Monument Valley
GameBy Ustwo Games · Released Apr 3, 2014
In Monument Valley, the player leads the player-character princess Ida through mazes of optical illusions and impossible objects, which are referred to as "sacred geometry" in-game, as she journeys to be forgiven for something.
- Videos
- 12
Connections
Each row is a game or company named alongside Monument Valley, each column a document, oldest first. A mark means that document names it. Select a row to see those documents.
About the game
- Released
- Apr 3, 2014
- Developer
- Ustwo Games
- Genres
- Puzzle, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
- Platforms
- Windows Phone, Android, iOS, Mac
- Links
- Official site, Wikipedia
Game data from IGDB.com
Key figures from the reports
Monument Valley has achieved over 160 million downloads in its 10-year history, demonstrating the long-term viability of premium mobile gaming experiences.
PocketGamer.biz, 2024 · ustwo games’ María Sayans On The Sustainable Strategy Behind The Monumental Game: Monument Valley, p. 9
Monument Valley generated $5.8 million in net earnings against $1.4 million in development costs, resulting in a $4.5 million profit from 2.4 million sales.
PocketGamer.biz, 2015 · Big numbers from Monument Valley, Crossy Road and Minecraft, p. 10
The developer of Monument Valley, ustwo, faced significant user backlash and one-star review bombing after releasing eight additional levels as a $2 in-app purchase for a game that originally cost $3.
PocketGamer.biz, 2014 · What can we learn from Monument Valley's IAP?, p. 5
On Steam
Steam estimates as of 9 Oct 2026. Revenue is premium revenue on Steam only: game sales, without DLC.
- Revenue to date
- $1.3M
- Units sold
- 269K
- Last 12 months
- $215K
- 52K units
- Price
- $7.99
- Positive reviews
- 98%
- of 8,964 reviews
- Peak players
- 342
- at the same time
- Followers
- 11K
- Average playtime
- 4 h
| Year | Share of the best year | Revenue | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $238K | 42K | |
| 2023 | $277K | 48K | |
| 2024 | $307K | 65K | |
| 2025 | $327K | 75K | |
| 2026 so far | $161K | 38K |
On Steam since Jul 12, 2022 · Developer ustwo gamesSteam store page
Documents about Monument Valley
Your Game Isn't Missing From the Charts: It's Missing From the Citations
The gaming industry is undergoing a fundamental shift in discoverability, where traditional app store rankings are increasingly superseded by the influence of generative AI models.
- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is critical because LLMs prioritize authority, context, and citation quality over the popularity metrics used by traditional app stores.
- There is effectively zero overlap between games that rank on top-grossing or free download charts and those recommended by AI models, which favor long-standing titles with deep citation histories.
- Studios can influence AI rankings by securing earned media in high-authority outlets, as demonstrated by HiRise outranking Roblox on 10 of 12 specific search prompts after targeted PR efforts.
Game PR in the Age of AI: What Actually Works?
Generative Engine Optimization has emerged as the definitive strategy for game studios seeking to maintain discoverability in an era where AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini increasingly dictate consumer decision-making.
- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of ensuring a brand is cited in AI responses; AI platforms now pull 9.5 billion visits monthly, representing a 70% year-over-year increase while traditional Google search remains static.
- AI models prioritize games that have earned media coverage over those with high grossing chart rankings, as evidenced by AI recommending 2014's 'Monument Valley' for puzzle game queries despite it not being a top-grossing title.
- Data indicates that 88% of users accept the initial shortlist provided by an AI without performing a second prompt, and 74% of users select the AI's top-ranked recommendation.
Best Mobile Games on iPhone: Big Hits and Hidden Gems
The article presents a curated list of iPhone mobile games that balance short-session enjoyment with long-term depth, targeting a global audience of iOS users in 2026.
- The 2026 iPhone gaming landscape is characterized by a high volume of low-quality filler titles, necessitating a curated approach to app selection.
- Effective mobile device engagement is achieved by rotating between three distinct categories: large open-world adventures, quick competitive matches, and cozy simulation or puzzle games.
- The recommended selection of ten titles for 2026 includes Genshin Impact, MARVEL SNAP, Call of Duty: Mobile, Stardew Valley, Balatro, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Minecraft, Bloons TD 6, Dead Cells, and Monument Valley 2.
Apple's undercooked games efforts, Google's big AI claims, Ilkka's BAFTA speech, data, jobs, more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating a period of significant transition, marked by shifting leadership at major platform holders, the pervasive yet often clandestine integration of artificial intelligence, and the ongoing evolution of indie development.
- Google Cloud's games division reports that approximately 90% of game studios are currently using AI tools in development, though many studios underreport this usage to avoid public backlash.
- Apple's leadership under Tim Cook has historically shown disinterest in the gaming sector, exemplified by the perfunctory nature of the Apple Games app and Cook's own admission of not being a gamer during the Epic trial.
- Leadership changes at Apple, including the promotion of John Ternus and new App Store management under Carson Oliver and Anne Thai, may signal a shift toward better developer relations and increased focus on gaming hardware.
10 Best Paid Mobile Games with No Ads
The primary purpose of this analysis is to curate a selection of high-quality, premium mobile games that offer a complete user experience without the intrusion of advertisements, timers, or aggressive monetization tactics.
