Monument Valley 3

I’ve played Monument Valley 1 & 2 all the way through numerous times, and they’ve once again delivered. The graphics are more colorful & smoother, the music is better, sound effects blend seamlessly with the music, and there are some new puzzle strategies to keep it interesting. My only complaint is that if I’d rather listen to a podcast or my own music while playing, I can’t. Even if you turn off the game’s audio, it pauses any other playing media on your device until you close the game. It doesn’t allow you to restart that media while in the game, either. This happened on both iPhone and iPad. Don’t get me wrong, the game music is peaceful and elegant- but I’m annoyed when any game or app pauses my other playing media.

The new origami mechanics are.... so very cool. If you enjoyed the first two. Immediately get this one. If you haven't played the first two. Give this a shot. If you find it intriguing, buy the first two and play them in order. Spoiler but not really: this series of games are the only one to have actually invested in a character so much that it pained me at one point, and cheered me at others viscerally. The story unfolding is incredibly well done.

I have played the first two games multiple times, and I played this one when it was with Netflix and loved it. i just downloaded it on my Pixel 10 and there is a constant flicker in the background of the image that makes the game almost unplayable. I'm also disappointed in the decision to make the full game purchase an "in-app" purchase so that it doesn't end up in my family library with the first two games. I'll still play it if the flicker gets fixed, but that makes me sad.

pro: the visuals are still very good, some creative moments, although a little less sophisticated; also new tricks and smart illusions. you do,have to get pass the 10 levels for the extra games which are actually better than the 10 level ones. con: glitch control, each level is way too short and the tasks are not as challenging, and somehow lacking emotional excitement as the 1 and 2. you are going through the game just to finish the challenges, and you don't feel like you care about the little girl, which is a shame. also the layout is confusing - I thought I finally arrived at the end credits but then the boat will go to even more places if you go through another door ? the memory river boat section has np clear ending and no menu to go back and replay a certain chapter. i don't want to reset the whole game

I love the Monument Valley games and was excited to play this one to the point where I paid to unlock the full game before even starting. Unfortunately I now regret that as I haven't even finished chapter 2 and have encountered multiple freezes and graphical glitches that make the game unplayable. I will say the music and the art style are exactly what made me fall in love with the first two games which are present here as well. I just wish I could actually enjoy it.

tldr: love the gameplay, story is fine but doesn't live up to the nostalgia I love monument valley just by default, and this game did not disappoint. The puzzles are fun, the art is a treat to look at as ever. The decision to tell a more direct story with this installment was bold, but totally worth it. And the totem boat is fun and smooth to control. However, I have 2 very minor complaints. 1: too much dialog, the first 2 game's greatest strengths was how it used a show don't tell method to convey their stories, with some ominous foreshadowing and obscure lore dropped by the occasional ghosts. 2: too many characters. Aside from the mentor and the nomad I felt nothing for any of the people I met on my journey. Except mayybe the family we rescue from the flood. But pretty much everyone was one-note, and that would be fine were it not for the post game quests pretending like I had some profound connection with these people (except for the nomad's quest that was awesome).