As someone who considers themselves to be somewhat of a deductive, clever, and perceptive fellow, puzzle games are something that attracts me more than most other titles out there.
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Your button-mashing prowess won’t save you here!
There’s nothing like a head-scratcher to get those cerebral juices flowing, and there’s equally nothing like the eureka moment that comes with solving a tough puzzle that was initially thought to be impossible.
We all know the standout puzzlers out there, like Portal and The Witness, to name a few. But, if you’re someone who has played the mainstream hits, you’ll likely be on the lookout for some hidden gems to play.
So, in the spirit of getting your synapses firing again, we have a list of ten staggeringly good puzzle games you may not have heard of but absolutely need to check out.
Windows To Another World
Jason Roberts
Release Date
Jul 13, 2025
OpenCritic Score
Despite being one of the finest and most inventive games under the Annapurna Interactive Umbrella, I am consistently surprised to find that, when brought up in conversation, no one knows what the heckGorogoais, and it’s a damn shame.
Goragoa is a phenomenally clever title that asks the player to arrange, manipulate, and interact with various hand-drawn tiles to progress the silent narrative of each puzzle and push forward to each scene’s natural conclusion, filling out each empty tile space as you go.
It’s a concept that was later somewhat replicated in fellow Annapurna title Storyteller, butGoragoaremains leaps and bounds ahead of any vague imitation. It’s super-stylish, unapologetically clever, and well worth checking out if you want a puzzle format that feels truly unique.
9The Pedestrian
Stickman Adventures
The Pedestrian
We’ve all seen those little stickmen on road signs warning us not to do various things, but have you ever considered whether they are sentient people with lives to live?
Probably not, because you’re likely a sane person, and kudos to you on that. However,The Pedestrianis a game that follows that unique thread and allows you to work your way through a bustling city as a little stickman on a mission.
It’s all about making connections, flicking switches, and getting from A to B by any means possible, and as far as the puzzle design goes, it’s a masterclass in minimalism.
In essence, it’s as simple as it can be, offering rudimentary 2D platformer gameplay, but thanks to the intricate puzzle design, progression is anything but rudimentary.
Plus, not to spoil anything, but the ending is absolutely outstanding, dramatically flipping the script with a change of perspective. It’s a criminally overlooked puzzle platformer and one you need to show some love at your earliest convenience.
87th Sector
Shockingly Good
Sometimes You
Mar 5th 2019
As someone who often sings the praises of gritty2D Puzzle PlatformerslikeINSIDE, LIMBO, andLittle Nightmares, it should be no surprise that I’m going to bat for a little game that pays homage to all those mentioned, albeit while offering something completely new in many ways.
In7th Sector, you essentially play as an electrical current, which will begin with you navigating wires and overcoming obstacles through powering machinery. But before long, you’ll be able to take control of robots, mechs, and more as you try to make sense of the weird dystopia you find yourself in.
It’s often overlooked as it lacks the platforming aspect of similar titles, but thanks to the rich puzzle design and gritty silent narrative, you’ll find that there’s plenty to love about this one.
Maybe You Can’t, But A Tin Can
Tin Can Studio
Oct 29th 2020
75% (Based on Available Reviews)
This one may be cheating ever slightly, as Tin Can leans a little closer to the survival game genre in truth, but we are going to make allowances as each emergency evacuation is effectively a puzzle in and of itself, especially if you take on specific challenges.
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Sonic Adventure’s Chao Garden or Yakuza 0’s Cabaret Club are more than addicting enough to be full games on their own.
Tin Can is an interstellar title that has you evacuate the space station you call home, and your goal is to survive long enough in your very cramped and limited escape pod until help arrives.
The problem is, this thing breaks often. So you’ll need to read the maintenance manual and jury-rig the thing as it encounters electrical storms, black holes, and all kinds of other galactic anomalies.
It’s a survival game geared toward more analytical and logical heads out there, making it a puzzle fan’s way into the genre. It’s a marmite game for sure, but it’s worth checking out nonetheless.
It’s Wheels Within Wheels
I feel like I need to add a little caveat to this one, as there are a lot of things that Maquette offers that I really didn’t like, and as a result, it makes it a hard one to recommend genuinely. But when push comes to shove, the core concept is enough to outweigh the bad.
Maquetteis a game that uses fractal design. Which, in layman’s terms, is effectively a layered map design, offering an inception-like feel to the puzzles presented.
