Best Puzzle Games On Steam That Deserve More Attention

Steam has a world of opportunity for gamers, with practically every genre of videogame under the sun available. One of the most underrated game genres is puzzles. At their core, all video games are puzzles, as players are constantly challenged to find solutions to the problems in their gaming lives.

From solving murder mysteries to peacefully trying to unpack moving boxes, puzzle games are a genre that has definitely evolved over recent years. The puzzle games featured on this list are much more interesting and versatile than a standard jigsaw puzzle and deserve more attention.

11 I’m On Observation Duty

I’m On Observation Duty is available to play on PC, Android, and iOS.

Although there are technically 5 I'm On Observation Duty games, the basic premise for all of them is the same. Players must monitor live surveillance camera footage and spot anomalies in these rooms.

As the night progresses, these frightful anomalies become more and more frequent. Hence, players need to familiarize themselves with the environments and objects in each room. Beware of jump scares in this psychological horror game.

10 Please Fix The Road

Please Fix The Road is available to play on PC.

Please Fix The Road is a colorful and casual building-simulator puzzle game. As the title suggests, it involves fixing roads to make them functional, using a limited selection of tools.

Satisfaction is guaranteed as players rotate and move tiles around to create a piece of road to allow cars, boats, and even pink llamas to get from Point A to Point B. Its minimalist art style offers a peaceful escape from reality without the stress of actually building a road.

9 Tangle Tower

Tangle Tower is available to play on PC.

Tangle Tower is a classic detective point-and-click puzzle game. Players are tasked with unraveling the mystery of this twisted mansion, dampened by a murder.

Players can interrogate potential suspects, discover suspicious clues in the environment and solve clever logic puzzles. Tangle Tower features some excellent voice-acting in its visual-novel animation style.

8 In Sound Mind

In Sound Mind is available to play on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5.

In Sound Mind is a first-person psychological horror game with a plethora of puzzles. Players take on the role of Desmond Wales, a therapist who deals with patients having mental crises. The levels are linked to his patients, as players discover tapes of their therapy sessions and their mental breaking points.

There is a well-produced soundtrack, an in-depth storyline tackling complex themes, and puzzle-based boss fights. Overall, players will discover that the most terrifying thing is the depths of their own minds.

7 Tunic

Tunic is available to play on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5.

Explore a world filled with ancient powers, puzzles and more in Tunic. Stranded and alone, players must trust their curiosity, investigate hidden secrets, rebuild the game’s Instruction Manual, and battle colossal creatures.

Tunic has a mixture of puzzles, allowing for diverse and fresh gameplay involving memory elements, collecting in-game items to use later on, and mini-game puzzles. With an atmosphere similar to the Legend of Zelda games, play as a small fox on the adventure of a lifetime.

6 Escape Simulator

Escape Simulator is available to play on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5.

Ever wanted to complete an escape room without actually leaving the house? Escape Simulator has that covered. It is a first-person puzzle game that can be completed solo or with a party of 2-3 other players – two (or more) heads are better than one.

Players can explore interactive escape rooms by moving furniture, smashing objects, picking everything up, and examining it. There are 20 escape rooms in total, all with different themes. There are frequent updates and community-made rooms, so there’s always a puzzle to be solved.

5 Monument Valley

Monument Valley: Panoramic Edition is available to play on PC, Android, and iOS.

Embark on a revolutionary journey with a gorgeous color palette and illusionary puzzles in Monument Valley: Panoramic Edition. It was originally a mobile game but has recently been adapted to suit PC.

With a click of the mouse, manipulate in-game monuments to create evolving paths to explore new worlds and otherwise impossible pathways in an ever-changing environment. Monument Valley is the perfect game for sitting down and relaxing while taking in the peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environments.

4 Unravel

Unravel is available to play on PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

If players are looking for a game similar to Little Nightmares or Limbo, look no further than this cotton equivalent. In Unravel, play as Yarny, a being made up of a single thread of yarn that is slowly unraveling. Yarny's character resembles the ties that bind people together as it explores a world of memories.

Unravel is a physics-based puzzle platformer game as Yarny can use their yarn to swing from tree branches or even hitch a ride on a flying kite. It is relatively easy to fall due to the physics aspects; players must use momentum to swing to new heights.

Ori and the Blind Forest is available to play on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a puzzle-action platformer. It is a story-driven adventure with a gorgeous aesthetic and a Studio Ghibli atmosphere. It is far from peaceful, though some have even described it as “Souls-like” in difficulty. It certainly helps that every panel in Ori and the Blind Forest looks like it could be made into a desktop wallpaper.

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After a raging storm sets the game's events into motion, an unlikely orphan must confront a dark nemesis to save the forest he calls home. Timed puzzles, challenging jumps, fantastic level design, and a tear-jerking story all feature in this adorably deceiving game. The sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is designed for players that can't get enough of this style of game!

2 The Talos Principle

The Talos Principle is available to play on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4.

The Talos Principle sets players off as a robot tasked with completing different challenges and follows the commands of a God-like figure talking in their head. Somewhat influenced by the Portal series, the puzzles in The Talos Principle all ramp up in difficulty as players progress through the different stages.

They reuse some previous mechanics to keep gameplay fresh. The story is also full of philosophical questions, getting players to consider their purpose while solving head-scratching challenges. Try not to have an existential crisis while playing The Talos Principle.

1 Unpacking

Unpacking is available to play on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, and PS5.

Journey with the unnamed protagonist as they make their way from childhood to adulthood. Unpacking is a space-saving puzzle game combining home-decorating elements while players learn about the life they are unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, players can uncover secrets about the character’s story through her belongings and her home decor.

Some objects have specific rooms/places where they belong, while others can be placed anywhere. There are also several hidden achievements to be unlocked by interacting with some items. It's entirely up to players to decide how they want to play this game, making for a zen-puzzle experience.

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