Compelling puzzle games like Limbo and INSIDE
The only game I played where the puzzles were challenging and rewarding as the two in the title was Cocoon (by one of the Playdead folks). I am looking for games where I would stay stuck at a puzzle for quite a few minutes if not hours and then have a breakthrough which feels very satisfying.
Here's other games I've played, put into "categories" and what I thought of them to aid your suggestions -
# Isometric & linear experiences
Cocoon - best I have had so far.
Stray (I know not strictly isometric) - puzzles weren't brain melting but an amazing playthrough.
Little Nightmares I & II - puzzles were simple but the atmosphere was super memorable.
Somerville - walking simulator with God awful pacing.
Hue, Darq, Black The Fall, Creaks - decent one time plays.
Chants of Sennaar - alright but the loop got fatiguing quickly.
TUNIC, Death's Door - cool concepts but really not for me.
# Non-atmospheric logic heavy puzzles
Baba is You, Patrick's Parabox - fun for a few hours but then without a good atmosphere I lose interest.
# 3D / non-linear experiences
Talos Principle - compelling but the gameplay loop got tiring after ~10 hours.
Portal 1 / 2 - great of course.
Jusant - was a recent find. good run but too simple.
The Witness - fuck, no.
Outer Wilds - beat it. not looking for metroidbrainia right now.
The Forgotten City - was fun. not worth repeating. not looking for too dialogue heavy right now.
And many more I can't recall right now. Thanks for reading through all of this :)
Posted Feb 26, 2026, 8:15 AM UTC