People often argue over what genre of games are most difficult. Some claim it is first person shooter games. Since they require amazing reaction times and tactical thinking. Others claim it is titles like Elden Ring. With their challenging bosses and unforgiving combat. But the true answer is puzzle games!
A good puzzle game will challenge your mind in ways that other genres just can’t. It is no surprise that the most difficult sections of most adventure games are the puzzles. But there is no greater feeling than a puzzle solved!
If you’re a puzzle lover like us and looking to get your next fix then you’re in luck! We have compiled 7 of the greatest puzzle games ever made. Ones that are guaranteed to really put your mind to the test!
Portal 2
The sequel to Portal, which is well worth playing as well, Portal 2 is one of the most inventive and hilarious puzzle games ever made. It perfectly blends adventure and puzzles together. Players are equipped with a portal gun that creates two linked wormholes through which you can travel. You must use these in inventive ways to escape the various test chambers.
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Professor Layton is one of the best puzzle series out there. But Unwound Future is arguably the strongest title in the series. You play as Layton, a puzzle loving detective. It features various puzzle word games, logic puzzles, riddles, and math problems that all need to be solved to crack the case.
But what makes this particular Layton game so good is the story. A compelling mystery that twists and turns when you least expect it. And, by the end, the game is likely to have you in tears!
Peggle
Peggle is a classic of the arcade puzzle genre. The premise is simple. You have to destroy numerous pegs using a ball. The pegs are arranged in different shapes to create varying degrees of challenge. But, to aid you, you have access to special powers depending on which character you pick. Peggle is a game that requires a high degree of patience, foresight, and a tiny bit of luck too!
Return of the Obra Dinn
Perhaps the most inventive, and challenging puzzle game I’ve ever played. Return of the Obra Dinn puts you into the shoes of an insurance appraiser. Sent to the recently recovered ship ‘The Obra Dinn.’ It seems the crew mysteriously vanished and the boat was left adrift.
Armed with a stopwatch that allows you to view the pasts of different individuals, but only at the moment of their death, you have to discover what happened and the individual death circumstances of the entire crew. This will require all your wits and logical reasoning to do!
Inscryption
On the surface Inscryption seems like an inventive card game. But it is actually a complex escape room that blends multiple gameplay loops effortlessly. The primary focus is the card game segments. Which are akin to chess puzzles in their complexity. But the escape room elements and rogue-lite feeling to the game blend together to create a title that will stick with you for years to come!
Outer Wilds
This game was released at the same time as ‘Outer Worlds.’ Which did end up causing a lot of confusion in the gaming sphere as the two titles are so vastly different. Outer Wilds is an inventive puzzle adventure. You play as an astronaut from a tiny woodland planet. With your small rocket you have to explore the local solar system.
Oh, but we should mention that every 22 minutes the sun goes supernova and destroys everything! Luckily you have gained the power to send your consciousness back in time. Meaning you have to repeat the same 22 minutes time and time again to solve this mystery.
The game is beyond incredible. Timing is everything. With the solar system changing during the cycle, you have to carefully choose where to go and when. Paired with an amazing soundtrack, stunning visuals, and a compelling mystery. This is a puzzle game that is not to be missed!
Papers, Please
The year is 1982 in the fictional land of Arstotzka. You are a humble border guard working at the immigration checkpoint. The nation is in an era of tension having just ended a six year long war with a neighboring nation. This means the border is tight. And it is up to you to ensure everyone has the correct papers!
Papers, Please is a simple concept executed perfectly. You have to study the immigration documents handed to you, comparing them to the person in front of you and against the strict Arstotzka regulations. This is more challenging than you might think. Because you also have to weigh up the people’s reasons for coming into the nation. And how true they are.
