimeburger" Jr. emerges from Vault 763 Apr 2019 · 22mOn this episode of Monster Factory, the brothers try very hard to create a character in Fallout 76 despite Todd's best efforts.
- 61Nothing will stop Slime Burger from going to Camden Park1 May 2019 · 22mSlime Burger goes on a journey through Todd's twisted vision of West Virginia in search of legendary Camden Park in Fallout 76.
- 62Tammy Radbody loves tree beef5 Jun 2019 · 22mA wise forest elf, Tammy Radbody always knows the best places to find river Skittles.
- 63Tammy Radbody will absolutely set a forest on fire3 Jul 2019 · 22mTammy Radbody may be a protector of the forest, but she'll totally start a forest fire for a new dress and some baguettes.
- 64Yoba Skywalker Starwars goes to infinity and beyond7 Aug 2019 · 22mBoldly going where no forehead has gone before.
- 65The search for Yoba Skywalker Starwars' cool outfit5 Sept 2019 · 22mYoba Skywalker Starwars has a killer outfit, but Starfleet is making him wear nerd armor. Where did his sick fashions get too? THE SEARCH IS ON!
- 66Invite your friends to the inescapable world of Avakin life16 Oct 2019 · 22mYou're losing money by NOT signing up, come on!
- 67Finding the video game in Avakin Life6 Nov 2019 · 22mAvakin Life let's you do a lot of things, but is there a video game in there? Join your friend Nanci Budin 73 as we found out!
- 68Snack Braff is Zach Braff if he'd just commit to going to the gym an hour a day4 Dec 2019 · 22mZachary "Zack Boy Bradley" i.e. SNACK BRAFF is really just Zach Braff if only he'd just get off his duff and commit to going a little harder at the gym in 2020.
- 69Sweet Gene can have little a revenge, for Snack15 Jan 2020 · 22mWe gather here today in memory of Snack "Zachary Zach Boy Bradley" Braff, not to mourn, but to celebrate his brief but exceptional life, and in his memory raise a bright new star, burning with revenge for Snack.
- 70The one where they actually play WWE2K2016 Feb 2020 · 22mWell, it's come to this. Griffin and Justin are actually going to do the unthinkable and play WWE2K20.
- 71Creating a seriously scary vampire in Code Vein11 Mar 2020 · 22mDon't talk to me or my vampire son ever again!
- 72Exploiting the gig economy in Code Vein8 Apr 2020 · 22mDugls n’ Richard are adventuring with their friends, fighting weird slime boys and hunting for that magical elixir we all crave, Awake MJ018.
- 73Making a physical manifestation of the word ‘meh’ in Dark Souls 320 May 2020 · 22mYep, let's go into battle. *long sigh* See you guys in the adventure.
- 74Pushing Dark Souls 3 EXTREME EDITION to the limit8 Jul 2020 · 22mHe might have to become large, indestructible, and turn all his enemies into barrel, but dang it, Hungry-Faced Gil is going to beat Dark Souls 3 EXTREME EDITION.
- 75Can Gil forge a sword big enough to kill God?19 Aug 2020 · 22mCan glitches and crashes prevent Gil from beating Dark Souls 3 EXTREME EDITION? Unfortunately the answer is yes, but there's still a lot of fun to be had along the way!
- 76Crafting a monster in Woodworking Simulator30 Sept 2020 · 22mMonster Factory is de-industrializing and making a bespoke, handcrafted monster for a change.
- 77jIM jELLY is doing gymnastics their way28 Oct 2020 · 22mjIM jELLY likes two things: Buffalo Wilds Wings and completely re-writing the rules of gymnastics... and jIM's all out of wings.
- 78Ronnie Faeburger is a fresh take on Ronald McDonald16 Dec 2020 · 22mThe first NEXT GEN Monster Factory fully utilizes the power of the PS5 to create an updated version of McDonald's burger clown.
- 79Creating a baby monster in Crusader Kings 327 Jan 2021 · 22mIn a Monster Factory first, the boys create a monster that's zero years old: a baby king that everyone hates. Huzzah!
- 80Making Whoville's Anti-Grinch Guardian in Elden Ring25 Mar 2022 · 25mMonster Factory is back! We’ve got a fistful of boiled prawns and we’re diving into the world of Elden Ring to see if we can answer the age-old question, “What if a Who kicked ass?”
- 81Humdinger The Grinch Hunter WILL find the Elden Ring20 Apr 2022 · 22mThe Humdinger returns. He’s shirtless and ready to hunt Grinches, collect fingers, and snack on his beloved prawns.
- 82Saving the Avatar franchise with Chimeraland9 Nov 2022 · 28mSomeone call Jimmy Cams - we used Chimeraland to make a new version of Avatar 2 starring Uncleberry, the uber-sexy sharkman made exclusively of fins.
- 83Uncleberry dabbles in the dark cuisine in Chimeraland7 Dec 2022 · 25mJoin Uncleberry as he tackles Chimeraland’s many fantastical challenges, like cleaning, cooking, caring for pets, and playing video games! Try to kill a 500 year-old demigod, learn the importance of following the recipe, and unwind with some aspirational home decor programming. It’s Chimeraland!
- 84Creating a Beefy Prince in Street Fighter 65 Jul 2023 · 25mLower body? Check. Pudding fist? Check. Turbo cupping scars? Also a check. We used only the most powerful shapes to build this ass-kicking prince, and he’s gonna give Prince Friday what for.
