15 Best Puzzle Games that Make You Go “Aha!”
Everyone’s got a metric for measuring the best puzzle games. Some people prefer to solve puzzles via logic and deductive reasoning, others prefer puzzles that reward creativity and sideways thinking, and some like games that revolve around careful observation. But no matter what type of puzzle game you like, I think we can all agree that we love puzzle games for that “now I get it!” moment.
Puzzle games fall into a special niche in the gaming community, as they’re less tests of skill and coordination and more a test to see if you can think yourself out of the challenges they give you. Whether it’s via deduction, elimination, switching perspectives, or testing theories, there’s always a path forward. And once you find that path (especially if you solve a puzzle on the first try), you’ll be hit with a satisfaction that’s hard to get from any other type of game.
Top Picks for Challenging Puzzle Games
Now, there are a lot of puzzle games out there, and quite a lot of them are good enough to be considered the best. But among the best are the cream of the crop:
- Baba is You (2019) – Push blocks, break laws. Super creative, super fun.
- The Case of the Golden Idol (2022) – Leverage detective skills to demystify the idol.
- Return of the Obra Dinn (2018) – Solve the mystery of a ghost ship.
- The Talos Principle (2014) – Fun puzzles and some light philosophical discussion.
- Portal 2 (2011) – A superb story interspersed with tricky portal puzzles
While these games are my personal top picks for this list, every game on here is a gem, so read on – you might just find the right puzzle for you!
Best 15 Puzzle Games Every Gamer Needs to Play
Building a great puzzle game is a tricky affair. Too much difficulty makes a puzzle just plain frustrating, while making it too easy ensures there’s no satisfaction in completing any of its challenges. Puzzles need to have teeth so that players can rightfully feel smart after solving them.
Difficulty and accessibility are just one side of the equation. A good puzzle game must also encourage multiple types of thinking while ensuring that each of these methods reaches a solution. Just as in real life, different people approach problems from different angles, and it’s the developer’s job to make sure that their puzzles can be approached from many sides.
Modern puzzle games usually don’t just involve staring at a puzzle sheet. While puzzle games can still involve taking your time figuring things out, others opt for faster gameplay in the form of action-adventure games or even FPS puzzles!
With all that said, each of these puzzle games strikes that perfect balance between difficulty, accessibility, mental strategy, and gameplay styles. Here’s my list of the 15 best puzzle games you’ve got to try:
1. Baba is You
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 10/10 | PC, Linux, macOS, Switch, iOS, Android | 2019 |
If you boil it down, Baba is You is basically about pushing objects to make statements. In the beginning, the rules are confined to just “Baba is You” and “Flag is Win”, so bring Baba to the flag to clear the level. Simple enough, yeah?
Enjoy the simplicity while it lasts. The game will quickly teach you that rules are almost never set in stone, and you’ll need to become an expert at manipulating the laws of Baba is You to get ahead. For example, you can turn “Baba is You” into “Wall is You” to control the walls of a level, or disable wall collision by editing “Wall is Stop”. Baba is You expects you to not only comprehend its rules, but break them completely.
It’s this sheer creativity and flagrant disregard for any hard and fast laws that make Baba is You not just one of the best puzzle games, but also one of the greatest strategy games out there. If there’s just one game on this list I want you to play, this is it.
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2. The Case of the Golden Idol
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 10/10 | PC, macOS, Switch, Xbox 1, Xbox Series X/S, PS4/5, iOS, Android | 2022 |
Ancient artifacts tickle your fancy? The Case of the Golden Idol might be just right for you. This game has you chasing the titular idol across the Albion as it creates dark miracles and shapes the course of history. These take the form of different cases, each with a core mystery that you’ll need to solve.
By observing conversations and settings, connecting minute details, and linking everything in a scene together, you’ll be able to decipher just what happened in each case – no matter how absurd that truth might be. Seriously, this game really makes you feel smart once you reach the bottom of every case.
The cherry on top of all this is Case of the Golden Idol’s deliciously macabre art style and atmospheric soundtrack that help cement the game’s identity as a puzzle that you’ll never forget.
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3. Return of the Obra Dinn
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 10/10 | PC, macOS, Switch, PS4, Xbox 1 | 2018 |
In 1807, the missing ship Obra Dinn drifted into Falmouth, with no hands on board. Spooky. But as chief inspector of the insurance arm of the East India Company, it’s your job to account for all sixty souls aboard the ill-fated ship. Thus, the stage is set for Return of the Obra Dinn, one of the best story games on this list.
