Independent developer Studio BBB released MONOWAVE and it's now available for the PC via Steam along with the Nintendo Switch. The game combines atmospheric exploration, thoughtful platforming, and emotion-driven puzzles.
MONOWAVE follows Mono, a newborn Guardian who has been tasked with restoring balance to a mysterious world. To do this, Mono has to reunite the four scattered Emotions which are Anxiety, Anger, Sorrow and Happiness.
As Mono reunites the scattered Emotions one by one, each changes how they navigate and interact with the world. Anxiety for example, lets Mono sense traps. Meanwhile, Anger enables wall-jumps. Then there's Sorrow which allows Mono to melt through narrow gaps. Finally, Happiness is one that can increase the jump height. Then as the adventure progresses, these same abilities evolve further and as a result give Mono new ways to explore and overcome the challenges they encounter.
While the abilities are indeed exciting, they extend beyond movement. The game features a total of 18 spirits and each reacts differently to their current Emotion. By singing to nearby spirits, players can experiment with Anxiety, Anger, Sorrow and Happiness. Doing this, they can discover 72 possible interactions that can affect puzzles and traversal. The four major boss encounters are similarly shaped by their ruling Emotion and put how players understand each Emotion to the test.
Beyond the main adventure, MONOWAVE features eight hidden stages. In particular, there are two secret stages in each of its four main regions. There are also the dedicated Codices covering spirits, environments, worlds and the four Emotion Spirits. Together, these optional discoveries offer plenty of opportunities to uncover more of MONOWAVE's world and the emotions that shape it.
In a statement, Studio BBB CEO Gwonyeong Lim
“We wanted players to experience emotions and empathy through play,” said Gwonyeong Lim, CEO of Studio BBB. “In MONOWAVE, paying attention to how a spirit feels can help you find a way forward. We hope players enjoy discovering those connections, whether they’re playing on their own or sharing the adventure with someone else.”
MONOWAVE is available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are planned for release later in 2026.
