Playing puzzle games is always a pleasure, whether you play for a few minutes or for several hours at a time.
Moreover, playing puzzle games keeps your mind active and allows you to pass your time efficiently. They are obviously different in concept, with some being more minimalist and functional while others are more spectacular and exciting.
Whether you are looking for a challenge or just some relaxation, there is always an interesting puzzle game to meet your needs.
In recent years, puzzle games on PC have become increasingly complex and challenging as they have evolved. Developers have added new features to the game, including power-ups and customization options. Moreover, modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, have been incorporated to create a more immersive experience.
Some tips for the newbies!
- Take time⏰: If you rush through the puzzle, you may make mistakes. So, take your time and tackle the puzzle at your own pace.
- Be attentive to details 🔍: You can solve puzzles by noticing details, seeing patterns, and analyzing the environment.
- Solve puzzles in segments 🧩 : If you want to solve a puzzle, you should break it down into smaller pieces and think through each one separately.
- Don’t give up😅 : You should experiment with different solutions to find out which works best for you.
- Feel free to ask for help 🆘: When you are stuck and cannot come up with a solution on your own, don’t feel reluctant to seek help from family or friends.
In this article, we will be exploring some of the best PC puzzle games from the past to the present. Let’s start racking our brains right now!
Half-Life 2: Episode 2
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is a video game series developed and published by Valve Corporation. This incredible game takes place after the first Half-Life 2 game’s events, and you will have to step into the role of Gordon Freeman (scientist).
As you progress through the levels, you will observe that players have to fight robots and aliens. The game features a revolutionary simulation engine that allows players to play virtually with weapons and the environment. There is no doubt that the game has received universal acceptance upon its release.
The game’s engaging characters, compelling theme, and visually pleasing puzzle mechanics make it a favorite among gaming enthusiasts. This game’s realistic environment and stimulating gameplay are sure to keep players entertained.
Check out on Steam.
It Takes Two
Cooperative games are great, and It Takes Two is no exception. The gameplay is incredibly interesting and captivating. This is a co-op game where you control a couple who have turned into dolls. It has stunning visuals, a compelling story, and a killer soundtrack.
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![It Takes Two - Standard - Steam PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51KrNADFVhL.jpg)
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It Takes Two - Standard - Steam PC [Online Game Code] | 25 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
No question, it’s one of the most engaging, enjoyable, and varied games out there. There are too many genres to list, but it masters them all. Every level is a roller coaster ride with seamless transitions. There are top-down sections like Magicka, fighting shorts like Tekken, and gravity-fueled puzzles like Crash Bandicoot.
The game is constantly adding new weapons and abilities. It allows you to kill enemies, shrink, grow, defy gravity with magnetic boots, slice enemies with a sickle, grab items with magnets, and so much more. A fresh level design makes this game engaging as you swing, fly, grapple, grind rails, solve puzzles with your partner, ride frogs, meet creatures from the deep, and make friends.
Portal 2
The gameplay in Portal 2 is similar to that of its predecessor.
Playing this version of the game is fun because it improves on various concepts that were established in its predecessor. As you go through portal after portal in the game, you will be taken on a roundabout puzzle journey. Every challenge hooks you until the end, making it an absolute must-play experience. You must use your creativity and think out of the box to solve the puzzles, creating an unforgettable gaming encounter that you will continue to enjoy.
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Portal 2 - PC |
$6.28 |
Buy on Amazon |
There are robots attempting to escape a scientific facility through portals, and to enter each of them, they must solve a puzzle. The sequel to Portal presents us with a great puzzle game with improved gameplay, a fascinating world, and an overall enjoyable experience.
Return to Monkey Island
There are three installments in this series by Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman, and Return To Monkey Island takes place about a decade after The Curse Of Monkey Island.
The game has stunning visuals, catchy music, and an engaging storyline that immerses players in its whimsical world. You’ll find classic adventure game puzzles paired with humor in this well-paced adventure game. It puts you in control of Guybrush Threepwood, the pirate who’s trying to save Elaine Marley from the evil pirate, LeChuck. He’ll solve tricky puzzles, explore strange places, and make smart decisions against LeChuck and his minions.
The game keeps the spirit of the original Monkey Island series while introducing new features and modern gameplay elements. Whether you’re a fan of the original Monkey Island games or new to the series, Return to Monkey Island is a nostalgic journey filled with clever puzzles and memorable characters.
Check out on Steam.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn has really cool gameplay and a lot of intrigues. As an insurance investigator, your role is to figure out what happened to the merchant ship Obra Dinn and its crew. Its monochrome style adds an air of mystery and suspense to the game.