Return of the Obra Dinn is a shining example of organic unity in game design. Everything, everything, from the sound design, the retro graphics (something you wouldn’t expect from modern puzzle games), and the UIs – serves to fully submerge you in the mystery of the Obra Dinn.
But be careful not to drown, for as atmospheric as the game is, it’s still a tough mystery at heart. Even with the ability to see the final moments of any corpse, seasoned sleuths will need to work hard to create connections between existing pieces of info and turn conjecture into truth.
Alas, it’s a shame you can only really play Return of the Obra Dinn once. But what a ride it’ll be!
4. The Talos Principle
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 9/10 | PC, Linux, OS X, Switch, PS4, Xbox 1, iOS, Android | 2014 |
In our brave new world where AI is quickly becoming a reality, it’s important for us to ponder two important questions. Namely, what makes us human, and to what extent can we consider a machine that considers itself human to be human?
On the surface, The Talos Principle is a simple puzzle game about robots overcoming obstacle courses and picking up blocks. These blocks are then used to build keys, which allow you to get more blocks, and so on. To do that, you’ll need to vanquish Elohim’s tests, which involve a bevy of increasingly difficult obstacles. Your enemies include patrolling mines, Gatling guns, and many more enemies, each of which requires a different strategy to overcome.
In practice, however, The Talos Principle is a philosophical discourse about faith, belief, free will, and humanity. The most remarkable part about all this is that despite the game’s deep questions, it manages to be philosophical without being intellectually heavy, and great fun to boot!
5. Portal 2
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 9/10 | PC, Linux, macOS, Switch, PS3, Xbox 360 | 2011 |
No list of puzzle games is complete without mentioning Valve’s amazing Portal series. Both Portal and Portal 2 aren’t just great puzzle games, they’re one of the best games, period!
Portal 2 is a puzzle platformer that revolves around the creation and manipulation of portals. Your portal gun has two modes (blue and orange) that give you an unparalleled ability to both traverse and manipulate your environment. While basic applications such as getting to an unreachable platform are tackled early on, Portal 2 constantly challenges you to think outside the box and leverage your portals in unexpected and clever ways – such as creating infinite holes to slingshot yourself to dizzying heights.
While Portal 2 has puzzles aplenty to keep your brain buzzing, it also flexes its chops in the storytelling department. With charming, memorable characters such as GLaDos, Wheatley, and the Weighted Companion Cube, you’ll find yourself magnetically drawn into the world of Portal. The best test subjects are willing test subjects, after all.
The fun doesn’t end with the single-player campaign. Once you’ve mastered the test chambers, get ready to grab a buddy and tackle the two-player cooperative campaign, which I’d argue is even better than the solo story. And once you’re done with that, you can head on over to the mod workshop to grab (and maybe even solve) some player–made levels!
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6. The Rise of the Golden Idol
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 9/10 | PC, macOS, Switch, Xbox 1, Xbox Series X/S, PS4/5, iOS, Android | 2024 |
If Case of the Golden Idol and its DLCs weren’t enough to satisfy your hunger for puzzles, I’ve got great news – The Rise of the Golden Idol is the second game in the series!
As with the previous game, The Rise of the Golden Idol deals with the titular idol, in a manner of speaking – as well as how it could affect the 1970’s – 80’s society. While times have changed, human greed and the belief in the mystical have not, so you’ll once again need to showcase both your deductive reasoning and lateral thinking skills to pick apart seemingly impossible situations. Remember, the idol may be a mystic artifact, but everything it does is very real.
As expected, The Rise of the Golden Idol shares much with its predecessor, apart from some very welcome QoL changes. Do note that it’s not necessary to have played Case to enjoy Rise, though puzzle enthusiasts will want both in their library anyway!
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7. Riven: The Sequel to Myst
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 8/10 | PC, macOS, Switch, Xbox 1, Xbox Series X/S, PS4/5, iOS, Android | 1997 |
Riven is an immersive exploration-slash-puzzle game that takes you deeper into the lore of the Myst series. In Riven, you’ll need to save the wife of a friend, as well as stop his world-conquering father from literally unraveling the fabric of reality. So, no pressure.
