Continuing our journey through the creative inspirations that helped shape My Monsters, we now turn to a modern classic that left a profound impact on the DNA of our game — Hollow Knight, by Team Cherry.
While My Monsters exists in a vibrant dream realm and leans into surreal, expressive storytelling, Hollow Knight offered us a masterclass in building a world that is both mysterious and emotionally resonant, where every corner seems to whisper a story and every shadow hides a secret.
Hollow Knight captivated us with its hauntingly beautiful setting — an interconnected world filled with silence, melancholy, and a sense of ancient decay. That atmosphere, shaped through meticulous world design and environmental storytelling, became a benchmark for us while crafting Onirium, the dreamlike setting of My Monsters. We wanted players to truly feel the world around them, whether stepping through places like old mines or forests glowing with forgotten memories.
The minimalist yet expressive art style of Hollow Knight also deeply resonated with our team. Its ability to evoke emotion through contrast — light and dark, hope and despair — helped guide the visual tone of My Monsters. While our world is more colorful and surreal, we were inspired by Hollow Knight’s use of space, silhouette, and layered environments to create a powerful sense of place and atmosphere.
Another key influence was the combat. In Hollow Knight, battles feel tight, meaningful, and rhythmic, like a dance of movement and timing. In My Monsters, while the combat mechanics differ due to the hybrid perspective (third-person exploration mixed with first-person action), the intention is still to make encounters feel purposeful. Rather than aiming for intensity or precision, we approached each battle as a kind of puzzle: something to read, to understand, and to solve using timing, observation, and the right use of Moti’s abilities. It’s less about fast reflexes, and more about thinking clearly when things get messy.
Much like Tales of Soda Island, Hollow Knight also showed us the power of restraint. Its minimal use of dialogue and ambient storytelling helped immerse players in its world without needing to overexplain. That balance resonated with us. In My Monsters, we do tell pieces of the story through dialogue, especially through the narrator and the characters you meet along the way. But when it comes to Moti, we make a point not to speak for him. We don’t explain what he’s thinking or feeling. Instead, we try to show it through the connection he builds with you. It’s up to you to feel it.
By blending inspiration from both surreal animation and elegant indie platformers, My Monsters aims to create a VR experience that is rich, captivating, and emotionally immersive.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore the games, stories, and visuals that helped bring My Monsters to life.
In the meantime, you can support our journey by adding My Monsters to your wishlist on the Meta Quest Store and be among the first to step into Onirium:
https://www.meta.com/experiences/my-monsters/9400542766635529/
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