# Monument Valley 3 vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is update cadence: Monument Valley 3 at every 2 weeks against POOLS™'s every 2 months. Monument Valley 3 also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and chart position (#86 vs unranked). POOLS™'s advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monument Valley 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Monument Valley 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.1K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of Monument Valley 3's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Monument Valley 3 ships an update every 2 weeks, POOLS™ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monument Valley 3 | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monument-valley-3/id6443563379/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.1K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | 77.4% of reviews | **78.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#86** | — |
| Size | 555 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [ustwo games](https://appshunter.io/developer/297468910) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### Monument Valley 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monument-valley-3/id6443563379)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Free · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on a new puzzle adventure guiding a young apprentice through a world of shifting architecture and rising tides. Solve mind-bending puzzles by defying perspective and reshaping structures. Explore beautiful environments and unlock a captivating expansion with a single in-app purchase.

**Highlights:** Solve mind-bending puzzles, Defy perspective and twist gravity, Explore beautiful, shifting environments, Guide Noor on a new voyage, Unlock Garden of Life expansion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Full Game | $5.99 | one-time |


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monument Valley 3 free?

Monument Valley 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is POOLS™ free?

POOLS™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monument Valley 3 or POOLS™?

Monument Valley 3 is rated higher. Monument Valley 3 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Monument Valley 3 or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither Monument Valley 3 nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monument Valley 3 or POOLS™?

Monument Valley 3 ships an update every 2 weeks, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, Monument Valley 3 was updated on September 25, 2026 and POOLS™ on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*