How Soundscapes Shape the Storytelling in Monument Valley 3

Sure, let’s give this a go:

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Okay, so I’m sitting here thinking about Monument Valley 3 and, honestly, the audio is not just background noise. It’s like it pulls you right into the game. I actually talked to Todd Baker, the Audio Director (super nice guy, by the way), and he got into all the juicy details about how the sound and music tell this journey of Noor, the main character. Oh, and mark your calendar! July 22, 2025, is the big day it drops on Xbox.

Now, when we first started putting Monument Valley 3 together, we wanted the sound to do more than just hang out with visuals. No sitting on the bench and watching the story unfold from the sidelines. Picture this: the sound and gameplay totally intertwined, like the music knows your next move before you make it. That’s probably why it’s been nominated for some cool awards.

Lucie Treacher, the co-composer (fun fact: she can make a kazoo sound like an orchestra), and I got wild with the sound mixing. Didn’t want the same old soundtrack routine from the first couple of games. Nah, we went on a whole new tangent. Headphones on, friends, because you’ll want to hear every nook and crank when you’re playing on Xbox.

We treated each level like its own unique sound bubble. You know how some people say the devil’s in the details? Well, we were on first-name terms with those details. We mixed in instruments from all around the globe. Got a Bansuri, Gamelan chimes, and even the Kora—yep, that’s a West African harp if you’re curious. Next thing I knew, it felt like our music had its passport stamped from every continent. Layered all this over a 17-piece string section just for kicks.

What’s really cool—and this might sound a bit whacky—is how interactive everything is. Like, water isn’t just water. It’s not just a wet thing. It’s part of the music! So we recorded all sorts of water sounds, splashes, rivers, you name it. It’s weirdly transformative when you’re in the game.

Building levels got interesting. I mean, we even had a whole scene inspired by origami. Paper that crinkles! Think about that. It was like watching someone fold music notes. There was something just so visceral about it.

Anyway—wait, where was I? Oh, right. Noor’s really the emotional hub here. We wanted the audio to ride along that emotional rollercoaster. At some points, it’s just Noor, her thoughts, and some sparse strings kinda echo-ing around her. Other times, the music gets all epic, like a soundtrack to your inner triumph. Powerful stuff.

Whenever you pop on your headphones, it’s like stepping into another world. No stone is left unturned—they meant to make you feel something, y’know?

By the way, if vinyl’s your thing, you can snag the soundtrack on vinyl too. It’s all out there on the streaming platforms as well—so, no excuses.

To sum it all up (which is hard ’cause there’s just so much), Monument Valley 3 isn’t just playing. It’s hearing. And living. Will Noor save her home? Guess we’ll find out this July. Get ready for an adventure and keep your ears perked.

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Phew, quite a ride, huh?