The indie game team Studio BBB was founded by five students from the Art & Technology department at Sogang University in Korea. Though they did not have traditional game development backgrounds, their passion for game creation and desire to enhance their skills led them to develop MONOWAVE, an emotion-driven puzzle game, starting in 2023. The game’s intriguing concept, unique art style, and diverse gameplay mechanics earned them the Best Student Game award at Indie Game Award 2025 during Taipei Game Show.
Now officially graduates, the five members have decided to establish an independent game studio and commit to full-time development. The team revealed that in Korean, the word “non-mainstream” (비주류, bi-ju-ryu) starts with the same “B” sound as in English, inspiring the name “Studio BBB”—which embodies the idea of “Triple B, Embracing the Joy of Being Offbeat and Unconventional!“
A Unique Puzzle Experience Inspired by Emotions – Studying Psychology Before Development
The core of MONOWAVE is a puzzle system based on four emotions: joy, anger, sadness, and anxiety. These emotions grant players unique abilities that affect the game world and help them overcome various challenges. Initially, the team considered a puzzle mechanic based on physical changes, such as water turning into ice. However, they later explored the idea: “Might people feel more connected to the human mind and emotions?” This led them to study psychology and philosophy, drawing inspiration from psychologist Paul Ekman’s classification of emotions before settling on these four emotions.
Several aspects of the game are drawn from the team’s personal experiences. For instance, MONOWAVE features a “resonance system” that allows the protagonist, Mono, to interact with NPCs through song. Meanwhile, in the “anxiety world,” misty areas restrict emotional expression, requiring players to use “joy butterflies” to clear the fog—symbolizing how warmth and positive emotions can help overcome anxiety. The game’s art direction combines scratch art and one-line drawing, creating visuals that are simple yet layered with depth.
“We love Inside Out, but we did not use it as a direct source,” the team admitted. While their inspirations did not come from the movie, they admire how it portrays the power of emotions. The concept that “sadness can lead to healing” closely aligns with their own ideas. If given the chance to collaborate, it would be a great honor for them. When Inside Out 2 introduced the new character Anxiety, the team was delighted, joking, ” It felt like Pixar had read our minds!”
From Korea to the World – Emotional Resonance Beyond Language and Culture
The team learned about Taipei Game Show through Busan Indie Connect (BIC) Festival in Korea. Curious about how Taiwanese players would respond to their game, they joined this year’s event through support from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). Seeing players’ expressions—confusion while solving puzzles, excitement upon success, and their enthusiastic feedback—reinforced the team’s belief that emotions transcend language and culture, resonating with players worldwide.
Beyond showcasing their game, winning Best Student Game at Indie Game Award 2025 has significantly boosted their recognition, attracting attention from potential partners. The team shared that MONOWAVE is now 75% complete, with plans for an official release on PC and console platforms in Q4 of this year. They are actively developing additional levels, collectible elements, difficulty options, and a multiplayer mode, while also preparing for a Nintendo Switch version. Their ultimate goal is to share the value of emotions and the power of empathy with players around the world.
Check out their exclusive video interview on the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel, and stay updated with the latest team developments through Studio BBB’s social media pages.
