The Best Puzzle Games on Steam

Steam has a huge collection of puzzle games, from immersive story-driven adventures to really challenging logic puzzles. These games make you think, using clever ideas and beautifully designed worlds. Both small independent developers and major game studios have created innovative ways for players to solve problems in digital spaces. This is a selection of some of the best and most popular puzzle games currently available on Steam.

‘Machinarium’ (2009)

Machinarium is a point-and-click adventure game created by Amanita Design. You play as a little robot named Josef, and your goal is to save his girlfriend from the clutches of the Black Cap Brotherhood. You’ll do this by solving clever puzzles that involve the game’s environment and using items you find. The game is known for its beautiful, hand-drawn visuals and tells its story through pictures and animations instead of spoken words. It’s set in a unique, rusty, and mechanical world where logical thinking is key to progress.

‘Limbo’ (2010)

Limbo is a moody puzzle-platformer developed and released by Playdead. Players control a young boy who wakes up in a shadowy, black-and-white forest and has to find his way through dangerous traps and huge monsters. The game challenges you with physics-based puzzles and requires careful timing as you move from a natural setting into more industrial areas. It’s famous for its distinctive, minimalist look and the way it forces you to learn through repeated attempts.

‘Unpacking’ (2021)

‘Unpacking’ is a relaxing puzzle game created by Witch Beam and published by Humble Games. It’s all about the cozy feeling of unpacking boxes and settling into new spaces. As you arrange belongings in different rooms over the years, you piece together the story of a character’s life – their growth, relationships, and important moments. The game blends interior decorating with a thoughtful sorting experience, where paying attention to detail is key.

‘Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes’ (2015)

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, created by Steel Crate Games, is a game all about teamwork and clear communication. One player faces a randomly generated bomb they need to defuse, while the other players have the instructions – but can’t see the bomb! These ‘experts’ have to guide the defuser with precise verbal instructions. The game puts players under pressure, testing how well they can communicate and solve problems together.

‘Gorogoa’ (2017)

I recently played ‘Gorogoa,’ and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced! It’s a beautifully hand-drawn puzzle game created by Jason Roberts and published by Annapurna Interactive. You solve puzzles by rearranging and zooming into these gorgeous panels – it’s like you’re connecting pieces of a story visually. There aren’t any words, but the game tells a really moving story about spirituality and history through these incredible images. It really makes you think and look beyond what’s immediately obvious to find the connections between everything. It’s a truly special game.

‘Superliminal’ (2020)

‘Superliminal,’ created by Pillow Castle, is a first-person puzzle game built around optical illusions and forced perspective. The game’s core mechanic involves objects changing size depending on how the player looks at them. Players explore a strange dream therapy program and solve puzzles by altering the size of common objects to get past obstacles. ‘Superliminal’ challenges players to think creatively and approach problems in unconventional ways.

‘The Case of the Golden Idol’ (2022)

In ‘The Case of the Golden Idol’, a point-and-click mystery game created by Color Gray Games and published by Playstack, you play as a detective in the 1700s. You’ll investigate frozen moments depicting terrible deaths, searching for clues to figure out who was involved and why. The game focuses on careful observation and logical deduction – you’ll piece together what happened by completing a logic grid, ultimately revealing the story behind a cursed object. Unlike many mystery games, it doesn’t rely heavily on collecting and using items.

‘Cocoon’ (2023)

Cocoon is a puzzle adventure game developed by Geometric Interactive and published by Annapurna Interactive. It’s created by the lead gameplay designer behind the acclaimed game, Limbo. Players control a flying character who can jump between different worlds contained within orbs they carry on their back. The gameplay revolves around solving puzzles by cleverly manipulating these worlds within worlds to activate mechanisms and unlock new routes. What’s unique about Cocoon is that it teaches you how to play without using any text instructions or traditional tutorials.

‘Viewfinder’ (2023)

‘Viewfinder’ is a unique first-person puzzle game from Sad Owl Studios and Thunderful Publishing where you change the world using photographs. You take pictures with an instant camera and then insert them into the environment to build new routes and solve puzzles. Imagine taking a photo of a bridge and then being able to actually walk across it! The game blends beautiful visuals with clever, mind-bending puzzles.

