Puzzle games task you with discovering solutions using your head, not brute force. At their worst, they feel like homework. At their best, they pull you into an irresistible flow state that makes you feel like a genius. The puzzle genre thrives on creativity since the best games challenge you with brainteasers you've never encountered. They take classic game formulas, such as platforming and shooting, and transform them into unbelievably novel experiences. Are you ready for a new, fun test of your mental capabilities? From falling blocks to playing with portals, these are the best PC puzzle games you should download now.
Bejeweled 3
When compared with its predecessors, Bejeweled 3 is a gold rush of new features and enhancements. Skeptics who previously found little appeal in gem-swapping will enjoy new objective-oriented modes, be it saving butterflies, digging for gold, shattering ice, or concealing a poker hand. Bejeweled 3 doesn't remake the franchise, but that isn't the aim. For the millions who already enjoy it on computers, websites, and mobile phones, Bejeweled 3 polishes an already shining gem.
Inside
Few video games receive perfect scores here at PCMag, but Inside is a title that qualifies as damn-near flawless. The action-adventure title features, at its core, a boy navigating a dark and deadly world. To go too deep into Inside's structure would both spoil the game and do it a disservice. Trust us: It's worth playing.
Papo & Yo
Papo & Yo, a puzzle-platformer from Minority, crossed over to PC from PlayStation Network with grace and style. This tale of a boy and a monster takes place in an imaginative world filled with South American-style houses and reason-defying physics, and is driven by a heartfelt story that explores the relationship between a child and an abusive, alcoholic parent.
Valve's original Portal was noteworthy for its witty dialogue and creativity in blending the puzzle and first-person shooter genres. With Portal 2, Valve created a worthy sequel by updating the characteristics that made the first title a distinctive success. Limited multiplayer and post-campaign options slightly diminish the replay factor, but Portal 2 is just as amusing and exhilarating as its predecessor in almost every way.
Quantum Conundrum
The video game industry is dominated by space marines, regular marines, super-soldiers, and zombie-killers. That's why it's particularly nice to see a clever title like Airtight Games and Square Enix's Quantum Conundrum, a project from Portal designer Kim Swift. The first-person puzzle game focuses on solving increasingly challenging puzzles using a dimension-shifting tool within a mansion filled with wacky inventions.
Scribblenauts Unlimited, 5th Cell's latest word-adventure title, lets creative gamers use a magic notebook to summon a wild array of items as they attempt to reverse a spell that's turning their in-game sister, Lily, into stone. It's a very basic plot that kickstarts the action, but Scribblenauts Unlimited excels at sparking imagination as you attempt to solve puzzles. It's one that wordsmiths and imaginauts will love in equal measure.
Imagine a game soup flavored with chunky bits of old-school 2D Castlevania, Portal, and BioShock, and you still wouldn't get close to describing The Swapper. The game's not quite a platformer; it's a puzzle game, packaged with a brooding sci-fi story set in space. Finnish company Facepalm Games delivers a fascinating, memorable exploration title that can sustain at least two playthroughs because of its multiple endings and achievements.
UFO 50 defies characterization. A team of indie developers came together to create 50 full 8-bit games that chronicle the history of a fictional console. We’re putting it in the puzzle category since some of our favorite games are real headscratchers. But this anthology has games that span all genres and appeal to all players.