Myst was one of the first hugely successful puzzle adventure games. During its prime, even non-gamers were becoming obsessed with playing it. It’s one of the few games that people who “never game” remember playing in the ’90s.
If you’re seeking a similar experience in this immersive genre, we present ten games certain to take you on a wits-challenging adventure!
10. The House of Da Vinci 3
Based on fictional events set during the Renaissance, The House of Da Vinci 3 is the third installment in a trilogy of games. It features new locations and puzzles. A standout feature is the Oculus Perpetua. With this unique tool, you can change time and space and use locations to reshape the past, present, and future.
9. Eastshade
If you’re looking for a unique adventure photography game from 2019 set in an open world populated by anthropomorphic animals, then Eastshade may fit the bill! It’s definitely an underappreciated gem. You solve problems through painting. The story is thoughtful and its artistic aesthetics are breathtaking. There is much to explore and challenging puzzles, and the game allows players time to ponder.
8. The Witness
Released in 2016, The Witness presents an open-world island filled with natural and man-made structures. Your wits will be challenged as no direct instructions are available, and puzzles are hidden within the environment. Players must identify the meaning of symbols. Puzzles can be solved in any order. It’s highly challenging but great fun.
7. Superliminal
Superliminal is a surreal puzzle game from 2019 filled with optical illusions and forced perspective. You’ll find yourself trapped in a labyrinth and must escape from the complex. Along the way, you’ll navigate through increasingly challenging scenarios. Perspective plays a key role, as objects might change size or location depending on how you view them.
6. Lost at Sea
Set on a completely explorable island, Lost at Sea will challenge your wits and emotions. The game puts a major emphasis on the human condition. The gameplay is ambiguous, requiring you to traverse the island repeatedly to connect moments in time. There’s a creeping sense of dread and darkness.
5. The Talos Principle
An award-winning puzzle game from 2014, The Talos Principle delivers a philosophical story that inspires deep thought. It’s set amongst a backdrop of ancient ruins and fantasy technology. The two merge to create a majestic but confusing world. The nonlinear gameplay challenges you to consider the consequences of every move.
4. What Remains of Edith Finch
Blending a horror-themed narrative with secrets and puzzles, 2017’s What Remains of Edith Finch is an artful, immersive experience. You guide Edith through her childhood home. Through vignettes, each family member tells their personal story. These shift the gameplay elements in unique ways based on the circumstances of their death.
3. Twelve Minutes
Released in 2021, Twelve Minutes is set in a tiny apartment where bizarre circumstances create thrills and adventure. A husband and wife repeatedly loop through a 12-minute cycle attempting to solve a mystery. Players must learn from their mistakes. The time-bending and paradoxical nature of gameplay makes this title unique.
2. My Brother Rabbit
Although quite a departure from Myst, My Brother Rabbit maintains the influence of the puzzle adventure. The setting is a highly imaginative world to explore that is both colorful and surreal. The story takes the forefront in this emotional tale of a family dealing with their daughter’s illness, with characters that are quirky and charming.
1. Thimbleweed Park
You’ll find everything that’s great about the puzzle genre in 2017’s Thimbleweed Park. This mystery noir tale is darkly comic. The characters have unique nuances and foibles. The puzzles are truly challenging. The game also owes a hat tip to both 1987’s Maniac Mansion and 1990s The Secret of Monkey Island in both visuals and gameplay.
