The 11 Best Puzzle Games

Puzzles have been giving us so much joy for so many years, but which one made us smile the most

Puzzles are universal. Even from our youngest days, we love solving problems and even the most simplest of puzzles. This love grows as we do, and game developers have harnessed that into some truly special games.

Top 11 Puzzle Games :

These are our nominees for the best Puzzle Games

11. Braid

Summary

Braid is a platformer/puzzle game with unique elements that aim to provide a mind-expanding, filler-free experience.

Content Rating: 12

Developers: Number None Inc.

Publishers: MumboJumbo, Hothead Games, Number None Inc.

Franchises: Braid

Features: Number Of Players, 1080i

Initial Release: Aug 6, 2008

Platforms: ps3 // mac // pc // xbox-360

Genres: Platformer

10. Baba Is You

Summary

Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as physical objects in the game world. By manipulating the rules, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!

Developers: Hempuli Oy

Publishers: Hempuli Oy

Features: Steam Deck Verified

Initial Release: Mar 13, 2019

Platforms: pc // nintendo-switch

Genres: Puzzle

9. Return of the Obra Dinn

Summary

The Return of the Obra Dinn is a 3D first-person mystery set on an East Indiaman merchant ship in 1808.

Developers: Lucas Pope

Publishers: 3909

Features: Steam Deck Verified

Initial Release: Oct 18, 2018

Platforms: nintendo-switch // pc // mac // xbox-one // ps4

Genres: Adventure

8. The Witness

Summary

This puzzling mystery game is the creation of Jonathan Blow, developer of the award-winning game Braid.

Content Rating: RP Alcohol Reference

Developers: Thekla Inc.

Publishers: Thekla Inc.

Features: Steam Deck Playable

Initial Release: Jan 26, 2016

Platforms: iPad // xbox-one // ps4 // pc

Genres: Puzzle

7. Tetris

Summary

The blocks, they fall! Complete rows to destroy them before they crush you in this addictive puzzle masterpiece.

Developers: Nintendo R&D1

Publishers: Nintendo

Franchises: Tetris

Features: Offline Versus Multiplayer, Online Versus Multiplayer

Initial Release: Jun 14, 1989

Platforms: nintendo-switch // gb

Genres: Puzzle

6. Portal 2

Summary

The highly anticipated sequel to 2007's Game of the Year, Portal 2 is a hilariously mind-bending adventure that challenges you to use wits over weaponry in a funhouse of diabolical science.

Content Rating: RP

Developers: Valve, Nuclear Monkey Software

Publishers: Valve, Electronic Arts

Franchises: Portal

Features: Steam Deck Verified

Initial Release: Apr 19, 2011

Platforms: pc // xbox-360 // ps3 // mac

Genres: Shooter

5. Escape Academy

Summary

You’ve just arrived at the Escape Academy, a school where promising students train to become the ultimate Escape Room Master. Play over a dozen masterfully hand-crafted rooms, alone in single player OR through two player co-operative play.

Developers: Coin Crew

Publishers: Skybound Games, iam8bit

Franchises: Escape Academy

Features: Online Co-Op Multiplayer, Offline Co-Op Multiplayer, Steam Deck Verified

Initial Release: Jul 14, 2022

Platforms: nintendo-switch // nintendo-switch // ps4 // xbox-one // pc // ps5

Genres: Adventure, Puzzle

4. The Case of the Golden Idol

Summary

The Case of the Golden Idol is a narrative detective game where players must investigate strange and gruesome deaths. Each case is presented as a snapshot scene frozen in time. Players can freely search through these scenes to deduce the suspect, motive, and chronology of events.

Developers: Color Gray Games

Publishers: PlayStack

Franchises: Golden Idol Mysteries

Initial Release: Oct 13, 2022

Platforms: nintendo-switch // pc

Genres: Adventure, Puzzle

3. Teardown

Summary

Teardown features a fully destructible and truly interactive environment where player freedom and emergent gameplay are the driving mechanics as you try to pull off the perfect heist!

Developers: Tuxedo Labs

Publishers: Tuxedo Labs

Initial Release: Oct 29, 2020

Platforms: ps5 // xbox-4 // pc

Genres: Action

2. Immortality

Summary

Immortality is an interactive film trilogy from Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story. What happened to Marissa Marcel? Explore footage from her lost movies to solve the mystery.

Developers: Half Mermaid

Publishers: Netflix, Half Mermaid

Initial Release: Aug 28, 2022

Platforms: iphone // android // pc // xbox-4

Genres: Adventure, Video

1. Return to Monkey Island

Summary

Return to Monkey Island is the long-awaited follow-up to the legendary Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge. This sequel has been developed by original series creator Ron Gilbert's Terrible Toybox studio.

Developers: Terrible Toybox

Publishers: Devolver Digital

Franchises: Monkey Island

Initial Release: Sep 19, 2022

Platforms: iPad // iphone // android // ps5 // xbox-4 // pc // nintendo-switch

Genres: Action, Adventure, Puzzle, Trivia