TEN PUZZLE GAMES LIKE BLUE PRINCE, MYST, RIVEN, OBRA DINN, BROKEN SWORD & THE WITNESS.
I’ve played my fair share of the indie puzzle genre. Starting with OG Myst and Riven, over the years I’ve worked my way through the travails of George Stobart, tricky platformers, logical conundrums and medieval detective cases. If you’ve landed here, chances are you’ve googled “games like Myst or Riven or Obra Dinn or Broken Sword or Blue Prince…” So, here are ten favourites that might invoke nostalgic feelings or perhaps inspire your next fix. Along with several other brilliant creations, from The Talos Principle to Viewfinder, that didn’t make our personal top ten. Written in collaboration with Outer Wilds superfan Hannah Edwards.
10. ANIMAL WELL
Animal Well is the only platformer in this list, or to be more precise, the only puzzle-platformer. It’s a textbook indie game in its weirdness: you play as a small blob exploring a dark, labyrinthine forest filled with secrets. Your aims aren’t clear at first, so you scurry around expanding the map, collecting items which unlock new capabilities for your blob self, and finding many more mysteries along the way. I have to emphasise the puzzle element of the gameplay, as I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of thought required throughout, especially as your inventory expands. It’s not totally clear what to expect when downloading Animal Well but I was soon hooked, whizzing through screens each time inspiration struck; the pixelated, neon graphics (see image) and platform mechanics feel rather like a love letter to the ZX Spectrum creations of the 80s. While I have technically completed Animal Well, I may be back soon, as I know there are still plenty of Easter Eggs to uncover.
If you liked this, play: Fez (more devious puzzle-platforming)
9. THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY
The Procession to Calvary is a great option for anyone who wants a classic, suitably bonkers point and click. As you can see from the cover, this project is hugely enhanced by the impressive collaging of Middle Age/Renaissance paintings which form all elements of the game (from background to people to inventory items). Full of jokes, sarcasm and crazy characters, the quest you’re on is almost irrelevant… just sit back and enjoy the medieval madness.
If you liked this, play: Four Last Things and Death of the Reprobate (both also by Joe Richardson) or try Pentiment (a medieval ‘whodunnit’).
8. COCOON
‘Unique’ is a fitting one word summary of Cocoon; you control an insect who can carry whole worlds on its back inside orbs. You can then swap between these worlds, which keeps the puzzles fresh and innovative: maybe you need something in the first world, but it’s stuck in the second, and so on... Cocoon is a standout indie for many reasons. Not only do its tricky puzzles have clean solutions, but they’re supported by eye-catching visuals that blend natural elements with futuristic machinery. I played Cocoon a while ago, but a Eurogamer review reminded me that it also excels at ‘wordless’ education. Cocoon both highlights what you might need and confines you to the right areas to prevent wasting time - as seasoned players will know, it’s these kinds of details that really elevate gameplay and cut out frustration.
If you liked this, play: Viewfinder (level-based puzzling with another unique premise)
7. TWELVE MINUTES
One of two time loop games on this list, each game of 12 minutes lasts for…12 minutes. What looks like a romantic evening with your wife turns into a nightmare all too fast when an intruder arrives. You, the loving husband, now have 12 minutes to figure out what the hell is going on, before the threat returns and the cycle starts again… 12 minutes unfolds deliciously as you make breakthrough after breakthrough, with each run prompting multiple ideas to “try next time”. It features a stellar voice cast: Daisy Ridley, James McAvoy and Willem Dafoe. It’s also pretty violent - don’t play this with children.
If you liked this, play: Her Story (an innovative format with more drama to piece together)
6. MACHINARIUM
A little older than the rest of these titles, Machinarium is an absolute classic. A timeless ‘point and click’ done to perfection, you play a quirky, almost childlike robot in search of his kidnapped robot girlfriend. Machinarium’s puzzles are creative and pleasing, and do not suffer from the occasionally irritating randomness that can come with point and click gameplay (no goats!). With zany characters on a steam-punk backdrop, Machinarium is both amusing and instantly lovable - but decently challenging too.
