Euclidean Lands

A TWISTY-TURNY PUZZLER OF THE BEST KIND. $6.99 | euclideanlands.com

ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS like an escapee from the Monument Valley universe (see our review of the second game, left), Euclidean Lands is actually firmly rooted in turn-based adventuring fare, much like

Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go. Your aim is to slay every chess-piece-like 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 playing area 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. (This page really isn’t being very kind to the grey matter this month, is it?)

The bosses are perhaps a challenge too far at times — roadblocks that might cause some to give up in sheer frustration. (Tip: If stuck, don’t feel ashamed if you need to head to YouTube for some walkthrough help. There’s already quite a few videos to be found on there to get you through.)

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.

This game is one of the best, most thoughtful puzzle games around — a stone-cold iOS classic, in fact. Do your brain cells a favour and exercise them with this beauty.