Cast your mind back ten years and you might remember Monument Valley taking the App Store by storm. At the time, the puzzle game of impossible geometry was a breath of fresh air, a beautifully crafted masterpiece unlike any mobile game we’d seen before.
It racked up millions of downloads, dozens of awards, and was even featured in one of the biggest TV hits of the time, House of Cards. Three years later, a sequel dropped, and now seven more years have passed and we finally have the third installment of the franchise.
Copycats have come and gone in the meantime, with plenty of games taking inspiration both from Monument Valley’s novel gameplay and arresting aesthetic. But developers ustwo still do it best. Read our classic games entry on Monument Valley to see exactly why we loved it so much.
Now, perhaps in a nod to that TV appearance back in 2014, the new version is a Netflix exclusive. That means you’ll need to be a Netflix subscriber to play Monument Valley 3. Great if you’re already a member – free games, woohoo! – but perhaps an annoying barrier to those who don’t want or need the streaming service.
Either way, fans of the original two games should be pleased to see the return of those isometric pastel landscapes to the iPhone. While Monument Valley doesn’t look to break the mold of its predecessors, it adds new elements like traversal by boat into the mix. We haven’t finished the game yet, but can confirm it’s one of the most beautiful releases we’ve seen on the App Store.
Check out the trailer to see for yourself and download the game if you like what you see.