What are the best puzzle games on PC? [Top 15]

Portal 2, Return of the Obra Dinn, Baba Is You… the best puzzle games on PC have one thing in common: they really make you think.

Here is a selection of 15 tracks, sorted by Metacritic or Steam score, which covers all profiles: solo, coop, investigation, pure logic, and exploration.

📌 Disclaimer : This is a selection we have put together.

* Metacritic score out of 100, if available; otherwise, the Steam rating as a percentage, with the number of reviews in parentheses.

1. Portal 2

Release date : 19/04/2011
Metacritic score : 95/100

Portal 2 is a puzzle and adventure game in which you solve physics-based puzzles using a gun that creates portals. The futuristic universe serves as the backdrop for a real story, driven by a black humor which has become a cult classic. The game can be played solo or in cooperative mode for two players, with a fully dedicated co-op campaign.

His brain teasers flow seamlessly without ever stalling you unnecessarily. Each new mechanism opens up new ways of thinking, which makes Portal 2 a benchmark in its genre even today.

• Difficulty : accessible, with a well-balanced learning curve
• Available on Steam

This is the ideal front door If you're new to Single-player PC games. It's also the best choice for playing with a partner, since co-op is one of the game's strongest features.

2. Blue Prince

Release date : 10/04/2025
Metacritic score : 92/100

Blue Prince is a adventure and puzzle game In which you explore a large mansion whose rooms change with every playthrough. Each time you walk through a door, you choose the next room from several possible layouts. You must observe your surroundings, find clues, take note of the rules of the place, and make your way through a world full of secrets.

Its a manor that is rebuilt with each game keeps the adventure fresh: no two sessions are ever the same. You can solve the puzzles in a different order and compare your deductions from one game to the next.

• Difficulty : It's challenging—you have to take notes and be willing to start over
• Available on Steam

For you, if you like it explore, map, and deduce over several hours, with a notebook in hand. Avoid this if you're looking for linear progression or a game that can be finished in one evening.

3. Void Stranger

Release date : 01/09/2023
Steam Score : 91 % (Very positive, 2,683 reviews)

Void Stranger is a 2D puzzle game which takes you through a series of rooms filled with puzzles where every move counts. You have to figure out the hidden rules to make progress, and little by little you discover the secrets of this strange world that blends exploration and memorization.

This title encourages students to observe, memorize, and solve really tricky puzzles, with a strong sense of intellectual growth as a result.

• Difficulty : very difficult, reserved for persistent players
• Available on Steam

This one's for you if you love puzzles that hide their rules and if you enjoy exploring a world. Avoid this if you're looking for a guided, laid-back experience.

4. Animal Well

Release date : 09/05/2024
Metacritic score : 90/100

Animal Well is a 2D puzzle and exploration game that plunges you into a dark world filled with hidden passages, mysterious objects, and environmental puzzles. The game doesn't give you any direct clues: you're free to figure everything out on your own.

The riddles are discreetly incorporated into the decor, and each tool unlocks new paths on the map. The game rewards curiosity and observation above all else.

• Difficulty : demanding
• Available on Steam

This is for you if you like to explore at your own pace and solve mysteries on your own. Avoid this if you want a guided, linear progression.

5. Opus Magnum

Release date : 07/12/2017
Metacritic score : 90/100

In Opus Magnum, you design alchemical machines capable of producing a specific object. Each level has its own rules, and it’s up to you to figure out the most effective strategy. It’s a pure puzzle game based on engineering and logic.

Its true strength lies in the complete freedom of decision-making : There are no set solutions. You can complete a level, then go back to it to optimize it in terms of cost, speed, or area. The leaderboards then compare your results to those of other players.

• Difficulty : demanding
• Available on Steam

This is for you if you love endlessly optimizing and fine-tuning your solutions. Avoid this if you're looking for a narrative-driven adventure or fast-paced, guided progression.

6. The Talos Principle: Reawakened

Release date : 10/04/2025
Metacritic score : 89/100

The Talos Principle: Reawakened is a first-person puzzle game. You explore vast areas and solve puzzles based on logic and observation. This remastered version features improved graphics and a level editor.

The game cleverly combines puzzle-solving, exploration, and philosophical questions. The story remains compelling from start to finish, and you can expect to spend several hours per area if you want to solve everything on your own.

• Difficulty : demanding
• Available on Steam, Xbox Series and PlayStation

This one's for you if you like to take your time and explore a rich world. Skip this one if you're looking for a short game or a hand-held progression.

7. Return of the Obra Dinn

Release date : 18/10/2018
Metacritic score : 89/100

Return of the Obra Dinn is a mystery and puzzle game in which you board a ship that had gone missing and was later found adrift. Your mission: to piece together the fate of each crew member by exploring scenes frozen in time and by cross-referencing visual and auditory clues.

This title stands out for its single deduction mechanism and its two-tone, retro-style graphics. You make progress only by observing, not by clicking at random. Each conclusion requires piecing together several puzzles.

• Difficulty : Demanding—every deduction must be earned
• Available on Steam, Xbox, Switch and PlayStation

This is for you if you enjoy investigating, observing, and piecing together clues. Not for players looking for action or a hand-held progression.

8. Cocoon

Release date : 29/09/2023
Metacritic score : 88/100

Cocoon is based on intertwined worlds that you carry on your back. Each orb hides an entire universe, and you move from one to the next to solve puzzles.

