I love puzzle games. Love them! Escape room games are one of my favorite genres, hailing all the way back to The Crimson Room flash game (real ones remember). Because of this, I have spent countless hours searching for the best puzzle games on Steam.
Puzzle games can be kind of hard to rate in a list because the mechanics vary so wildly that it’s hard to compare one puzzle game to another totally different puzzle game. Puzzle games span genres, often invent new mechanics, and vary wildly on how much/how little overt storytelling they include.
What are Puzzle Games?
Puzzle games are a genre of video game that challenges players’ problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Players typically engage in tasks that require logic, pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and creativity to progress through levels or scenarios, often involving manipulating objects, rearranging elements, or finding hidden connections. These calming and cozy games encourage players to derive a sense of satisfaction from unraveling complex challenges.
Puzzle video games encompass a wide variety of subgenres. Some of the different types of puzzle video games include:
- Tile-Matching: These games involve matching or aligning tiles with similar patterns or colors to clear them from the game board, such as Tetris, Bejeweled, and Candy Crush.
- Physics-Based: In these games, players manipulate objects or elements within a physics simulation to achieve specific goals, like Angry Birds or Portal.
- Logic and Deduction: Games in this category require players to use logical reasoning and deduction to solve complex puzzles, like Sudoku, Picross, or The Witness.
- Point-and-Click: These games involve exploring environments, interacting with objects, and solving puzzles to progress the story, such as classic titles like Monkey Island or Myst. This is one of my favorite genres, personally. Throwback to old school King’s Quest.
- Escape Room: Inspired by real-world escape room experiences, these games task players with solving puzzles in a confined space to ultimately unlock an exit, like The Room series. Another favorite of mine!
- Platforming Puzzlers: Combining platforming and puzzle-solving, these games challenge players to navigate through levels by overcoming obstacles and solving puzzles, like “Limbo” or “Braid.”
- Hidden Object: Players search for hidden items within intricate scenes to advance the narrative or solve mysteries, as seen in games like Hidden Folks or Mystery Case Files. A ton of these are free, too, which is a bonus.
- Rhythm Puzzlers: These games merge rhythmic gameplay with puzzle-solving elements, requiring players to time their actions to solve puzzles, as seen in Lumines or Crypt of the NecroDancer.
- Math-Based: These games incorporate mathematical concepts and challenges into their puzzles, promoting critical thinking and numerical skills, such as Zoombinis or Sumico.
- Word and Language Puzzles: These games involve manipulating letters, words, and linguistic patterns to solve puzzles, as seen in titles like Boggle or Wordscapes. These tend to be quite popular on mobile devices but Steam has some, too!
- Maze and Labyrinth: Players navigate through intricate mazes and labyrinthine structures, often requiring spatial awareness and problem-solving, as seen in games like The Talos Principle or Lara Croft GO.
- Physics Puzzlers: These games focus on leveraging realistic physics simulations to solve puzzles, requiring players to engineer creative solutions, like World of Goo or Incredipede.
My Top Rated Puzzle Games on Steam
I have spent countless hours playing and exploring various puzzle games across a variety of platforms. After thorough research and personal experience (and preference, of course), I have compiled a list of the best puzzle games on Steam that are worth your time and money right now.
1. The Star Named EOS – Best narrative in a puzzle game
The Star Named EOS is a cozy hidden-object game that combines stunning Anime visuals with an emotional narrative. Players follow Dei, a young man piecing together his mother’s past by recreating her photography. As they explore nostalgic childhood spaces and serene outdoor scenes, each puzzle uncovers more of a touching story about love, loss, and family connections. Developed by Taiwan’s Silver Line Studios, the game is available in English, Japanese, and Traditional Chinese.
You can read my full The Star Named EOS review here.
2. Unpacking – Best coming-of-age tale
Unpacking is a relaxing puzzle game where you unpack someone’s belongings and place them in different rooms of their home. There’s no dialogue or big story, but as you go through different stages of their life—like moving into a dorm, a shared apartment, or a family home—you piece together their journey through the objects they carry. It’s simple, satisfying, and surprisingly emotional, as you learn about their ups and downs just by organizing their stuff.
You can read our Unpacking review here.
3. Chants of Sennaar – Best for language and word puzzles
Chants of Sennaar is a game about uniting groups of people despite a language barrier that has seemingly persisted since the dawn of time. Inspired by the myth of Babel, this game offers thought-provoking puzzles around image, language, and meaning.
4. A Little to the Left – Best for cozy aesthetics
A Little to the Left is a fun and quirky puzzle game that challenges players to sort and organize items in a house. The game’s puzzles are simple yet satisfying, and the game’s art style is cute and charming. Often compared to games like Unpacking, A Little to the Left is a great point-and-click experience for players who love to see messy things tidied up.
