Monument Valley 3 strains our brains with more gorgeous puzzles

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Monument Valley 3 launched Tuesday, the latest edition in one of the best puzzle game franchises ever. The challenges offer the same M. C. Escher-esque defiance of visual perspective as their predecessors, but there’s a new twist: a sailboat.

Monument Valley 3 stays the course

Solving the puzzles in the Monument Valley games involves guiding a character through buildings where perspective plays tricks — much like they do in the work of surrealist artist M. C. Escher. Meditative music and a lack of pressure or scoring makes play a generally calming experience.

The original version was a huge hit back in 2014, and a sequel arrived three years later. It’s taken seven more years for Monument Valley 3, but it’s finally here.

“Sail through impossible worlds, solve mind-bending puzzles, and discover the secrets of Noor’s journey,” says ustwo games of the new version. And a social media post from the developer says, “Join Noor as she explores mind-bending landscapes that unfold like origami, blending nature’s beauty with the impossible.”

Play Monument Valley 3 NOW!

Join Noor as she explores mind-bending landscapes that unfold like origami, blending nature’s beauty with the impossible. ✨⛵️

On App Store and Google Play with your Netflix Membership
➡️https://t.co/OY6ocQ1j3j pic.twitter.com/2kzIqgYfhz

— ustwo games (@ustwogames) December 10, 2024

Version 3 only on Netflix Games

Netflix subscribers who have paid little or no attention to the games available along with the streaming service now have a reason to stop ignoring them: Monument Valley 3 is only available with a Netflix subscription. There’s a stand-alone version in the App Store, but signing in to Netflix is required to play it.

Playing comes without additional fees or advertisements, though.

Those who haven’t played the original version or its equally brilliant sequel (or would like to do so again) can do so without a Netflix subscription. But those who do have a subscription can play the first and second installments at no extra cost. And the first and second versions are also part of Apple Arcade.

Ed Hardy

Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.

That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)

Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.