MONOWAVE

MONOWAVE is a hand-drawn 2D puzzle adventure by South Korean studio BBB. The young guardian spirit Mono must find four scattered emotions to restore the balance of his world. The game combines platforming sections with puzzles based on the character's emotional abilities and their effect on other creatures.

Four different emotional states determine which paths Mono can reach. The adventure can be played alone or with a friend in local co-op.

MONOWAVE launched for PC and Nintendo Switch on Sep 16, 2026, according to the dates listed by Steam and Nintendo. The Japanese publisher Phoenixx gives Sep 17, 2026 in its press release. The difference concerns regional dates, not a second game title.

The native versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are still announced for 2026. Phoenixx has not confirmed a precise release date for these two consoles.

MONOWAVE is available on Windows PC and macOS via Steam, and on Nintendo Switch. A standalone Switch 2 version is not confirmed by the Nintendo listing: the game is listed there under the Nintendo Switch system, even though compatible downloads on Switch 2 are mentioned.

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S were announced as later native releases. This means there is neither a PS4 nor an Xbox One version. The specific date for the new console versions is still pending.

MONOWAVE combines 2D platforming sections with an emotion mechanic. Mono switches between emotional abilities to reach higher ledges, get over walls, use narrow passages or avoid danger. The right mood therefore determines not only the character's expression but directly which paths are passable.

Mono can also share his emotions with the creatures in his environment. As a result, they react to him differently, which affects encounters and puzzles. In these interactions, the game explicitly relies on empathy as a solution.

On Windows, MONOWAVE requires at least Windows 10 version 21H1, an Intel Core i3-6100 or AMD FX-6300, 8 GB RAM, a DirectX 11 graphics card and 4 GB of storage. Steam lists the recommended graphics as GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 560. The listings distinguish between a minimum target resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second and 1080p at 60 frames per second in the recommended configuration.

On macOS, the store requires at least macOS 12 Monterey. Supported processors include Apple M1 and certain Intel Core i5 models. This version also lists at least 8 GB RAM and 4 GB of free storage.

Joy lets Mono jump higher. Anger enables wall jumps, while sadness helps him get underwater and through lower passages. Fear increases his ability to spot dangers and avoid them. Each of these abilities is tied to a specific movement problem.

Switching between emotions is therefore a core part of navigation. While one section requires jumping, the next may require a narrow passage or a different behavior from the creatures around it.

MONOWAVE supports single player and local co-op for two people. In co-op mode, at least one of the players needs a controller. Nintendo also lists one to two players on one console.

On Steam, Remote Play Together is also listed. This lets you share local co-op via Steam with another person, but it is no proof of standalone cross-platform online servers or cross-play between console and PC. An online mode should therefore not be inferred from the Steam feature.

The residents of MONOWAVE react to the emotions Mono expresses. A creature can react differently to the same environment depending on its emotional state, so an encounter does not have to be solved by jump timing alone. The official description explicitly places these relationships alongside the movement puzzles.

The core story follows the reunification of the four emotions and the healing of the Prism Tree. As a result, Mono's interactions with other characters have a narrative function and are not merely decorative reactions along the way.

MONOWAVE uses two-dimensional, colorful illustrations. Studio BBB describes the design as inspired by childhood scribble drawings. The sets combine clearly separate fantasy worlds with characters whose emotions are meant to be visible in the game.

The drawn aesthetic is thus part of the storytelling: the four emotional worlds differ in their landscapes, while Mono's changing states shape the movements and encounters.

Steam lists ten supported languages, including German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and simplified and traditional Chinese. German is listed for the interface and subtitles. Full German voice acting is not shown in the Steam table.

The Nintendo product page also lists German as a supported language. For individual console versions not yet released, the scope of localization must not be assumed to be the same automatically.

The young guardian spirit Mono must bring Joy, Sorrow, Anger and Fear back together. The emotions were scattered after the emotion shards of the Prism Tree disappeared. The tree begins to wither and the balance of its world starts to wobble.

The journey runs through four areas, each shaped by a different emotion. Studio BBB mentions misty forests and glowing caves, for example. Each landscape links its mood with its own obstacles and puzzles.

MONOWAVE has a specially composed soundtrack. Publisher Phoenixx announced the release of the music at the launch of the PC and Switch versions. The soundtrack is sold separately from the base game and is not additional playable content.

The title uses music and changing locations to build a world whose four areas are based on different emotional states.