APP REVIEWS

Topsoil

In this puzzle game, players are faced with a plot of land and a line of plants that need to be rooted in the soil. You get opportunities to harvest your plants, which changes the color of the tile, or topsoil. Tiles that have the same color of topsoil and the same plants can be harvested together.

Fragment your grid too much, and you’ll find that it’s harder to clear out space for upcoming plants. You’ll always be able to see which color of topsoil will come next, so you can plan accordingly.

You can pay $4 to get rid of ads. This is a simple game, with no splashy graphics or big sound effects to let you know when you’re doing well. But it is satisfying to get just the right configuration of plants.

Cost: Free, for iOS and Android.

Monument Valley 2

The sequel to 2014’s hit puzzle game Monument Valley shares the mind-bending mechanics and calming aesthetic of its predecessor.

The main difference? This time, your puzzle-solving princess is not alone. The sequel brings her daughter along for the ride, giving players a chance to try more advanced puzzles that require two people.

Monument Valley 2 is not free. Dedicating yourself to this puzzler will cost $5. That’s not a lot in the scheme of things but certainly on the high side for an app.

And if you’re looking for a blockbuster story, this may not be your game — although the app developers manage to do a lot with their silent characters and sketch out a lovely relationship with just a few strokes.

Cost: $4.99, for iOS.