An investigator has a magic pocket watch that shows when each crew member died. And the players determine the fate of each crew member by observing and analyzing their actions.
It takes a lot of attention to detail in Obra Dinn to determine what happened. A pocket watch helps solve the Obra Dinn mystery by analyzing each frozen tableau and making hypotheses. You can explore the ship at your own pace with its open-ended gameplay and non-linear narrative.
This is a great puzzle game for puzzle fans because it has an engaging story, beautiful visuals, and challenging puzzles that reward players for their keen observation and deduction skills.
Check out on Steam.
The Room 4: Old Sins
Each time you play a game in the Room series, you are thrown into an isolated area full of puzzles. Like the first Room, The Room 4: Old Sins takes place in an attic. Upon entering, you will find yourself looking at a detailed dollhouse replica of a mansion, which turns out to be identical to your own home.
You can make use of the interactive model to open cogs and sections, and you can also gain access to larger versions of the rooms. These larger rooms have more puzzles. The Room 4: Old Sins has many well-crafted machines: wooden pieces with hidden doors, polished gears, colorful sliding pieces, and handmade buttons.
There’s also a dark, Lovecraftian side to the game, where puzzles require a magical eyepiece to see runes and symbols. This is a complex game and will challenge you to your wit’s end.
Check out on Steam.
Thimbleweed Park
You can play Thimbleweed Park if you’re into retro adventure games. The game takes place in Thimbleweed Park, where five interesting characters get caught up in a bizarre murder mystery. Your role is to explore the town, interact with strange residents, and uncover the mystery.
You’ll love the graphics, the dialogue, and the clever puzzles. This game requires logic, observation, and creativity. You have to switch between characters to overcome obstacles because each has a different perspective.
As an action-adventure game, Thimbleweed Park features clever observations, humor, and a compelling storyline sure to pique the interest of players who lean toward nostalgia.
Check out on Steam.
Unpacking
Unpacking is an incredible and emotionally powerful puzzle game about unpacking your memories. You move into a new place and have to start from scratch. Basically, it’s all about digging through boxes and finding out about a character’s early life and later years.
There’s an ambient mix and minimal art style that make it feel peaceful. Animations and sound effects make it more believable. Just place your blocks, and you’re good to go. If you think about what an object means to a character, you’ll learn empathy and reflection.
Players will delve into themes such as nostalgic feelings, self-identity, and home to tell their characters’ stories. They learn the meaning behind what they surround themselves with. This heartwarming game has captivating graphics, engaging gameplay, and a heartwarming story.
Check out on Steam.
We Were Here Together
We Were Here Together is an interactive puzzle game developed by Total Mayhem Games. In this game, players step into the shoes of two adventurers trapped in an ancient castle and need to solve puzzles to escape.
The game requires players to engage with one another and work together on different levels. There are some horror elements within the game as well. However, it is more of an action-adventure that relies on teamwork.
This game is a fun way to get to know your friends. Its cooperative gameplay and interesting puzzles make it appealing to players of all skill levels.
Check out on Steam.
Her Story
Her Story is a mystery video game created by Sam Barlow. The game makes use of footage taken from a police database and is displayed on a computer screen that’s set inside a police station.
This interactive game lets you search a database by putting in keywords, and you figure out what happened to a woman whose husband went missing. This game has non-linear gameplay, so it’s much more exciting and fun to play than linear games. The players uncover surprising links and shocking secrets on their quest.
Her Story has gotten a lot of attention for its fascinating storyline and compelling gameplay. It challenges players to think through the evidence and explore memory, perception, and subjective truth.
Check out on Steam.
Superliminal
Superliminal is a game that challenges the player’s sense of reality through illusionary visual effects and perceptual tricks. This game puts you in an imaginary world where you have to use your thinking and reasoning skills.
A player in Superliminal can adjust the perspective and size of objects in the environment. As players drag and drop objects, they adjust the size of the objects to solve complicated puzzles. The game constantly encourages players to broaden their horizons and consider their viewpoints when playing.
There is a weird blur between illusion and reality in Superliminal’s game system. This game explores mystery and perception in an engaging story. With its dazzling graphics and soothing sound effects, Superliminal is sure to keep you entertained for hours.
Check out on Steam.
Final Thoughts
Puzzle games are an absolute way to energize and refresh your mind. There you go with the list of best Puzzle games that definitely need your attention.
So, give a shot at the games mentioned above and indulge yourself in the world of gaming. These puzzle games will definitely take you on a journey of challenges while letting you uncover the mystery.
Gaming on PC is not your cup of tea? You may be interested in the best escape room games for Android and iOS!
