so you drag your monsters around and merge them. then you can buy monsters from the shop, and continue merging until you reach the max level. more instructions in the game.
you start with 1000 money, and the rocks max out instantly. and you have to wait less for more monsters, which used to be a bit frustrating in the original project, you have tier 4 unlocked from the start, and it will choose monsters from the max level you have minus 3 and the second monster drops by default, and when you buy a monster, it's free from then on.