There is no better feeling for many gamers than the “Ah-ha!” that plays in your head the moment you figure something out. Puzzle Games are known for this since the entire genre is based on making you feel that sense of satisfaction.
That feeling is the primary driving force behind our selections for our Best Puzzle Games of 2021 list. Every game listed below represents exceptional ingenuity, design, and attention to detail that players love to see—but above all, they perfected the art form of making us feel mentally accomplished.
Best Puzzle Games of 2021
It Takes Two
Winner of the Game of the Year award at Game Awards 2021, It Takes Two was released in March of this year and remained on Top Sellers lists for the whole year, and for good reason. It Takes Two brings a magnificent, unique look to the co-op puzzler genre. There is no repetition or perfecting of techniques in it—every level is different. Two players work together to solve a myriad of puzzles to rekindle the bond between Cody and May, the game’s two (divorcing) protagonists. Think you’ll make it?
Escape Simulator
Escape Simulator has set itself up as the perfect game for the escape room genre. Unlike most escape room games, it allows players to work together (it’s co-op!) and investigate almost every object they see. This allows the game to build incredibly complex puzzles in any sized room, which encourages players to think more critically about a solution. Perhaps the best part about the game is that it’s enabled for community content. You can design your own puzzles or try out one of the hundreds of challenges the game’s community has already published. It could be the perfect escape room game because it will never run out of content!
Little Nightmares II
In the second installment of this wildly popular horror-themed platformer-puzzle game, you play as Mono, a new friend of Six (the protagonist from the first Little Nightmares). You must navigate a nightmarish alternate reality filled with unsettling creatures and an eerie atmosphere that you can’t wait to escape. Remember the slow-paced but still heart-pounding nightmares you had when you were little? Little Nightmares brings them back—but with puzzles!
Dorfromantik
You’d be hard-pressed to find a review of Dorfromantik that doesn’t mention the words Peaceful and Relaxing. The name translates from German as “village romance,” representing that name well. Design your own village with tiles that must be matched and placed next to similar pieces, collectively forming a romantically quaint environment.
This game differs from the rest of our list in that it’s not a linear game with a set agenda. Instead, it serves as a puzzler for those of us that like to stop and smell the roses as they take a peaceful and relaxing approach to artistic level design.
That’s it for our list of the best puzzle games of 2021!
Don’t forget, we provide guides for some of the most popular games available! Be sure to check out our homepages for Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox for guides and codes for all your favorite games!
