"logic"

2019 · Puzzle · PC / Steam

Baba Is You is one of the most original puzzle games ever made. The mechanic of rewriting the rules by pushing words around is so clever that it makes everything else in the genre feel static by comparison. Difficulty will wall some players out entirely, and the lack of any hint system means getting stuck is a matter of when, not if. But the moments where a solution clicks, where you suddenly see the level in a completely different way, are among the most satisfying feelings in gaming. If you love puzzles, this is essential.

2018 · Mystery Puzzle · PC / Steam

Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the most original games of the past decade, a detective experience that trusts players to think carefully and rewards them for doing so. The deduction system is brilliantly designed, the 1-bit art style creates an atmosphere all its own, and the satisfaction of correctly identifying a crew member's fate is unmatched by almost any other puzzle game. Limited replay value is a real trade-off, and some fates require leaps of logic that can frustrate. But the 10 to 15 hours it takes to work through the full mystery are among the most intellectually rewarding you can spend with a game. Lucas Pope built something unlike anything before it, and nothing since has caught up.