3 Recent Indie Puzzle Games That’ll Blow Your Mind

Puzzle games seem to be having a massive resurgence this summer. With several indie titles being showcased at the Summer Games Fest, it’s clear that gamers who enjoy this genre have tons of options to look forward to. Many of these upcoming games aim to do something special, providing unique, and in some ways, mindblowing experiences. 

So, for anyone who’d like to sharpen their mind with the puzzle genre, rest assured, 2024 and beyond is going to be an exciting time for you. In fact, I think even folks who aren’t generally fans of puzzle games should consider trying some of these titles out. Because there’s a lot of potential fun to be had. Here are some puzzle games to look out for.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

This adventure game was recently showcased at the Summer Games Fest and instantly caught my attention. One of the big reasons why is because players get the chance to play as a literal duck detective. While you’re on the case, you’ll be solving puzzles and gathering clues as you explore the fantastic Paper Mario-inspired world the developers have crafted here. 

Players’ deduction skills will really help them out in this game because there’s a central mystery that centers around the titular sausage. All in all, the game is quite a light-hearted, fun adventure that looks like it’ll have enough puzzle elements to keep people engaged. It recently launched on Steam and has an Overwhelmingly Positive rating. So definitely looks like it’s worth a try. 

Islands Of Insight

This is one of the most ambitious puzzle games we’ve seen recently. While it might look like a bunch of Unreal Engine assets lumped together, when you dive deeper into Islands of Insight, it becomes obvious there’s a lot more depth here. The game basically functions as an MMO-style puzzle game. Players can embark on journeys in shared worlds which feature more than 10,000 puzzles across 24 different types.

This means that players can look forward to tons of variety and unique gameplay. It also helps that exploration and discovery are a huge part of the whole appeal. So players who might want to enjoy a title that focuses on puzzle-solving while also rewarding inquisitive and precise gameplay, will likely find that Islands of Insight is right up their alley. The game is currently available on Steam, with most of the reviews being Positive. Although some recent ones are mixed as well. 

Isles of Sea and Sky

Like some of the other titles I talked about, this is an incredibly ambitious puzzle game. Isles of Sea and Sky is described as an open-world puzzle adventure. Players will be tasked to solve innovative block puzzles as they unearth a mystifying story, gaining new friends across their journey. The game has a very nostalgic retro vibe and looks like will feature a ton of different gameplay styles.

One of the key aspects of this game is its non-linear approach to puzzle-solving. Just because you’re stuck on a specific puzzle doesn’t mean you’re barred from the rest of the game. Because it’s an open-world and largely non-linear, you’ll have a ton of freedom on where to go next, as you explore different areas and come back to old ones with new upgrades and perspective. 

That said, for anyone who wants to opt for a more classic puzzle-solving experience, match 3 games can also be a worthwhile consideration. In any case, it looks like fans who love this genre have plenty of options to dive into. 

On a side note, eXputer’s Game Recommendation Engine can help you find like-minded titles in an instant, should you choose to check it out.