| Price | $3.99 |
| Version | 3.3.104 |
| Category | Puzzle |
| Developer | ustwo games |
| Source | iOS, Android |
| Rating | (4.8) |
An easy reference point for Monument Valley’s visual style might be M.C. Escher. But such a simple comparison would be a disservice to the game because, as much as the jumbled and cluttered environment does owe much to the artist’s work, the ability to interact with an altered view of the world makes the game all the more striking.
The objective is to guide Princess Ida through the angular and dreamlike scenery of Monument Valley. Tap anywhere along the path and she will make her way to the desired area (assuming she can), but the route forward is not always clear. It’s up to you to pull, drag, twist, and generally manipulate the environment to create a path through the world.
This manipulation of the world’s shapes, which forces you to move large sections of geometric landscapes by swiping your finger across the screen, is the basis of Monument Valley’s puzzles. Even without a tutorial, the very tactile aspect of the world will make you want to experiment. The bumps on the stop invite you to pull them, the wheels (which turn vast portions of the map) ask you to spin them, and the tools you need already appear to you without explicit explanation. If you watch carefully as you move the world, you will see which crazy sections of the world join Escher’s impossible geometry and gradually help you find the solutions to the puzzles.
The game is based on “what if?”, so you can end up accidentally erasing large portions of the world. The lack of challenges will never let you down because all the unexpected discoveries are sure to make you smile. All this works thanks to a careful and precise game design that leaves nothing to chance. Each and every one of the ten scenarios has been meticulously created and, besides being fully functional, they are also visually stunning.
For a premium game with no demo, Monument Valley is quite short. But its value lies not in the length, but in the art and design of the world, making it hard to put a value on every minute you play. I’m really looking forward to more, and that’s a testament to the game’s ingenuity and imagination, rather than the price.
