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Did Monument Valley rise or fall in the global App Store charts?

Beautiful mediocrity

Did Monument Valley rise or fall in the global App Store charts?

If hasn't been long since the unequivocally beautiful and utterly mind-bending puzzler, Monument Valley, made its way onto the App Store.

Its arrival was greeted with fanfare from consumers and critics alike, however, despite being a testament to creativity, the game, which is priced at $3.99, will undoubtedly struggle for longevity in grossing charts ruled by F2P kings - or perhaps tyrants?

Love them or hate them, the F2P games are in control, which means that in order to make big bucks Monument Valley must use its launch momentum to reach the summit of the charts very quickly.

It's a small and invaluable window of opportunity. Can Monument Valley seize it?

A monument for the ages?

In the US, Monument Valley's performance was respectable, if decidedly unspectacular.

On the US top grossing chart for iPhone, the game made a decent start, entering the charts at #30, before climbing to #15 in the following days.

The game failed to reach the top 10, however, and its spell inside the top 50 was cut short just 8 days after its debut.

Monument Valley's performance on the US paid download chart for iPhone 

Contrary to what you might expect, Monument Valley actually performed worse on iPad in the US.

Despite the fact that Monument Valley is a game bursting with intricacies that can only be appreciated on the iPad's larger screen, most US gamers chose to purchase it for their iPhone.

On the US top grossing chart for iPad, Monument Valley only entered the chart at #32 before clawing its way to a peak position of #24.

Once again, the game fell out of the top 50 shortly after.

Monument Valley's performance on the US paid download chart for iPad
 

I think it's fair to say things could have gone better for Monument Valley in the states, but developer ustwo can take some solace in the fact that said US performance is only one chapter in a global story.

European tour

While an improvement on its performance in the US, Monument Valley's European showing is still slightly underwhelming.

On the European top grossing chart for iPhone - which looks at France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK - Monument Valley broke into the top 50 in all five countries.

The game shone brightest in Spain, Germany, and the UK, where it peaked at #14, #13, and #13 respectively, though it still couldn't stay in the top 50 for longer than 2 weeks, or break into the top 10.

Monument Valley's performance on the European paid download chart for iPhone
 

In Europe, the game's performance on iPad falls in line with expectations, with the iPad version just pipping its iPhone counterpart.

On the European top grossing chart for iPad, Monument Valley managed to reach the top 10. That milestone was achieved in Germany where the game peaked at #8, while also managing to stay in the top 50 for just over 2 weeks.

Monument Valley's performance on the European paid download chart for iPad

 East is East

Understandably, Monument Valley's attempts to climb the Asian grossing charts - which look at China, Japan, and South Korea - have been valiant, but at times, unrewarding.

On the Asian top grossing chart for iPhone, in particular, Monument Valley has found it difficult to make an impression.

The game did manage to climb into the top 50 in South Korea, where it peaked at #33. However, in China and Japan it was nowhere to be seen.

Monument Valley's performance on the Asian paid download chart for iPhone
 

Mirroring the situation in Europe, Monument Valley's iPad performance in Asia outshines its display on the iPhone.

On the Asian top grossing chart for iPad, the game has made its way into the top 20 in South Korea, peaking at #18, while it also broke into the top 50 in China, where it peaked at #36.

Monument Valley's performance on the Asian paid download chart for iPad
 

Overall, it's hard not to be a little disappointed with Monument Valley's global performance.

It's surprising to see a critically adored game that has been featured by Apple in 591 places on iPhone and iPad combined struggling to make it into the top 10, and even the top 20 in some regions. 

Monument Valley is a truly phenomenal game, and even though it put on decent performances on both iPad and iPhone, it still hasn't achieved chart-topping greatness.

Unfortunately for the developer, the simple fact that Monument Valley doesn't contain any IAP - so its LTV is limited to the initial $3.99 price - means that the top grossing charts are one puzzle that it will never solve. 

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What do you call someone who has an unhealthy obsession with video games and Sean Bean? That'd be a 'Chris Kerr'. Chris is one of those deluded souls who actually believes that one day Sean Bean will survive a movie. Poor guy.