Netflix Brings Iconoclastic Adventure to Monument Valley 3: A Revolutionary Gaming Experience

Unlocking the Timeless Charm of Monument Valley 3

In a secluded corner of south London, a team of 30 developers at Ustwo Games has been working on a creative conundrum that has puzzled the entertainment industry for years: how to balance the familiarity of a beloved franchise with freshness? For a series that debuted in 2014, the Monument Valley franchise has been synonymous with precision-crafted architectural puzzles and a minimalist aesthetic. Can such a refined formula be evolved?

Monument Valley 3, set to release on mobile devices via Netflix on December 10th, answers this question with a resounding "yes, and then some." But to achieve this, the game’s director, Jennifer Estaris, knew they needed a major change. She used the word "splash" to describe their approach, hinting at the surprises in store.

A New Era of Monument Valley

At first, the team experimented with different ideas, including a first-person version, a multiplayer mode, and even a level-creation tool. But as they delved deeper into the game’s themes, a particular direction emerged. "We wanted to make a more personal, people-oriented game," says lead designer Emily Brown. "It’s about bringing people together," she adds, citing a specific scene that encapsulates this new direction: "a little hillside with little buildings on it, and a puzzle that takes place on a much smaller scale."

A Conversation on Climate and Community

One of the game’s themes, nature, has been a crucial element in the development of Monument Valley 3. Alongside the game’s beautiful, winding vegetative shapes, the risk of genuine peril leads to the game’s inhabitants scattering, becoming refugees. This allegory for the climate crisis presents itself, but it’s not a direct continuation of The Lost Forest, a DLC add-on for Monument Valley 2. Ibrahim, the art director, immersed herself in various art forms, including destructive and deconstructive fashion editorials and the works of Cornelia Parker, which featured in a 1991 installation titled Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View.

Exploring New Horizons

The game’s visuals are striking, with origami-inspired stages, textured to evoke Japanese washi paper, and architecture that unfurls and unfolds like a deconstructed 3D net. Another stage sees architecture literally exploding in slow motion, resembling a cubic flowerhead. This visual opulence is a departure from the restraint of previous entries, with curves of nature threatening to overwhelm the clean lines of the people-made structures, and colors that are deep, rich, and sometimes foreboding.

A Live-Service Model for the Future

After the game’s release, Ustwo will be pivoting to a live-service model, but one that eschews the "grind" and "addictive, compulsive loops" of other free-to-play titles. Additional content is set to be released in the form of seasonal puzzles and storied chapters, a move that fits Netflix’s subscription model. It also makes solid business sense, given the game’s theme of connection and community.

A New Era of Monument Valley: Jazz and Classical

Estaris compares the base game to a piece of classical music, while the additional content is like jazz – more experimental and free-form. She hopes that players will develop a "healthy habit" with Monument Valley 3, much like completing the Sunday crossword puzzle. As the game’s chief creative officer, Danny Gray once described the original Monument Valley as a "sanctuary in your pocket," a place where you can escape and find peace. Monument Valley 3 inherits this same essence, even as it adapts to the times and the changing habits of its audience.

Conclusion

In an era marked by the proliferation of short-form video and the "loneliness epidemic," Monument Valley 3 is a throwback to a time when gaming was often a tranquil, meditative experience. Despite the challenges of balancing familiarity and freshness, Ustwo Games has succeeded in creating a game that is both a testament to the power of community and a respite from the chaos of our digital lives. As lead producer John Lau says, "I’m not saying Monument Valley 3 is a perfect corrective to all that, but it is made in the spirit of something that is not disposable – something that you can cherish and take with you as a memory."