Fair rules
Can the puzzle be solved using only what the game has already shown you? If the answer needs knowledge the game never gave you, the rules aren't fair.
How to judge
How to judge a puzzle
Instead of scores and rankings, we offer a set of questions to help you decide whether a particular puzzle game is right for you. You can answer them after the first hour of play or from a careful description by the developer.
A hard puzzle and an unfair puzzle are different things. The first makes you think; the second makes you guess.
How this section works: we don't rate or compare specific games. Here you'll find criteria to help you decide for yourself whether to keep playing.
What makes a good puzzle
Six questions worth asking of any puzzle.
The hint system
Is there tiered help, or only the full answer? A good system lets you take a small nudge and go back to searching on your own.
Feedback
Is it clear what changed after your action? Sound, animation or a colour change help you form theories, while a silent world turns the game into trial and error.
Difficulty curve
Does the difficulty rise gradually? A sudden spike with no teaching is disappointing, while an overly long warm-up gets tiresome.
Undo and restart
Can you quickly step back one move? This small detail has a big effect on how willing you are to experiment.
Accessibility
Are there settings for different types of colour vision, an option to turn off timers, large text and subtitles for audio cues? These decide whether everyone can play.
Fair and unfair puzzles
| Feature | Fair puzzle | Unfair puzzle |
|---|---|---|
| Rules | Shown before the challenge begins | Only appear in the solution itself |
| Hints | Hidden in the environment and the level's logic | Missing or misleading |
| Mistakes | Explain what went wrong | Just send you back to the start |
| Solution | Gives a sense of understanding | Feels like a lucky accident |
| Brute force | Hardly ever needed | The only approach that works |
How to read other people's opinions of a puzzle game
Pay attention to how far the reviewer got. The first levels are almost always easy, and a puzzle's true character shows closer to the middle.
Tell a complaint about difficulty apart from a complaint about fairness. "It took me ages to solve" speaks of a challenge, while "there was no way to work out the solution" points to a design flaw.
Remember that taste matters. Some people love a long, slow puzzle; others prefer quick levels. Decide based on your own pace, not on someone else's delight or disappointment.
Read next
- Genres
Puzzle genres, from logic and physics puzzles to escape rooms and metroidvanias, and how to pick the one for you.
- Mechanics
Recurring puzzle mechanics: order of actions, symmetry, cause and effect, and working with time.
- Guides
How to solve puzzles without spoilers: the hint ladder, getting past a dead end, playing as a pair. Plus our article catalogue.
- Glossary
A puzzle fan's dictionary: how puzzles are built, hints and progress, genres and formats.
Sources and references
- Developer guides and in-game help
- PEGI
- ESRB
We describe the general principles of puzzles. Hints, levels and settings work differently in each game and may change after updates, so check the in-game help and the developer for exact details.