Lightning
Published on February 15, 2026 · by Jochem ten Hove
Version 1.6 Nordic Update
The 1.6 Nordic Update is live! Discover the brand-new Lightning Ability, Winter-Themed Scenery, and Snowy Skins.
The 1.6 Nordic Update is now available in Monkey Wave! I've been working hard to bring a complete winter experience to the game. This update brings not just visual changes, but a completely new way to play.
What's new?
- New Lightning Ability for more intense gameplay
- 2 atmospheric winter sceneries (Snowy Forest & Winter Valley)
- 2 unique MonkeySkins (Yeti & Snowy Male Monkey)
- 4 exclusive Nordic profile icons for your collection
New Lightning Ability
The biggest addition is the Lightning Ability. Hold onto a monkey to call down powerful lightning strikes that deal massive splash damage to nearby enemies, perfect for melting bosses.
But be careful: if the monkey you're holding dies, the lightning stops instantly. You'll need to grab another one quickly to keep the storm raging.
Winter Sceneries
The Forest and Flower Valley maps have been transformed into beautiful winter landscapes. From snow-covered trees to frozen paths: the atmosphere is completely different.
This visual update brings a breath of fresh air to your favorite maps, making them feel brand new as you experience the chaos through the snow.
New Skins
Gear up for the freeze! Transform your Gorilla into an unstoppable Yeti or stylize the Male Monkeys with a new snowy winter fur.
Yeti
A cool, mythical look that turns your Gorilla into the king of the snow.
Snowy Male Monkey
A fresh winter style, perfect for those cold days in the jungle.
New Profile Icons
Complete your profile with these four brand-new icons, designed specifically in the Nordic style.
Community Feedback
In addition to the new content, I've also made some balance adjustments based on your feedback.
- Merchant unlock level lowered from 10 to 5
- Co-op & Versus unlock level lowered from 3 & 5 to 1
- Boss Rush unlock level lowered from 12 to 10
- Flower Valley unlock level lowered from 14 to 12
- Forest Bee skins have less saturated colors to blend better with the environment
You've let me know loud and clear how much you love the Multiplayer modes and that grinding to unlock them felt like a barrier. I completely agree: playing together should be accessible to everyone right from the start! That's why Co-op and Versus are now instantly available at level 1.
The Merchant also plays a key role in Monkey Wave. During previous seasonal events, this special shop was already available from level 5, which sometimes caused confusion when an event ended. To keep things consistent, I've permanently lowered the unlock requirement to level 5.
I'm very curious to hear what you think of this Nordic update. Have fun playing, good luck unlocking all the items, and see you on the leaderboard!
Play Monkey Wave
Jump straight into the latest update. Download the game for free on the App Store or Google Play, or view it on Steam.
