Help me find beautiful games for my Android phone
August 13, 2014 6:49 PM   Subscribe

I love Monument Valley, and would like to find more games like it. I'm seeking ones that are beautiful, minimalist, simple, atmospheric and tranquil -- the less time pressure and freneticism, the better. Puzzle-like aspects are great, arty/indie is great, good use of sound would be great. I'd especially love recommendations for games featuring female protagonists and ones rooted in a non-competitive worldview --- but those aspects aren't critical, just nice-to-have. Help me waste my time with beauty and joy :)
posted by Susan PG to Computers & Internet (10 answers total) 48 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I highly recommend Zen Bound 2 and Osmosis HD. Neither are adventures, more puzzle-like, but both have gorgeous graphics and wonderful music. Both are pretty resource-intensive, but for relaxing ways to waste time and battery, they're my favorites.
posted by MuChao at 6:57 PM on August 13, 2014 [2 favorites]


Best answer: Quell is a very pretty puzzle game with simple mechanics and lovely graphics, atmospheric sound and design.
posted by mmascolino at 8:46 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


Best answer: If you have, or can borrow, a PS2 or PS3 I highly recommend Ico. Beautiful sound, puzzles, tranquil, if lonely and desolate atmosphere. There's a female co-protagonist, and cooperation with that character is the key to the puzzles. There is occasional, somewhat tense (gore free, fantasy) combat, but other than that it fits your description perfectly.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:53 PM on August 13, 2014 [2 favorites]


...gah, I missed the part about the phone, for which it is sadly unavailable. It is one of my all time favourite games, though, and worth tracking down.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:55 PM on August 13, 2014


Best answer: Kami is a very beautifully designed game. It is a puzzle solving game
posted by poxandplague at 10:18 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


Best answer: The Room (There's the sequel out now too) is a great puzzle game for Android, that's really worth playing.
posted by Ned G at 2:11 AM on August 14, 2014 [2 favorites]


Best answer: Pretty sure Contre Jour meets your criteria, and has a free demo (possibly the whole game?) that can be played in-browser.

Seconding (but correcting) Osmos.

Nightsky might be too frenetic for you, but is close enough to be worth checking out.

Spirits also seems pretty promising.

World of Goo is a classic at this point, and deserves the status.
posted by contrarian at 6:38 AM on August 14, 2014 [1 favorite]


Best answer: If you have, or can borrow, a PS2 or PS3 I highly recommend Ico.

Seconded, so much. I just played Monument Valley based on this AskMe and was delighted to find it's the first thing I've seen in years that really hits that spot that Ico does.
posted by mochapickle at 1:01 PM on August 14, 2014


Best answer: You might enjoy Blek. Minimalist puzzle with zero time pressure.
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:41 AM on August 15, 2014


Response by poster: These are all such good answers, thank you. "Beautiful" isn't the kind of quality it's easy to search for: your help was exactly what I need. I've downloaded most (am currently loving Contre Jour) and will try them all. Thank you :)
posted by Susan PG at 11:55 AM on August 16, 2014


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