What are puzzle games?

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The aim of this article is to explain the genre of puzzle games, describe its characteristics and present prominent examples of well-known puzzle games.

Definition of puzzle games

Puzzle games are a sub-genre often found in adventure games or platform games, in which players must complete various challenges that require analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. These challenges, known as 'puzzles', can come in various forms, such as number puzzles, sliding puzzles or picture puzzles, which offer a variety of possibilities.
However, there are also games that focus exclusively on solving puzzles. Such games are classified as puzzle games, where the primary aim is to decipher riddles or solve tricky puzzles.

Popular Puzzle Games

A well-known puzzle game from 2019 is “Baba Is You”, which is characterized by its pixelated aesthetics and in which players take control of the cat-like creature Baba. In each level, there are several blocks labeled with different terms, such as “Is”, “Win”, “You”, “Flag” or “Wall”. The central mechanism of the game is to manipulate these blocks to create new rules when they are placed next to each other. For example, the arrangement of the “Wall”, “Is” and “Win” blocks leads to winning the game when Baba touches a wall. The complexity of the game increases rapidly and requires considerable cognitive effort, and each level often contains multiple solutions.

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“Monument Valley”, a mobile game from 2014, depicts the protagonist Ida's journey through the enigmatic Valley of Monuments to return the Sacred Geometry to its rightful place. The game's visual aesthetic is characterized by isometric perspectives and low-poly art styles, presenting geometric puzzles predominantly based on impossible figures reminiscent of MC Escher's artwork.

“Candy Crush”, launched in 2012, is one of the most popular mobile puzzle games with over a billion downloads on the Google Play Store and millions of monthly players. Players deal with a grid-shaped playing field containing various sweets. The simple game principle is to form rows of three identical sweets by swapping them, causing them to disappear. The introduction of power-ups and special sweets introduces additional effects that influence the playing field.

Probably the best-known puzzle game is “Tetris”, which has undergone numerous variations over the years. In this game, differently shaped blocks fall from the top of the screen and must be strategically placed by rotating and moving them before they reach the bottom. Completed rows are deleted. “Tetris” is available in different styles and with different music, but the classic Tetris theme is still known worldwide.

Conclusion

Puzzle games captivate players with their innovative game mechanics, which encourage intellectual challenges despite the often minimalist graphic style. Their enduring popularity in the gaming community is unbroken.
Game enthusiasts should experience the fascination of puzzle games and appreciate the intellectual stimulation they offer.

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