‘Patrick’s Parabox’ (2022)

Okay, so I’ve been playing this really cool puzzle game called ‘Patrick’s Parabox’, made by Patrick Traynor. The whole thing is based around boxes inside other boxes – it’s super trippy! You basically push blocks into each other, and the levels get seriously complicated, with these endless loops and stuff that just doesn’t make sense at first. It slowly teaches you how the game’s space works when you shrink or grow things. Honestly, the level design is brilliant, and it somehow explains really complex ideas without even feeling like math. It’s a really clever game!

‘Chants of Sennaar’ (2023)

‘Chants of Sennaar’, created by Rundisc and published by Focus Entertainment, is a unique puzzle game all about breaking down languages. Players journey through a huge tower based on the story of Babel and need to figure out the languages spoken by different groups to move forward. You’ll learn these languages by paying attention to your surroundings and how characters act, then record symbols in a notebook to translate old writings. The game makes translating languages a fun and engaging challenge.

‘The Talos Principle’ (2014)

Created by Croteam and published by Devolver Digital, ‘The Talos Principle’ is a thought-provoking puzzle game where you play as an android. You’ll solve challenging puzzles using tools like lasers and pressure plates, all while guided by a mysterious voice named Elohim. Alongside the puzzles, you’ll explore philosophical questions about consciousness and what it means to be human through interactions with computer terminals. It’s a game that combines tricky logic challenges with a compelling, existential story.

‘The Witness’ (2016)

‘The Witness,’ created by Thekla, Inc., is an open-world puzzle game where you explore a mysterious, abandoned island. The game challenges you with hundreds of puzzles based on symbols, all following a consistent set of rules. To succeed, you’ll need to carefully observe your surroundings, as clues are often hidden within the island’s landscape and how you view it. ‘The Witness’ is designed to help you figure things out for yourself, relying on visual cues and subtle hints rather than direct instructions, leading to satisfying moments of discovery.

‘Baba Is You’ (2019)

‘Baba Is You,’ created by Hempuli, is a unique puzzle game where the rules themselves are part of the game. Players change how the game works by physically moving blocks that spell out words like ‘Baba,’ ‘Is,’ and ‘Win.’ For example, rearranging blocks to say ‘Wall Is Push’ lets you move walls! The game makes you question how video games usually work by letting you break and rebuild their core rules.

‘Return of the Obra Dinn’ (2018)

Return of the Obra Dinn, created by Lucas Pope and published by 3909 LLC, is a first-person mystery game where you explore a ghostly ship. You use a special compass, the Memento Mortem, to see how each crew member died. The game challenges you to figure out the identities and fates of all 60 people on board by carefully examining visual and audio clues. It’s known for its distinctive, retro 1-bit art style and challenging, logic-based gameplay.

‘Papers, Please’ (2013)

Created by Lucas Pope and published by 3909 LLC, ‘Papers, Please’ puts you in the role of an immigration inspector in the made-up country of Arstotzka. You’ll check documents for errors – like outdated passports or fake permits – all while trying to make enough money to support your family. The game challenges you with tough choices: follow the strict rules, or show kindness to those trying to enter. ‘Papers, Please’ expertly combines the details of a bureaucratic job with a gripping and suspenseful story.

‘Outer Wilds’ (2019)

Outer Wilds is an open-world mystery game where you’re stuck in a 22-minute time loop within a solar system. Created by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game has you flying a spacecraft to explore planets and uncover the secrets of a long-lost alien race. Instead of leveling up, you progress by learning about the world around you – solving puzzles requires understanding how things work and the history of the planets. The game truly encourages you to be curious and explore, and it all comes together in a fascinating, connected story about the universe.

‘Portal’ (2007)

‘Portal’, created by Valve, first introduced players to the innovative Portal Gun. The game challenges you to solve puzzles by creating portals on walls and floors to get through a series of test chambers. It’s well-known for its darkly funny tone, largely thanks to GLaDOS, the sarcastic AI who guides (and taunts) you. ‘Portal’ is celebrated for its clever use of physics in puzzle design and its immersive storytelling from a first-person perspective.

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

Portal 2, created and released by Valve, builds on the gameplay of the first game with exciting new features like tractor beams, light bridges, and different types of gel that propel you. The game also tells a more detailed story about the Aperture Science company and introduces a funny, yet clumsy, artificial intelligence named Wheatley. Beyond the lengthy main story, Portal 2 includes a separate co-op mode with unique puzzles designed for two players. Many consider it one of the best puzzle games ever made, thanks to its clever combination of humor and challenging puzzles.

2026-02-18 02:16