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Monument Valley vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Monument Valley's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Monument Valley
This App
The Room Two
Nemesis
Old Man's Journey
Contender
Hidden Folks
Contender
Linelight
Peer
KAMI 2
Peer
Samorost 3
Peer
Machinarium
Peer
Sky: Children of the Light
New Kid
Core Identity
Developerustwo gamesFireproof Studios LimitedBroken RulesAdriaan de JonghBT ProductionsState of Play GamesAmanita Design s.r.o.Amanita Design s.r.o.thatgamecompany
CategoryGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesGames
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.8 / 54.9 / 54.4 / 54.9 / 54.9 / 54.7 / 50.0 / 54.4 / 54.8 / 5
Ratings Count13,94116,5052,33312,41499314,7880982261,153
PriceUSD3.99$1.99$4.99$4.99$1.99Free$19.99$9.99Free
Release DateApr 3, 2014Dec 12, 2013May 18, 2017Feb 15, 2017Jul 27, 2017Mar 29, 2017Mar 14, 2016Sep 8, 2011Jul 21, 2019
Last UpdatedMay 8, 2025May 29, 2018Nov 26, 2025Nov 19, 2025Jul 17, 2022Jun 17, 2025Oct 31, 2023Oct 5, 2023Apr 29, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentpositiveexcellent---mixed--mixed
Score75/10088/100---55/100--55/100
Praises
  • Visual design and atmospheric audio create a soothing, high-quality puzzle experience for players
  • Intricate puzzle design and atmospheric storytelling create a highly immersive experience for lateral thinkers
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  • Engaging Gameplay
  • Aesthetic Design
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  • Atmospheric visual design and peaceful audio composition create a relaxing escape for daily players
Complaints
  • Technical instability and freezing during chapter transitions disrupt the flow of gameplay
  • Lack of zoom functionality for text and clues hinders accessibility for some players
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  • Excessive Advertising
  • Technical Issues and Data Loss
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  • Technical instability including frequent crashes and server splits disrupts the core gameplay experience
Requests
  • Additional levels or expanded content to extend the longevity of the puzzle experience
  • Implementation of a zoom feature for clues and notes to improve readability
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  • Account retrieval features are needed to recover lost progress and previously purchased cosmetics
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Iconic minimalist visual language sustains long-term brand recognition
  • Meditative, ad-free UX creates a high-barrier-to-entry for ad-supported competitors
  • Reactive audio-visual design reinforces premium positioning
  • Tactile interaction model sustains premium brand authority
  • Atmospheric soundscape creates a benchmark for genre immersion
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  • Strong, recognizable brand identity with high-quality aesthetic
  • High user engagement through Puzzle Builder and UGC library
  • Solid core gameplay loop
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  • Social-network effects anchored in non-verbal interaction drive daily retention
  • Cross-platform progression removes hardware-based switching costs
Weaknesses
  • Chapter-transition crashes in the latest release erode the user experience
  • Short content duration (approx. 1 hour) limits long-term LTV
  • Negative sentiment from corporate labor controversies impacts brand perception
  • $1.99 paid gate limits install volume vs F2P rivals
  • Missing zoom functionality creates accessibility friction
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  • Aggressive ad-monetization causing user churn
  • Recurring technical issues with progress syncing
  • Lack of non-intrusive monetization options
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  • High cosmetic pricing relative to category median
  • Persistent server-split bugs erode the core social experience
Pricingpaidpaidpaidpaidpaidfreefreefreefreemium
MomentumMaintenanceZombieActiveSteadyZombie-SteadyMaintenanceActive
Update Cadence2 versions, ~298d avg5 versions, ~1075d avg5 versions5 versions5 versions-5 versions5 versions5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~6d avg

Compare Monument Valley head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Monument Valley, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0