Each of the five islands you’ll explore houses deep and devious puzzles to solve, all of which will contribute towards your understanding of how to get anything done in the world of Riven. Don’t get complacent – Myst was renowned for its difficulty, and Riven amped that difficulty even higher. You’ll need to work hard to gather clues, solve intricate puzzles, and string together the information you gather into one workable whole.
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8. Outer Wilds
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 10/10 | PC, Switch, PS4/5, Xbox 1, Xbox Series X/S | 2019 |
This isn’t just a puzzle game – it’s something you need to experience yourself. As a new astronaut of Outer Wilds Ventures, you’re given complete freedom on how to carry out your investigation of the universe and of the mysterious Nomai, a now-vanished race.
The problem here is that your universe is stuck in a 22-minute time loop. Thankfully, you somehow return to life at the end of every loop, so you can investigate the universe and solve the supernova problem at your own pace. No objective markers, no outstanding quests, no nothing. Just you, the planets, space, and that big, angry sun in the sky.
While the sheer freedom that Outer Wilds grants its players can be scary at first, but trust me: the slow journey to figure out just what the hell you’re supposed to be doing is a big part of the fun. Bit by bit, piece by piece, life by life, you’ll gather enough clues to piece together what happened to the Nomai, and maybe – just maybe – you’ll find a way to save the universe, too.
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9. La-Mulana 2
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 9/10 | PC, Switch, PS4/5, Xbox 1, Xbox Series X/S | 2018 |
When I say “archeologist”, you probably conjured a mental image of Indiana Jones. But what that image fails to convey is just how much work goes into being an archeologist! La-Mulana 2 is, perhaps, the ultimate test of your puzzle platformer and Metroidvania skills.
Not only will you need to face down fearsome foes straight out of mythology, but you’ll also need to piece together what information you can from deliberately obscure puzzles and tablets. Seriously, this game is very hard, and there’s absolutely no shame in using a guide, especially if you’ve been stuck for hours. If you decide to strike out on your own screenshots and careful note–taking will take you a long way!
But while La-Mulana 2 is challenging, it’s also rewarding. Every single puzzle solved – whether it’s just figuring out how to open a chest or creating new paths to reach inaccessible areas – is hard–won, and every small victory in this game should be celebrated.
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10. Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 10/10 | PC, Nintendo DS (999), Nintendo 3DS (VLR) | 2009 (999), 2012 (VLR), 2017 (Nonary Games bundle) |
This is actually a bundle of two games – Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (abbreviated 999) and Virtue’s Last Reward (abbreviated VLR). The first game, in particular, convinced me that visual novels (and by extension, video games) could be considered art. Unfortunately my thesis adviser didn’t agree, but anyone looking for a puzzle game with an amazing story will definitely enjoy these fantastic games.
999 and VLR deal with the titular Nonary Games, death games that heavily feature the number 9. When you’re not engrossing yourself in the game’s story, you’ll be working hard to solve the many, many escape rooms and sequences (or die).
But while there are plenty of surface–level puzzles to solve, you’ll also need to reserve some brain power to tackle the mystery of just who the hell is organizing these games, as well as their motivations. And don’t think that this visual novel is a one of those inconsequential yes/no affairs. Every choice has its shadow, after all, so don’t be surprised if you get bitten in the ass down the line in this literal mind–bending adventure.
If you enjoyed these games, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a third game to cap off the trilogy – Zero Time Dilemma, or ZTD.
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11. Escape Simulator
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 8/10 | PC, Linux, macOS | 2021 |
If you’d like a more intimate, relaxed take on the escape room genre, Escape Simulator is sure to delight. Unlike the visual novels of the Zero Escape series, Escape Simulator focuses solely on the escape room aspect.
The game’s first–person perspective fully immerses you in the experience of navigating and solving each and every puzzle room. Instead of just tapping on interesting objects in a puzzle room, you’ll now need to actually move around and search carefully for both obvious and not-so-obvious clues. Not so clear now that you’re actually in the room, eh? Thankfully, there’s no imminent threat of death in Escape Simulator, so you’ve all the time you need to figure out each room’s solution.
Escape Simulator also features multiplayer (the devs recommend 2 to 3 people, but community rooms can accommodate up to 10 people at once), if you and your friends can’t meet up for an actual escape room adventure. Once you’ve cleared the base game, you can dive into the game’s many DLCs for even more content, or jump straight into free fan–made puzzles!
