Monument Valley II might hit a lot of the same notes as its predecessor, but bringing in a heartfelt little story that seamlessly mixes with engaging visual discovery in gameplay makes this one a more engaging experience than the original.

The game continues to utilize moving around optical illusions and impossible objects, working with growing trees, controlling two characters, and shifting art pieces to reflect story moods such as Brutalist tones and diving deep into the psyche. It doesn't take too long to get through but is an absolutely addictive experience throughout, right on up to the custom sigil that the character may trace upon finishing each level.

The story is simple yet very effective. As a mother leading her child, you manage both characters as a single unit, slowly see them separated, and see them grow on their own personal journeys before coming together and working as separate individuals. As mentioned before, this seamlessly mixes with gameplay and is great to play out.

On top of the engaging art pieces, the visual design of the game is always a pleasure to look at, with shifting (and breaking) structures, additional bits being added on and a sense of change that keeps every chapter interesting. The sound (especially the music) is very ambient and powerful, making this a must with headphones.

Monument Valley II builds on the success of the first while putting together a solid story that expresses itself through puzzling gameplay.