- Premium mobile games prioritize gameplay quality by eliminating advertisements, timers, and aggressive monetization tactics common in free-to-play models.
- The ten recommended titles—Dead Cells, Stardew Valley, Slay the Spire, Bloons TD 6, Pocket City 2, Monument Valley, The Room, Mini Metro, Terraria, and Minecraft—span action, strategy, simulation, and puzzle genres.
- Upfront pricing for these high-quality titles typically ranges from $0.99 to $9.99, depending on regional availability and promotional pricing.
Roblox brainrot explained, Ustwo’s strategy switch, Ubi closes mobile studio, 2026 predictions, more
This analysis examines the current state of the mobile gaming industry as of early 2026, focusing on shifting development strategies, platform trends, and market performance.
- Mobile gaming remains the industry's largest sector, accounting for 55% of total gaming revenue in 2025, according to Newzoo.
- Ustwo Games is pivoting to a 'PC-first' development strategy, signaling a decline in the viability of subscription-based mobile platforms like Apple Arcade and Netflix Games for premium indie developers.
- Ubisoft is closing its mobile-focused studio in Halifax, Canada, resulting in 71 layoffs and the cessation of live operations for Assassin's Creed Rebellion.
Stuck in the Middle With You: Translating Between Business and Creativity as a Producer
Game production functions as a critical bridge between the divergent priorities of business stakeholders and creative teams.
- Producers act as translators between the creative team, which prioritizes quality and exploration, and the business side, which prioritizes predictability, risk mitigation, and quantifiable outcomes.
- To resolve conflicts over project delays, producers should translate creative needs into business-relevant terms by framing requests as risk-management scenarios, such as comparing the impact of a six-month extension against potential revenue loss from poor reviews.
- Effective production requires maintaining an up-to-date, sized backlog that allows for immediate, data-driven answers when stakeholders ask about the impact of adding or changing features on the project's profitability and timeline.
Week in Mobile Games E58 - The UK games industry's £30m boost and Grow a Garden transforms Roblox
The UK games industry recently received a significant boost through a new £30 million government-backed Games Growth Package.
- The UK government launched a £30 million Games Growth Package, providing £10 million annually over three years to support early-stage developers and expand the UK Games Fund.
- Roblox title 'Grow a Garden' hit a record 21.3 million concurrent users in June, demonstrating the massive scale potential of user-generated content platforms compared to traditional AAA titles.
- Apple is facing significant regulatory pressure under the EU’s Digital Markets Act regarding anti-steering rules, which may force global changes to mobile monetization and user acquisition models.
Top 20 Global Mobile Apps: November 2024
SocialPeta’s November 2024 analysis ranks the top twenty global mobile apps by advertising spend, revenue, and downloads.
- Short-drama platforms are dominating advertising spend, led by ShortMax with 308,000 deduplicated creatives across 76 countries, 89% of which are new.
- NetShort revenue surged by 221.8% in November 2024, signaling a massive growth trend in the short-drama sector.
- Bluesky downloads increased by 221.4%, securing a top position on the App Store, while Netflix downloads grew 13.7% supported by its gaming strategy.
NIP Group Launches Game Publishing Division
NIP Group, a publicly traded esports organization, has officially expanded its business model by launching a dedicated game development and publishing division.
- NIP Group (NASDAQ: NIPG) has launched a new division dedicated to game development and publishing, marking a strategic shift away from a focus exclusively on competitive esports.
- The new publishing division will be led by NIP Group COO Hang “Allen” Sui, a former professional Counter-Strike player and veteran executive who previously held key roles at Tencent working on titles such as Valorant and PUBG: Battlegrounds.
- The company’s publishing strategy will be multifaceted, initially targeting the development of mini-games for social media, mobile games, and PC titles.
ustwo games’ María Sayans On The Sustainable Strategy Behind The Monumental Game: Monument Valley
Ustwo games maintains long-term industry relevance by balancing human-led creative inspiration with a rigorous, data-informed focus on player accessibility.
- Ustwo games maintains studio sustainability by capping project team sizes at 20 people and limiting development cycles to a maximum of 2.5 years to avoid over-dependence on any single title.
- Monument Valley has achieved over 160 million downloads in its 10-year history, demonstrating the long-term viability of premium mobile gaming experiences.
- Expanding mobile titles to PC and console platforms is a core strategy for diversifying revenue streams, building community, and overcoming the discoverability challenges inherent in mobile app stores.
7 Incredible Game Design Examples And Why They Work
Effective mobile game design requires a strategic balance between aesthetic appeal and functional user experience.
- Effective game design requires balancing aesthetic appeal with practical usability, ensuring that visual style supports rather than distracts from core gameplay mechanics.
- Voodoo’s Helix Jump (2018) demonstrates that hyper-casual titles can maintain player engagement through simple, vibrant color-coded levels that provide intuitive visual feedback without complex instructions.
- Monument Valley (2014) by Ustwo games utilizes 3D rendering, shading, and tone to create immersive environments that blur the line between art and puzzle-solving, enhancing the player's experience.
Companies behind it
As the documents state it.