When enough coins have been accumulated, they'll want to take a trip to the workshop where they can purchase helpful tools and abilities to use the next time they misjudge the right time to perform a back flip. Players' character, a sandboarder, must accumulate coins, perform tricks, leap chasms, and avoid piles of rocks while grinding on the ropes of hot air balloons and speeding down steep hills.

At each level of the game, the goals needed to level up are displayed each one is gratifyingly crossed off when met. Those familiar with the popular Alto's Adventure (Noodlecake Studios Inc., iOS, Android, Free, with IAPs) will be able to begin playing this exploration game right away, but first time users will benefit from a quick opening tutorial that will help them prepare for the journey by learning basic navigation skills. Alto's Odyssey (Snowman, iOS, $4.99 Gr 3 Up) invites players into a desert landscape filled with subtle colors, changing terrain, and unexpected obstacles. It's the latest from Snowman and also invokes the word Zen.

Fans of the 'Monument Valley' apps by ustwo have another production to add to their devices.

Triple backflip in alto's adventure