In many instances, you’ll be on a regular-sized map and will need to manipulate the smaller model-village style one in the center of the map to clear a path to enter the even bigger map that serves as the outer boundaries of the normal map.
Confusing, I know, but when you wrap your head around it, you can truly appreciate the ambition and the intelligent puzzle design on offer. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s one of those you need to see to believe, and that’s pretty cool in my book.
5Children of Silentown
Don’t Go Into The Forest
Children of Silentown
If you’re someone who enjoyed point-and-click puzzlers of old likeGrim FandangoorDay of the Tentacle, you would be forgiven for thinking that the age of the point-and-click puzzle was long behind us.
However, there are some games that continue to offer fresh and innovative additions to the genre, and the eerie title,Children of Silentown, is one such gem.
This title places you in a creepy world where the townsfolk are constantly going missing, and it’s your job to go against the principles of your hometown and try to solve the mystery before everyone is taken.
The environmental puzzles and mini-games are on point, as is the dark and twisted narrative you’ll slowly unravel. So, for a modern take on an old classic format, you need to check out this Point and Click epic.
4Arranger: A Role-Playing Puzzle Game
Meticulous Moving
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure
If you’re someone that likes to play more lesser-known puzzlers, you may be familiar with a little game calledCarto. However, you may not be aware of another intriguing puzzler from the same creative minds that meshes puzzle ideals with that of the RPG genre.
Players will take control of Jemma and will control her through moving along a grid that works not too unlike a conveyor belt, and by moving methodically through the world, you’ll be able to clear paths, fight enemies, and interact with the various characters that will help you on your quest.
As the name suggests, it’s all about looking at what’s on-screen and using your movement powers to put everything in place to progress onward. Think of it like a flat Rubik’s Cube if you’re still not getting the picture.
It’s well-written, artistically brilliant, and offers a rich blend of dynamic puzzles that are easy to understand but a doozy to master, making this one a must-play for puzzle fans.
3Little Inferno
Some People Want To Watch The World Burn
Kyle Gabler
Nov 18th 2012
This is going to feel like a weird inclusion, as this satirical title is about as shallow as it gets in terms of puzzle design and core mechanics, for that matter. But, to be completely fair, that’s by design.
Little Inferno is a game about consumerism, and it’s also a game about the shameless nature of consumerism in games. It simply asks you to buy things, burn things, and repeat the process in weird and wacky ways. Meanwhile, the dark and twisted nature of the narrative slowly reveals itself as you do.
What’s most ironic is that despite wanting to poke fun at the various nefarious mechanics used in mobile games and the like, the core gameplay loop is as addictive as ever, and the combo puzzles only add to this appeal.
It’s not going to get those cerebral juices flowing in truth, but it’s fun and thought-provoking. Plus, you get to burn stuff, and there’s something quite cathartic about mindless destruction, wouldn’t you agree?
2The Last Clockwinder
Setting Off A Chain Reaction
The Last Clockwinder
I’m aware this may be a little bit of a stretch, considering this game is often referred to as one of thebest games on the PSVR2 library, but considering the limited number of gamers who have embraced VR, never mind the limited amount of those that chose to do so with a PSVR2, I think this one deserves mention.
The Last Clockwinderis a game all about creating a production line, and to do this, you need to create clones of yourself performing various actions.
Whether it be pulling a lever, tossing an apple, or whatever it may happen to be. You need to do it accurately and in rhythm with your other clones to make a closed loop.
You’re effectively creating a chain reaction piece by piece, like setting up a load of dominoes to watch them all fall, and it’s poetry in motion when you get it right.
So, if you’re a fan of automation games and want a more immersive, hands-on way to be part of the action, this is the one for you.
1Pony Island
The Devil’s In The Detail
Daniel Mullins
Jan 4th 2016
We conclude with a game that is an eerie, twisted, de-sensitizing, deceptive,and unparalleled genius.
You’ll know Daniel Mullin’s work if you’ve played the mega-successful card-based escape room title,Inscryption, but before that breakout success, there wasPony Island.
This game is a satirical jab at game development, which places you in a corrupt arcade machine masquerading as a cute pony game, but actually, it is the work of none other than the devil himself.
As the cracks begin to show and the facade drops, you’ll solve various code-related puzzles to reveal the game’s true nature and uncover the twisted story that lurks behind the saturated backgrounds and free-to-play feel-good vibes.
It’s got that ARG-fuelled meta-commentary that Mullin is known for, and you’ll come away from this one with your brain thoroughly scrambled and your reality distorted. Honestly, what more could you ask for?
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