Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2014

Monument Valley

Ustwo (¥400; iOS, Android)

Where art meets interactivity in a surreal landscape

Monument Valley is one of those particular titles that you find yourself compelled to revisit again and again to bask in the creativity and atmosphere. Developed by Ustwo, the game pays homage to the mathematical artistry of M.C. Escher, while painting a beautiful, interpretive story of its own.

Follow Ida, the silent princess, as she makes her way through sand-blown, twisting structures set in a beautiful backdrop reminiscent of Arabian folktales.

Each of the ten chapters, though short in duration, offers some of the cleverest level design seen on the platform, each with its Escher-like impossible angles and endless loops, and it is up to Ida to traverse these pathways while rotating and manipulating the world so that she may pay her respects at each monument.

Throughout each stage, Ida will converse with the spirits of a long dead civilization, drawing out the few tidbits of spoken storyline that will lead her on the path to uncovering the mysteries of the Monument Valley.

Smash Hit

Mediocre (free with ¥200 checkpoint unlock; iOS, Android)

Being juvenile has never been so fun (or safe)

Clear proof that almost anything can be made into an iOS game, Mediocre has implemented a simple concept brilliantly with its title Smash Hit. Considered an “infinite-runner,” Smash Hit has you traveling down geometrical corridors armed with nothing but your reflexes and a cluster of metal ball bearings.

The aim of the game is to simply reach the end, but along the way you will be challenged by obstacles of varying complexity—and as the title suggests, it’s up to you to smash through them.

Break through glass screens, twisting pillars, pendulums and surprise walls—as you lob arching bearings at the obstacles with two of your fingers.

Be warned: be sparing with each shot, for these are your lives, too. Run out and it’s game over. Hit particular targets, however, and you gain five shots—with each added increase accumulating into a kind of level-up, allowing for more shots per throw. Hit any of the many obstacles, though, and expect to lose ten of your total bearings and suffer a reset to the level-up counter.

The game shows its uniqueness in its game mechanics and its approach. There are few iOS titles that manage such a level of physical and realistic destruction, as each pane of glass or target smashes with a satisfying realism—satisfying without being excessive—and the mellow, ambient music counters this destruction perfectly.

Good for both those stressful days when you need to vent or those chilled days when you just want to zone out, Smash Hit certainly delivers what it promises.

Republique

Camouflaj  (¥500; iOS)

Use stealth as your ally in a fight against “The Man” in a dystopian society

Funded by Kickstarter and released solely for iOS, Republique is, at its core, a story-driven, stealth-lover’s dream. Influenced by such internationally renowned titles as Metal Gear Solid, Republique has you relying on such tactics as diversion, hacking and evasion to outwit your foes as you remotely guide a young captive, Hope, through a thrilling and engrossing world of political and expressive censorship, oppression and rebellion.

You take on the role of an anonymous hacker who has gained control of the Republique’s surveillance systems as you bounce from one camera to the next hacking door locks, investigating computer terminals and uncovering propaganda while shepherding Hope through the winding corridors and checkpoints in order to find salvation.

Along the way, you are assisted by Cooper, a hacker in his own right who speaks to you with an often comedic text-to-speech program. Cooper offers insights into the world and its inhabitants, ever pushing the story along.

One of the few high-quality AAA titles for iOS, Republique is an episodic affair with five sizable installments, the remaining four to be released throughout the year.

Filled to the brim with amazing design and top-tier voice acting from some of the gaming industry’s most familiar talents, expect to be swept away with a highly engaging story that’s brilliantly told and expertly crafted.