If you liked this, play: Samorost (another charming point and click by Amanita design)
5. OUTER WILDS
Outer Wilds, the only action-adventure, open world game on this list. While I love Skyrim, Outer Wilds puts us in very different territory. You play as an alien-astronaut in another galaxy, piloting your trusty spaceship to explore nearby planets. The catch? You’re stuck in a 22 minute time loop before the sun explodes. Standard. Outer Wilds is a phenomenal game where you quite literally unravel the secrets of the universe as you play, with constant bursts of exhilaration as you race to make discoveries before time runs out. The gameplay can initially be frustrating; that said, I highly recommend pushing through the difficulty - the main thing is to master spaceship flight early on - after that, it’s one of the best games out there with mind-bending physics such as the ice comet, barren and useless at first. But as it orbits closer to the sun and the ice melts…
If you liked this, play: Blue Prince (there’s nothing really like Outer Wilds, but it might give you the same satisfaction from uncovering mysteries)
4. RETURN OF THE OBRA DINN
Return of the Obra Dinn was created by Papers Please creator Lucas Pope. What is an Obra Dinn?! Legend tells it’s a cargo ship which left dock in 1802. Thought to be lost at sea, five years later the Obra Dinn drifts back into dock, stripped of both cargo and crew. You play the lucky insurance inspector sent to determine the fates of all 60 people aboard, but you’ll feel more like a detective as you scour through eerie 3D flashbacks for clues to help you fill out the ship’s manifest. Every detail matters in this endless ‘whodunnit’: from regional accents and clothing to names scrawled beside bunk beds. As you piece together an unbelievable series of events, nothing beats the satisfaction of having your deductions confirmed (enter three correct answers and the logbook locks them in). The drama unfolds on a haunting monochrome, ‘dither-punk’ backdrop, accompanied by a tense orchestral soundtrack - both of which are key to the unique, immersive atmosphere only found on the ship’s decks. Return of the Obra Dinn is unforgettable. I’m just trying to forget it so I can play it again some day.
If you liked this, play: Chants of Sennaar (for more deduction), Blue Prince (for more puzzle/immersion)
3. CHANTS OF SENNAAR
Inspired by the biblical Tower of Babel, you find yourself climbing a labyrinthine tower where communication between inhabitants has broken down. To proceed, you must decipher the hieroglyphic-style languages spoken by the different clans, using context clues, patterns, and the occasional educated guess when stuck. Thankfully you’re armed with a trusty notebook to keep track of ideas and confirmed words (if you’ve played Return of the Obra Dinn, the logbook mechanism is almost identical). I can’t recommend this one enough; each breakthrough in translation is more rewarding than the last, as threads connect and form into ingenious conclusions. The vibrant artwork - giving each level of the tower a distinct identity - doesn’t hurt either.
If you liked this, play: Return of the Obra Dinn (more deduction)
2. BLUE PRINCE
Blue Prince is an ingenious box of secrets. You play the nephew of the late Baron Sinclair, who’s left you his fortune on one condition: you must find the mysterious “room 46” hidden somewhere in his sprawling mansion. Blending strategy, puzzle and roguelike progression (the house resets every day), the apparent straightforwardness of your task is short lived. If the game ended with the discovery of Room 46 it would still be a brilliant game, but the more you uncover, the more questions remain to be answered. The launch trailer is a good guide to the aesthetic and atmosphere of this wonderful game.
If you liked this, play: Myst and Riven for a similar atmosphere if you can find a way to play them.
1. THE WITNESS
Created by gaming genius Jonathan Blow, The Witness takes place on a beautiful island littered with panels, each displaying standalone puzzles that rapidly increase in complexity. Perhaps The Witness’s most impressive feat is that it teaches you a multitude of rules and ways to think without a single piece of text or verbal instruction. For me, this game as close as it gets to perfection. Intrigue is around every corner, and each panel brings a fresh challenge. Without spoilers, it is hard to explain its philosophical elements, or the significance the island’s natural world holds… but there is a real “WOW!” moment which changes the way you see the game’s environment (and even the way you see things in the real world!).
If you liked this, play: The Talos Principle
What did we miss? Tell us in the comments so others can discover your favourite. And we’d love to hear if our top ten helps you discover something new. Until then, Lorja!