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12. Teardown
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 8/10 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | 2022 |
Set in an almost fully destructible voxel world, Teardown asks you one simple question: given unlimited planning time and an impressive assortment of tools, can you perform the perfect heist?
Creative problem solving is core to Teardown’s gameplay. You’ll not only have to make an optimal route with your guns, explosives, cables, and planks, but you’ll also need to ensure that you have enough time to at least achieve the minimum objectives in each stage. Teardown simply gives you the level – you’ve got free reign on how you’re going to navigate it.
No destruction–based game would be complete without a sandbox, and Teardown also features a creative mode if you’d like to just let loose and blow stuff up. The robust physics engine also invites modders to add equipment and even vehicles to the game, giving you even more ways to execute the perfect crime!
13. Papers, Please
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 9/10 | PC, Switch, PS4/5, Xbox 1, Xbox Series X/S | 2018 |
In Papers, Please, you serve as a humble border guard of the great nation of Arstotzka, an isolated communist nation that has only recently opened its Grestin borders. Puzzle-solving in Papers, Please comes in the form of allowing or denying admission to the many, many people who will flood your office. You’ll need to be quick, decisive, and precise as you perform background checks, x-ray scans, and veto documents before deciding to accept or reject a border crosser.
As the sole breadwinner of your family, their survival literally hinges on your performance. Swift, accurate processing rewards you with bonus credits, while sloppy work nets you paycheck penalties. The state also expects all men to raise a family, so lose too many family members to starvation, cold, or disease, and it’s your head on the chopping block. Glory to Arstotzka!
Last but not least, Papers, Please also presents a rich story alongside its tense border inspection sessions. The game world is fraught with political tension and personal risk. You’ll need to ask yourself important questions, such as whether you should remain loyal to a state that doesn’t care for you, or should you risk it all for a chance to change history?
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14. SUPERHOT
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 10/10 | PC, Linux, OS X, Switch, PS4, Xbox 1 | 2016 |
Hands down, SUPERHOT is the most innovative shooter I’ve played in years.
SUPERHOT’s core mechanic is bullet time: time moves at a snail’s pace unless you yourself are moving. Yes, it’s basically The Matrix. Leveraging this is key to solving the game’s many levels, where you’re usually thrust into mortal danger and are outmanned and outgunned at every turn. Thanks to bullet time, though, you can pull out your Keanu Reeves character of choice, wade through a shotgun salvo unharmed, punch a red guy in the face, steal his gun, and use him to paint the floor. Over the top? Maybe. Badass? Hell yeah.
With so much action going on, you might think that SUPERHOT eschews the usual story angle that puzzle games have. You’d be happy to know that you’re wrong, though it’s really difficult to talk about the story without spoiling anything. Just know that we’ll know when you’re one of us.
15. Phasmophobia
| Our Score | Platforms | Release Year |
| 9/10 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | 2020 (Early Access) |
If you prefer your mysteries to have higher stakes, Phasmophobia might be the puzzle game for you.
As its name suggests, Phasmophobia deals with ghosts, and the fear of ghosts. You’ll need to buckle down and face terror head-on as the real exorcism guys are depending on you and your team of up to 4 poorly-paid interns to discover what kind of ghost haunts the place. You’ll only have the basic tools of the trade: incense and rosaries to ward off ghosts, visual and audio receivers let you document ghost activity, and spirit boxes let you ask your spectral enemies the most important questions in life: are they pizza, or are they grandma?
Aspiring ghost–identifiers will need courage, logical thinking, strategy, and decisive action to survive the ghost’s many attempts to scare and kill you. as well as confirm the ghost’s identity via the use of specific pieces of evidence or behavioral quirks.
FAQs
What is the most downloaded puzzle game?
To no surprise, it’s a mobile game called Block Blast, which was downloaded 24.87 million times as of October 2024. I haven’t heard of it myself, but it might be worth trying if you’re itching for puzzles on the go!
What puzzle game has the best story?
You’ll get a different answer depending on who you ask. My personal picks for “best” are Return of the Obra Dinn, Outer Wilds, and 999, though The Talos Principle and Papers, Please are also noteworthy.
What is the hardest puzzle game?
This one’s tough to answer, since puzzle difficulty varies from person to person. However, I will say without hesitation that the hardest puzzle game on this list is La-Mulana 2!