You're making progress without text or dialogue. It all comes down to observation, exploration, and understanding the mechanics. The concept of nested worlds makes the puzzles flow smoothly and never feel frustrating, driven by a soundscape neat.

• Difficulty : accessible
• Available on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation

This one's for you if you want a short, elegant game without any unnecessary complications. If you're looking for a challenge that will keep you hooked for hours, you might want to check out Void Stranger Where The Witness.

9. The Witness

Release date : 26/01/2016
Metacritic score : 87/100

The Witness is a open-world puzzle game in which you explore an island filled with puzzles to solve. Each puzzle is based on visual guidelines that you have to figure out on your own, just by observing your surroundings, without any text or tutorial.

The satisfaction you feel when everything suddenly clicks is hard to find anywhere else. The great freedom of exploration lets you solve the puzzles in any order you want.

• Difficulty : very demanding
• Available on Steam

This is for you if you like to explore on your own, without clues, and take your time. Avoid this if you want a guided experience or a story-driven adventure.

10. Baba Is You

Release date : 13/03/2019
Metacritic score : 87/100

In Baba Is You, them level rules are displayed on the screen as blocks of text. You move these words around to rewrite the puzzle’s logic in real time. You can turn a wall into a winning object or let yourself be controlled by another element of the scenery. This 2D gameplay is based entirely on thought, not on reflexes.

No other puzzle game takes the idea of to break one's own rules. Each puzzle forces you to rethink what «winning» means.

• Difficulty : very challenging; several of the later levels are real brain teasers
• Available on Steam and Nintendo Switch

This one's for you if you love puzzles that turn your logic on its head and reward experimentation. Avoid it if you're looking for linear progression and a laid-back challenge.

11. The Case of the Golden Idol

Release date : 13/10/2022
Metacritic score : 84/100

In The Case of the Golden Idol, you analyze still scenes each of which represents a moment in the same story. You observe the characters, objects, and clues scattered throughout the scene, then fill in the blanks to identify the culprits, the motives, and the sequence of events. No clues are handed to you on a silver platter: everything depends on the pure deduction.

Every puzzle you solve gives you a real sense of satisfaction, like when a mystery finally comes together. If you liked Return of the Obra Dinn, the spirit is very similar.

• Difficulty : demanding
• Available on Steam, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation

Avoid this if you're looking for a casual game or a walk-in-the-park kind of experience: here, you really have to put in the effort.

12. Antichamber

Release date : 31/01/2013
Metacritic score : 82/100

Antichamber is a first-person puzzle game where the rules of space and logic are never fixed. It is based on a impossible geometry that shatters everything you think you know about a level. The paths change depending on how you move and interact with the environment, and to make progress, you have to experiment, observe, and then question your own logic.

It's a truly unique, thought-provoking experience that's hard to compare to anything else. The game constantly surprises by playing with your perception.

• Difficulty : demanding
• Available on Steam

This one's for you if you like puzzling games and intellectual challenges that force you to unlearn your instincts. Avoid it if you're looking for linear progression and clear rules right from the start.

13. Parallel Experiment

Release date : 05/06/2025
Steam rating : 82 % (Very positive, 337 reviews)

Parallel Experiment is a cooperative puzzle game Designed for two players who move forward together. Each player sees a different part puzzles, which require constant communication to share clues and solve each challenge. No puzzle can be solved alone: all progress depends on the’information exchange between the two players.

If you're looking for more ideas like this, check out our best PC co-op games.

• Difficulty : accessible, but requires good coordination
• Available on Steam

This is for you if you want to enjoy an experience as a couple, with friends, or with family. Without a partner, there’s no game.

14. Secrets of Blackrock Manor – Escape Room

Release date : 01/08/2025
Steam rating : 82 %, Very positive (123 reviews)

Secrets of Blackrock Manor is a escape game in which you explore a manor house full of locked doors and hidden objects. By searching every room and piecing together clues, you’ll solve puzzles to move forward and escape. It’s a solo adventure available on PC via Steam.

The game faithfully recreates the experience of a real-life escape game. The game offers a rich immersive experience, and the puzzles are varied, relying on observation and logic rather than chance. Some puzzles remain challenging, but they’re manageable if you take your time.

This is for you if you love real-life escape games and want to experience that fun at home. Avoid this if you're looking for action or a fast pace.

15. The Amerzone: The Explorer's Testament

Release date : 24/04/2025
Metacritic score : 79/100

L’Amerzone is a remake a classic adventure game. You set off on an expedition to a an exotic and mysterious world, you explore a variety of locations and use objects to solve puzzles and advance the story. The pace is deliberately slow, with a strong emphasis on the’exploration and storytelling.

The puzzles remain subtle and never stump you for too long, which enhances the joy of discovery. This is one of the PC adventure games the most accessible ones on this list.

• Difficulty : accessible
• Available on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series and Switch

This one's for you if you enjoy laid-back adventure games, leisurely exploration, and rich stories. Give it a pass if you're looking for a fast-paced or highly challenging puzzle game.

So, which one should you choose? You want to start off slowly: Portal 2 is still the best introduction to the genre. If you're looking for something more challenging, go for Void Stranger Where The Witness. Looking for a straightforward mystery to solve: Return of the Obra Dinn is waiting for you with open arms.

To continue, check out our other selections:

• Best Puzzle Games on Switch
• Best free games on PC
• Best Horror Games for PC