5. The Witness – Best for secrets & Easter eggs
The Witness is a first-person puzzle game that takes place on a mysterious island. The game features a beautiful open world, challenging puzzles, and a non-linear progression system. The community loves the game’s stunning visuals, challenging puzzles, and the sense of exploration and discovery that the game provides.
6. Baba is You – Best for old school pixel graphics
Baba is You is a puzzle game that challenges the player to manipulate the rules of the game to solve puzzles. The game features a simple but effective visual style, challenging puzzles, and a unique gameplay mechanic. The community loves the game’s creativity and the way it challenges the player to think outside the box.
7. Rusty Lake – Best for a bundle of games in one
Rusty Lake is a series of puzzle games that feature a surreal world and a dark storyline. The games feature challenging puzzles, unique gameplay mechanics, and a creepy atmosphere. The community loves the game’s unique style and the way it challenges the player to think creatively to solve puzzles.
8. The Swapper – Best for Portal fans looking for their next thing
This game is a unique puzzle game that allows players to clone themselves to solve puzzles. The game’s puzzles are challenging and require careful planning and strategy. The game’s atmospheric soundtrack and visuals add to the overall experience.
9. Lyne – Best cheap puzzle game
This game is a relaxing and minimalist puzzle game that challenges players to connect shapes and paths. The game’s puzzles are simple yet satisfying, and the game’s visuals and sound design are calming and soothing.
10. SpaceChem – Best design-based puzzle game
This game is a challenging puzzle game that requires players to design and optimize chemical reactors. The game’s puzzles are complex and require careful planning and strategy. The game’s graphics and soundtrack are sleek and futuristic.
11. Opus Magnum – Best open-ended puzzle game
Opus Magnun is a puzzle game that challenges players to design and build alchemical machines. The game’s puzzles are complex and require careful planning and strategy. The game’s graphics and sound design are stunning and add to the overall experience.
12. The Talos Principle – Best for philosophical themes
The Talos Principle is a philosophical first-person puzzle game that challenges the player to question the nature of existence. The game features a beautiful world, challenging puzzles, and a thought-provoking storyline. The community loves the game’s unique approach to puzzle-solving and the philosophical themes explored in the game.
13. Portal 2 – Best multiplayer puzzle game
Portal 2 is a classic puzzle game that has stood the test of time. It is a first-person puzzle game that challenges the player to use portals to solve increasingly complex puzzles. The game has an engaging storyline, memorable characters, and a great sense of humor. The community loves the game’s challenging puzzles and the satisfaction of finally solving them.
14. The Zero Escape trilogy – Best mystery/suspense game with twists & turns
I fully acknowledge that parts of these games may not hold up well, but Zero Escape 999 and Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward will remain some of my favorite puzzle games, like, ever. And YES, I played them originally on NDS and PS Vita (portables 4eva). You can buy them both in a single ported package called “Zero Escape: The Nonary Games“—when you boot it up, it will let you pick between games 1 and 2 from the main menu.
There’s also a tHirD GamE. We don’t talk about the third game… But you can buy all three at once just to finish the story, which excellent from start to finish.
Players Also Ask: FAQs About Puzzle Games
Not every puzzle game is “the best” overall, but many of them satisfyingly fulfill a perfect little niche. So in this section, I’m going to answer some commonly asked questions about specific puzzle game requirements that I see being asked about online. Hopefully this can help narrow down your search if you are looking for something in particular. and please do leave your questions in the comments below if there is a type of puzzle game you want me to add and explore here later!
What are some of the best puzzle board games available on Steam?
If you’re looking for puzzle board games, you can check out games like Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, and Pandemic (which is also in VR). These games offer strategic gameplay and challenging puzzles that feel somewhat like traditional cards-and-dice boardgame around the ol’ coffee table.
Are there any free puzzle games available on Steam?
Yes, there are many free puzzle games available on Steam. Some of the best ones include DYO, Toki Time Trial, and Shepherd of Light. Keep in mind that free games often have lower quality graphics and may be shorter than paid games or receive fewer bug fixes and updates. Some may include microtransactions, etc., as well.
Are there any good 2-player puzzle games on Steam?
There are plenty of 2-player puzzle games on Steam, both co-op and PvP. Examples include the Portal series, the Trine games (some entries are better than others, buyer beware), ibb & obb, and Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes (one of my personal co-op faves).
Are there any good 2-player puzzle games available for free on Steam?
Free 2-player puzzle games are pretty hard to find. Well, if you want anything of quality, that is. At least you aren’t risking anything but your time, since you won’t have to invent a penny. Here are some options: Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories, Puzzle Together Multiplayer Jigsaw Puzzles (a great cozy choice), and We Were Here.
Conclusion
The puzzle game genre on Steam is one of the strongest and most beloved by players. With so many great titles to choose from, there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of puzzle games.
Some puzzle games are cozier than others, as some include some time-sensitive or tense mechanics. However, I think puzzle games are a great cozy game choice because they tend to be more relaxed and more casual than other games.
Stay cozy, gamers.