Frenetic action and brain-melting puzzles have their place, but these games are united by their gorgeous visuals and sublime sound. Without a doubt, they’re some of the most beautiful games currently available on the App Store.

This is a game that sounds almost as good as it looks, with a soaring soundtrack that accompanies you as you build a beautiful nature preserve.

Play Rain cards to turn arid ground into fertile soil, then use that soil to create a habitat for animals to thrive in, whether that’s bees in a meadow, wild boar in a forest or mountain goats on a rocky outcrop. The bigger challenge – which carries the biggest rewards – comes when you try to maximise biodiversity and house different compatible animals together in the same habitat.

Impossible geometric structures rise from the ocean, a lighthouse’s radiance fades and a boat floats precariously on troubled seas. Monument Valley 3 asks that you overcome these challenges to collect Sacred Light, and help the lighthouse once again protect the seafarers who navigate its waters.

Perspective is your friend as you traverse each landscape; two distant walkways become one via optical illusion, while elsewhere a hidden handle is all you need to move a walkway, create yourself a path and unravel the world.

Nature’s beauty isn’t simple window dressing for Art of Fauna, an App Store Award winning puzzle game about assembling exquisite illustrations of animals. Not only is a portion of every purchase of the game donated to wildlife conservation efforts, you’ll also be encouraged to learn about the animals behind each illustration as you play.

We’re particularly fond of the musical beats that play out as you move puzzle pieces, creating calming melodies as you assemble each image.

A single digit is all you need to sandboard through the serene deserts of Alto’s Odyssey. Tap to jump, hold to backflip and land perfectly to gain a speed boost that’ll send you soaring across the sands.

With its exceptional soundtrack, it’s easy to lose yourself in the flow of this gorgeous game, which is as much about relaxation as it is about chasing high scores or coins to upgrade your equipment. If you’d like to zone out and focus on the game’s pure, immaculate vibes, check out its Zen Mode for a perfectly stripped-back experience.

It’s perfectly possible to experience Sky’s enchanting gameplay solo, but the real beauty of this game comes from embracing cooperative play.

More experienced players can be invaluable to your journey through this mysterious realm by, for example, helping you conquer seemingly impossible climbs. And with limited scope for in-game communication, Sky’s multiplayer gameplay maintains all the serenity of a single-player experience.