The best games like Monument Valley share its calm pace and its beautiful, hand-made worlds. Try Alto's Odyssey if you want a peaceful ride that never ends, Townscaper if you'd rather build something pretty with no goals at all, and Mini Metro if the puzzles were your favorite part. Each one has a one-time price on the App Store, and each suits a different kind of evening.
What makes Monument Valley worth chasing
Monument Valley · $3.99 onceView app ›
In Monument Valley, you guide a quiet princess through towers that bend like optical illusions. You twist and slide parts of each building to open new paths, and the game is designed so that anyone can pick it up and finish it. It costs $3.99 to buy.
When people look for games like Monument Valley, they usually aren't hunting for the same puzzles again. They want the feeling it leaves behind: a calm evening, a world that looks like a picture book, and nothing pushing them to hurry. So instead of one long list, we picked games that match one part of that feeling each, and we say which part.
Three things to keep in mind as you read:
- The look. Some of these games are worth opening just to stare at.
- The pace. None of them punish you for taking your time.
- The length. Some are a few calm evenings, one can fill months.
What to look for in relaxing puzzle games
Not every calm-looking game is calm to play. Before you buy, it helps to check three things.
A pace you set. The best relaxing puzzle games let you stop and think for as long as you like. If a game keeps a clock running, it may not give you the evening you're after.
A world worth looking at. Part of Monument Valley's charm is that every screen could be a poster. Look at the screenshots on each app page before you decide.
A clear price. Every game below has a one-time price on the App Store, listed next to its name, so you know what you're paying before you start.
Alto's Odyssey: a calm, endless ride
Alto’s Odyssey · $4.99 onceView app ›
Alto's Odyssey is the pick if Monument Valley's scenery is what stayed with you. You glide down dunes, canyons and old temples, doing flips and grinding on vines with a single tap. The run never ends, and the scenery, weather and light keep changing as you go.
It's more of a motion game than a puzzle game, so it suits a different mood. Where Monument Valley asks you to stop and think, Alto's Odyssey asks you to let go and ride. There's also a zen mode with no score at all, which turns it into something close to a moving painting.
Who it suits: anyone who wants to unwind before bed, in short or long sessions. It costs $4.99 to buy.
Townscaper: a relaxing game with no goals
Townscaper · $4.99 onceView app ›
Townscaper is closer to a toy than a game. You tap on the water to place colored blocks, and the app turns them into houses, arches, stairs and gardens on its own. There are no goals, no score and no way to fail.
That makes it the most relaxing pick here. If what you loved about Monument Valley was the quiet, and the puzzles were just in the way, Townscaper gives you the quiet with nothing in the way. You can build one small island in five minutes, or spend an hour on a whole harbor town.
Who it suits: creative people, all ages, and anyone who wants to relax with no pressure. It costs $4.99 to buy.
Mini Metro: for the puzzle lover
Mini Metro · $3.99 onceView app ›
If the puzzles were your favorite part of Monument Valley, Mini Metro is the next step. You draw train lines between stations as a city grows. New stations keep appearing, so you keep redrawing lines and deciding where to spend a limited number of trains and tunnels. Each game ends when a station gets too crowded.
It looks like a real subway map, clean and simple, which gives it the same tidy beauty Monument Valley has. It's more of a thinking game, though, and a round can get busy near the end. There's also an endless mode for calmer play.
Who it suits: puzzle and strategy fans, in short sessions. It costs $3.99 to buy.
Threes!: a quick puzzle for short breaks
Threes! · $5.99 onceView app ›
Threes! is a simple number puzzle. You swipe numbered tiles around a small grid, joining 1s with 2s and matching numbers together to make bigger ones. It's easy to learn in under a minute and hard to master, and each tile has its own little personality.
It doesn't look anything like Monument Valley, but it shares its best quality: it respects your time. A round fits in a coffee break, and you'll want just one more.
Who it suits: puzzle lovers who want something for quick breaks. It costs $5.99 to buy.
Stardew Valley: when you want a longer, cozy game
Stardew Valley · $4.99 onceView app ›
Monument Valley is short, and some people finish it wishing it would keep going. Stardew Valley is the opposite. You inherit an overgrown farm and slowly turn it into your own. Between planting and harvesting you fish, explore caves, make friends with the townspeople and can even get married. There's no rush and no way to lose.
It's a much bigger game, so it's less of a calm evening and more of a calm few months. If you want a cozy iPhone game to come back to every day, this is the one.
Who it suits: fans of cozy games who like long, relaxing sessions. It costs $4.99 to buy.
Games like Monument Valley, compared
Here's what each one costs on the App Store, side by side:
| Monument Valley | Alto’s Odyssey | Townscaper | Mini Metro | Threes! | Stardew Valley | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $3.99 once | $4.99 once | $4.99 once | $3.99 once | $5.99 once | $4.99 once |
How to choose your next calm iPhone game
Ask yourself what you liked most about Monument Valley, then follow that.
If you loved the look
Pick Alto's Odyssey. It's the one you'll keep playing just to see what the light does next.
If you loved the puzzles
Pick Mini Metro for a thinking game with a clean, beautiful map, or Threes! if you want something smaller you can play anywhere.
If you just wanted to relax
Pick Townscaper. No goals, no score and no way to fail, so there's nothing to stress about.
If it ended too soon
Pick Stardew Valley. It's a cozy game you can play for months, at your own pace.
Not sure yet? Tell us what you're in the mood for and find a calm game that fits, or browse all the games we cover.
Frequently asked questions
What games are like Monument Valley?
Alto's Odyssey, Townscaper, Mini Metro, Threes! and Stardew Valley each share part of what makes Monument Valley special: a calm pace, a beautiful look, or clever puzzles.
How much does Monument Valley cost?
Monument Valley costs $3.99 to buy on the App Store.
Is Townscaper a game?
It's closer to a relaxing toy. You place colored blocks on the water and the app builds houses, arches and gardens from them, with no goals, no score and no way to fail.
What is a good calm iPhone game for short breaks?
Threes! fits a coffee break: you swipe and combine numbered tiles, and it's easy to learn in under a minute. Mini Metro also works in short sessions.
What should I play after Monument Valley if I want something longer?
Stardew Valley. You turn an overgrown farm into your own and can keep playing for months, with no rush and no way to lose.
Keep deciding: Find a calm game for tonight, Monument Valley on Squapp, Offline games for iPhone.
