tldr: love the gameplay, story is fine but doesn't live up to the nostalgiaI 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).

This game definitely takes the previous editions and kicks it up a notch. I didn’t find the puzzles too difficult, but I’m not sure if that’s just because I’ve played Monument Valley several times and have improved at it. The levels are beautiful as always, and you now get to pilot a boat in certain levels. Once you complete the 10 levels, you can explore a large lake and play a variety of bonus levels. My only complaint is that starting a level is slow; the animations are gorgeous but take a long time, and you often need to walk or travel around a map to go to the level you want, rather than use a menu.

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

No matter how many times apple doesn’t let me write a review I’ll still try. This third installment is not worth the purchase if you played and paid before. Its like EA they’ll show it, get you all excited and have you play with full progress just to hit you with micro transaction. Which is what happened here, they’re greedy and predatory if this how they conduct their games and business which wasn’t how it seemed before but this was a slap to the face.To have people need a subscription to netflix, not make any announcement about how its actually not needed anymore and to fully remove the game from the app store, put it back under a different format and have people to unlock it via purchase again with no progress sounds like not worth the hassle of ever enjoying the franchise ever again and I regret showing it off to family and friends, its like I tricked them into a MLM and theres constantly a new tier to unlock.