With big-budget titles like Stray bringing puzzle games to the masses, it is obvious that the niche genre has grown in popularity as of late. Offering various degrees of challenge and a choice of gameplay mechanics from walking sims to full-fledged first-person shooters, the best puzzle games transcend the genre.
Whether they are first-person classics like Portal or simple and effective PC games like The Golem, many puzzle titles have appeal outside of fans who like a good brain workout. Though there have been a ton of memorable puzzlers in the past, users on Reddit took to the site to mention the ones that top their favorites list.
Baba Is You (2019)
Though many great puzzle games are rather over-the-top with their presentation, the multi-platform title Baba Is You opted for a much simpler approach. Allowing the game to speak for itself, user NoMoreGoldPlz wrote succinctly "Baba is You" when asked what their favorite puzzle game was.
The player assumes the role of Baba, a poorly drawn cat who must navigate a single-screen puzzle and complete tasks that involve uniting words and phrases together in a logical sequence. The game's hand-drawn aesthetic makes it look like something from the early internet, but in reality, the complex puzzles make it one of the most challenging games around.
The Witness (2016)
Even though puzzle games offer a brain workout, some are meant for the player to relax in while exploring the world and solving challenges. Speaking personally, user Superrodan wrote "The Witness. I loved the way it made me feel and the discoveries I made along the way...everything else was strong enough for me to consider it one of my favorite games."
Exploring a resplendent open-world environment, the player is dropped into the game with very little instruction. Puzzles represent roadblocks, and the trick to solving the puzzles isn't clearly defined by the game itself. This open-ended gameplay allows users to discover the game at their own pace, and solving puzzles is that much more rewarding.
The Golem (2020)
Though many modern puzzlers attempt to push the boundaries of what is possible, sometimes the most effective titles stick close to the formula. User StereoCatPicture felt that a certain game checked all of their boxes, saying "The Golem is awesome! One of those really rare puzzle games where there is no filler puzzles."
Based on the classic Sokoban-style puzzle games, the bulk of The Golem involves pushing blocks around the board to achieve the desired effect. Starting rather flat and simple, the game introduces 3D elements that add visual interest without detracting from the escalating challenge of the puzzle. It may not have a story, but The Golem is as endlessly captivating as any AAA puzzle game.
The Swapper (2013)
With the addition of newer technology, the possibilities of puzzle games have been enhanced through storytelling. Focusing on a story-driven game, user smurfslayer0 wasn't afraid to say that "The Swapper is one of the best puzzle games I have ever played."
Playing as a scavenger trapped on a scientific research station, the player must use the station's cloning technology to solve puzzles and get to the heart of the mystery. While the individual puzzles are daunting, it is the puzzling plot that helped to make The Swapper one of the best indie games available for Playstation. Taken together, there is a fair amount of chilling atmosphere to go along with the unforgiving difficulty.
Portal (2007)
Often ranked among the best video games of all time, Portal integrated a first-person approach to the typical puzzle platformer genre. Establishing the game's vaunted place among other puzzle titles, user JustarianCaesar said "It's one of those that the vast majority of puzzle focused gamers will always have in their library."
It is difficult to overstate the immense popularity of the game, and Portal hasn't lost any of the shine that it had when it was first released. The Portal Gun is a proprietary mechanic that has yet to be topped, and the game challenges players to think in 3D when trying to solve puzzles. The sequel was just as fun to play, and fans have eagerly awaited another release from the franchise.
Trine (2009)
Though they are rare, some puzzle-centric games offer an action component to keep player interest high as they work their way through the story. User Alcohol_Intolerant spoke generally about a gaming franchise when they said "The Trine video game series is lovely. It's a puzzle platformer so each area has multiple ways of reaching the end."
Set in a fantasy realm, the player controls three characters as they advance from stage to stage by solving puzzles and battling enemies. The sequels integrated multiplayer, but Trine is still an enjoyable experience when playing solo as well. The puzzles aren't particularly hard, but the combination of platforming and action means that each element is represented in equal measure.
World Of Goo (2008)
One of the best additions to puzzle gaming in recent decades has been the improvement of video game physics, and titles like World of Goo benefited the most from the upgrade. Still in disbelief about the quality of the game, user nospr2 said "Wow...World of Goo was one of my favorite games I've played."
The physics-based puzzler uses goo as the literal building blocks of each level. Tasked with helping characters across massive chasms, the player must construct structures made of goo that the characters can cross safely. The real challenge begins when the player is limited by how much goo they can use, and the difficulty means that the game never gets repetitive.
SpaceChem (2011)
While it may not be for everyone, the indie puzzler SpaceChem gave even the most seasoned puzzle gamer a run for their money. User FishMcCool saw the game as the complete package when they said "SpaceChem tops the list for me. I find it to have absolutely everything...ramping difficulty, custom puzzles, clear practical yet pretty UI."
Eschewing a story, the game puts all of its emphasis on the puzzle mechanics themselves for one of the most mind-bending games in the genre. The player must control robots that manipulate cells into forming chemical compounds that are required to beat the levels. Definitely not a beginner's game, SpaceChem's difficulty isn't a deterrent, but rather an attractive feature.
Vessel (2012)
Perfectly integrating the style's imagery into its gameplay and mechanics, Vessel is often seen as one of the best steampunk video games of all time. Particularly praising the game's wonderful world-building, user nospr2 wrote "I loved Vessel. The world was so much fun to explore."
Traversing the strange land of Vessel, the player assumes the role of a scientist who must fix the damage that his liquid automatons caused by repairing various pieces of machinery. Incorporating the cogs and gears that are synonymous with steampunk, the puzzles are the perfect intermediate challenge, and the charming visuals have an indie flare.
The Talos Principle (2014)
Coming fully loaded with beautiful visuals and a heady philosophy, The Talos Principle represents the cutting edge of the future of puzzle gaming. User samehadenough vouched for the game when they wrote "If first-person puzzle games are your thing, then I recommend The Talos Principle."
Set in a seemingly post-apocalyptic landscape, the player assumes the role of a sentient robot who must solve puzzles in order to advance through society's ruins. Exploring ideas like consciousness and global warming, the game gives players a lot to think about outside the difficult puzzles. Though some gamers might find the story and themes a distraction from the gameplay, The Talos Principle's puzzles still deliver.