Described as an interactive M.C. Escher artwork, Monument Valley may change the way you play puzzle games. It's currently being developed by London-based design studio Ustwo, specifically for iPad.
Using architecture as the primary focus, Escher's Ascending and Descending printplayed a key role in the game concept. Throughout the game, you'll find moving platforms, shifting stairs, and various other illusions customary in Escher's artwork. But the game also draws inspiration from previous titles, like Zelda and Myst. What makes Monument Valley different from other puzzle games is its emphasis on the building itself using a bird's eye view, rather than a first or third-person camera angle.
With this Escher-like prespective, you will have to figure out how to guide the main character, Ida, to the highest tower. Each level brings new obstacles, ranging from waterfalls to crows blocking your path. As you maneuver through the building, you must alter your surroundings and solve puzzles to accomplish your goal.
“People have an innate sense of geometry, patterns and space,” says Ken Wong, artist and designer of the game in an interview with Wired. “We find cubic forms and staircases and interlocking tiles beautiful. There’s also something satisfying and even a bit mystical about shapes lining up perfectly.”
Monument Valley will be released for iPad sometime in 2014, with other mobile devices following shortly after. To get a chance to beta test the game, you can sign up here.