If you’ve ever held onto a game long after everyone else has moved on, then chances are you’ll be able to relate to Monologin’s protagonist, Leo. A nightshift convenience store worker, Leo’s only solace comes from EdenVale Online, an old MMORPG that hardly anyone plays anymore.
The customers may seem friendly, but Leo’s perspective paints them in a negative light. Piko, for instance, is depicted as a fast talker who ridicules dying MMOs and prefers anything new and trendy. While Leo works with a straight face, his inner thoughts reflect his loneliness and desire to return to EdenVale.
Monologin’s dual-perspective structure allows you to see Leo’s encounters with the customers in a different light. The choices you make determine which of the three endings you get, but the story’s themes of escapism, superiority, loneliness, and the fear of getting left behind are present throughout the entire game. Each playthrough takes roughly 30 minutes and was designed to be completed in a single sitting.
Monologin’s red, black, and white color palette and anime-esque visual style are reminiscent of creator VAINSANE’s other psychological horror titles. The game’s interface, eerie soundtrack, and use of empty digital spaces are meant to project the feeling of playing a dying MMO.
Monologin is available for Windows, macOS, Steam OS, and Linux (Steam).
