Game design has always been an interest of mine. There is so much more to a game than just the thrill: the depth of each game mechanism, details of visuals and choices of audio effects, to the complexity of each character and their personas. Each detail has a part to play, each is part and parcel of a bigger picture. Even the way the player interacts with the game is key.
As a lover of minimal design, I fell in love with Monument Valley at first sight. There was no question about it. Every single detail about this game was on-point from the colour choices to match each landscape, to the mood-setting music, to the movements of each element. It was hard to constrain myself from taking a screenshot every 3 seconds. Monument Valley takes you on a journey through Ida, the Silent Princess, on a quest to seek forgiveness. The narrative structure follows a simple path, unfolding at each checkpoint, leaving the player curious to learn more about Ida’s past and the next world to explore. What impressed me the most about Monument Valley was the use of optical illusions; it engulfs you into a whole different world with mind-blowing perspectives that may not seem possible.
It is hard for me to justify a purchase of a game for my iPhone, even if it’s $0.99. This was a different case; Monument Valley was my first game app purchase, and have completed the entire game three times since, each round leaving me in awe. So the next time you are playing a game on your phone, or a game console, press pause and reflect on the level of details and work that make it what it is.