- 85Unleashing Prince Legday on Metro City2 Aug 2023 · 22mPrince Legday hits the streets, putting pros, death robots, and lit majors alike to sleep, in hopes of getting enough sweet sweet cash to step up his fashion with some truly haute couture looks.
- 86Creating a Toothsome Warrior in Starfield6 Mar 2023 · 20mToddddddd, we fixed your game – you’re so welcome. Just jammed in a whole buncha extra sliders for our own personal uses, so we can create the twisted villain of a man we needed. You know how it is.
- 87Molar Mike da Wisdom Toot Takes to the Skies in Starfield20 Mar 2024 · 22mHe’s here to fight tooth decay but he’s not above taking a little cereal treat for himself when he can find one. Everyone needs little treats sometimes, you know?
- 88McElroy Family Clubhouse: Monster Factory LIVE!22 Oct 2024 · 58mThis week in the Clubhouse we have a VERY exciting announcement for you all, followed by a never-before-seen live look inside the Factory.
- 89It's an Any% Killford Speedrun In Dragon's Dogma 223 Oct 2024 · 30mDespite Capcom's efforts to the contrary, we're kicking off a new season of Monster Factory with some pro strats and manips to speedrun building our new friend Killford in Dragon's Dogma.
- 90Recruiting the Perfect Pupating Gorge Washin in Dragon's Dogma 230 Oct 2024 · 31mKillford is preparing for his quest by recruiting the perfect squad: our pupating lord Gorge Washin, the teacher's pet Speical Boy, and the ever-judgemental Dr. Hotdog. Surely they'll find something productive to do other than throwing people to the brine eels.
- 91Discovering Eco-Friendly Combat Strategies in Dragon's Dogma 26 Nov 2024 · 29mKillford and the gang rely on the kindness of strangers as they head into the questionable frame rates of scenic Vermund and take on a foolproof plan for regicide that may in fact be a little foolish.
- 92Ripping Huge, Healthy Cotton With Nutricia in Wo Long13 Nov 2024 · 22mOur newest creation is bringing a real Lord Farquaad silhouette and a new non-nicotine, non-branded, nutrient-rich, cool-for-kids vape product. It’s definitely not a pyramid scheme.
- 93Becoming a Girlboss Vape Wizard in Wo Long20 Nov 2024 · 25mThe Vita-Vape CEO is back and she’s out to spread the good word of her powerful, nutritious vapes. The marketing strategy is a little heavy on the violence, we’ll admit, but there are also free samples!
- 94Crafting a Man-Park in Indoorlands27 Nov 2024 · 23mThis time around, Justin is in the driver’s seat. He’s taking big swings and asking big questions like, “What if the man is a park?” or “Where can you go if you want to get wet AND you want to prove the existence of ghosts and aliens?”
- 95Searching for the heart of the Man-Park in Indoorlands4 Dec 2024 · 22mCome for the super sloppy meditation experience, toilet toes, and Sprute’s drink it al, stay for the kid-friendly greasy prices and the horridor.
- 96Bringing Peter Point to life11 Dec 2024 · 25mJustin’s inadvertent love affair with fences continues as the boys construct a coaster that swiftly reaches into the realm of non-euclidean existence, and discover the face of their monster at last.
- 97The Return of Pam12 Nov 2025 · 25mTen years ago we left her in a watery pocket dimension. Today, The Final Pam returns to see what, if anything, can be salvaged of her Sanctuary.
- 98Where's the Action? Where's the Game?19 Nov 2025 · 25mPam is back and facing her greatest challenge yet: finding an actual completable quest on the critical path.
- 99Mission: Adult Fatherson26 Nov 2025 · 20mPam grapples with her morality as she continues on her mission, and faces an unexpected conflict with Justin and Griffin’s actual responsibilities as fathers.
- 100Pam's Last Dance3 Dec 2025 · 24mIt’s the final installment of Pam’s redemption mission. Can she beat the game and earn the approval of Adult Fatherson at last? Will Todd succeed in his quest to thwart our efforts to see the final cutscene? And what will happen to our beloved large Dean? The only way out is through.
- 101Monster Factory LIVE: Tomodachi Life30 Apr 2026 · 73mGriffin and Justin are clocking in for a shift in everyone’s new favorite game, Tomodachi Life (sorry, Pokopia). Join them as they test the limits of creation, and then set their newfound angel free.
- 102The Ballad of Chad McLean26 Aug 2026 · 28mOur first-ever Monster Factory biopic about a fictional man inspired by the concept of a real person, meet everyone’s favorite north-paw street bowler, Chad McLean.
- 103Introducing the Smoot-Andromedas30 Sept 2026 · 32mMeet everyone’s favorite household that’s maybe not a family! Now with more invisible children, a boys-only Narnia door, and a difference in height that simply defies logic. Also Griffin’s in the game, for some reason.
Details
- Created by
- Justin McElroy, Griffin McElroy
- First aired
- 4 May 2015
- Last aired
- 30 Sept 2026
- Status
- Returning Series
- Language
- English
- Network
- YouTube
- Episodes
- 103
- Votes
- 3 on TMDB
Cast
Griffin McElroySelf - Host
Justin McElroySelf - Host
