Scarlet String Studios

Factsheet

Developer:
Scarlet String Studios
Based in Toronto, Canada

Release date:
October 31st, 2024

Platforms:
Steam
PlayStation 5
Nintendo Switch
Epic Games Store
GOG

Website:
https://scarletstring.moe/monospaced-lovers

Regular Price:

USD

$19.99

Description

Monospaced Lovers is an exploration-driven platformer about closeness and distance. Journey through a metafictional, fantasy-filled land and find the truth of your fragile world before it disintegrates.

Monospaced Lovers is a semi-hardcore adventure-platformer that defies the traditional Metroidvania formula. It features exploration-driven quests and puzzles reminiscent of classic Zelda, combined with a visual novel-inspired storyline that's equal parts emotional and philosophical.

The game strives to be original — a novel experience that's more than just a mashup of two existing genres.

STORY
Clara wakes up to a phone that isn't hers.

On it, she finds a perplexing message left by a hacker named the Gòd o͏f̴ B̴in͠a̸r̨y̧, stating that her time left in this world is short. Her only clue is a series of encrypted messages locked on the device — and a mysterious new friend who woke up to a phone that wasn't his.

What does this enigmatic hacker want? Why is he talking about the end of the world? And what does any of this have to do with Clara's quaint and peaceful life in Haven Heights?

All we know for sure is that if she doesn't embark on this quest... her friends will drag her into it anyway.

History

This project began as a small-scale narrative adventure game by a Film Studies major and self-taught programmer (fun fact: I narrowly passed Comp Sci 101 with a D-). I originally thought to create the game in RPG Maker, inspired by To The Moon. But when I began learning Unity, the project spiralled into a surprisingly complex platformer with a distinctive style of puzzles and boss battles.

I began working on the game seriously in March 2018, and I gradually assembled a team to bring it to completion.

Features

Chat up the local Tanuki, learn how to translate Slimespeak, and explore every corner of your quaint home town until you've found all 60 collectibles. The game features non-linear, collectathon-style exploration mixed with RPG-style story quests.
Dodge bullets! With 4+ bullet hell boss battles and even more challenge rooms, you'll have to learn how to platform in a whole new way.
Experience a heartfelt story with a 100,000+ word count. Comedy! Drama! Social anxiety! Philosophy? We dropped the "silent protagonist" trope to create a heroine with her own personality and feelings — and she's always one step ahead of you.
Work through old-school puzzles that will make you want to use the in-game hints. Rekindle that childlike sense of discovery with a game that treats you like an adult — inspired by Fez, La Mulana, Majora's Mask, and much more.