Overview

Monument Valley is an indie puzzle game developed by British studio ustwo games, released in 2014. The game received widespread acclaim from players and critics worldwide for its unique visual style, poetic narrative, and ingenious level design.

The visual design draws inspiration from Dutch artist M.C. Escher's impossible figures and minimalist architectural styles. Players must rotate, slide, and manipulate seemingly impossible architectural structures to create paths for the protagonist.

Story

Players control the silent Princess Ida as she embarks on a journey through mysterious monuments. These monuments once belonged to an ancient civilization, and Ida seeks forgiveness—for a transgression she once committed.

Along the way, Ida encounters the mysterious Crow People as obstacles, as well as a friendly character named Totem who helps her reach otherwise inaccessible places. The narrative is remarkably restrained, telling its story through environment and visual elements, leaving vast room for player imagination.

Core Gameplay

Monument Valley's core gameplay revolves around "optical illusions" and "spatial manipulation":

• Perspective Magic: Using the properties of isometric perspective, seemingly disconnected paths can connect at certain angles
• Architecture Control: Rotate entire structures or move specific components to create new paths
• Mechanism Puzzles: Step on switches, move platforms, interact with the environment
• Totem Cooperation: In some levels, you need to work with the Totem character to progress

Chapters

The original game contains 10 chapters (levels), each with unique architectural design and puzzles:

• Chapter 1: Monument Valley
• Chapter 2: The Garden
• Chapter 3: Hidden Temple
• Chapter 4: Water Palace
• Chapter 5: The Spire
• Chapter 6: The Labyrinth
• Chapter 7: The Rookery
• Chapter 8: The Box
• Chapter 9: The Descent
• Chapter 10: The Observatory

Additionally, the game released a paid DLC "Forgotten Shores" containing 8 extra levels, continuing Ida's journey.

Awards & Recognition

Monument Valley received numerous accolades, including:

• 2014 Apple Design Award
• 2014 BAFTA Best British Game
• 2014 Game Developers Choice Awards Best Mobile Game
• Multiple App Store and Google Play Game of the Year selections

Cultural Impact

Monument Valley is not just a successful game but became a cultural phenomenon. It appeared in the TV series "House of Cards," played by Frank Underwood on screen. The game's visual style influenced many subsequent indie games, becoming a benchmark for the "art game" genre.