How Monument Valley Merges Minimalist Architecture with Game Design

Monument Valley is a minimalist puzzle game whose visual language is built on real‑world architectural forms such as Islamic domes, Indian step wells, Scottish castles, and the contemporary projects of architects Ricardo Bofill and Peter Eisenman. The designers deliberately limited color palettes and textures to create a clean, almost otherworldly environment.

According to game director Neil McFarlane, the team avoided redundant levels, hidden achievements, and secret unlocks; the sole goal is to guide the player through a seamless journey across each monument‑like level.

The game’s levels reference a wide range of structures: from the geometric precision of M.C. Escher’s "Ascending and Descending" to the stark forms of La Muralla Roja, and even to historic sites such as the Berlin Holocaust Memorial and the Chand Baori step well in India. These references appear as distinct color‑coded chapters that evoke sunrise, mist, and twilight.

Isometric projection, a technique popular among 1970s architectural draftsmen, underpins the visual style. This method allows players to perceive three‑dimensional space with minimal distortion, echoing the drawing practices of Peter Eisenman’s house projects and reinforcing the game’s sense of floating, impossible architecture.

Design decisions—such as removing secret levels and time limits—were made to keep the experience accessible to non‑gamers. The result is a game that feels like a museum exhibit: each platform exists in a floating world, highlighted by bold, simple imagery that stands out amid the clutter of typical app stores.

Visual references include: