Euclidean Lands
A twisty-turny puzzler of the best kind
$3.99 Developer Kunabi Brother, euclideanlands.com Platform Universal Requirements iOS 8.0 or later
Although it looks like an escapee from the Monument Valley universe, Euclidean Lands is firmly rooted in turn-based adventuring fare, much like Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go.
Your aim is to slay every opponent with your deadly spear, whereupon you declare victory and move on to the next stage. This isn’t easy. Not only must you figure out how to manipulate the cube to reach your foes, but some enemies unsportingly move about of their own accord. Also, stray into an aggressor’s line of sight and they’ll instantly impale you, forcing you to restart the level.
Despite the abstract weirdness infused into the game, your quest feels like a proper adventure. Much of this is down to the game regularly shaking things up throughout its 40-level length. No sooner have you got to grips with the basics than it makes your brain hurt with optical illusions, cubes that shift and mutate in weird ways, and boss battles where you no longer have control over the environment.
The bosses are perhaps a challenge too far at times – roadblocks that might cause some to give up. (Tip: If stuck, head to YouTube.) But everything else about Euclidean Lands cements it as a modern iOS masterpiece, from the tactile nature of dragging cubes around to the beautiful visuals, with the hero’s long red scarf being whipped about by a strange wind.
the bottom line. One of the best, most thoughtful puzzle games around – a stone-cold iOS classic, in fact.