2022 was an odd year for puzzle games, especially when it is hard to pinpoint what a puzzle game is. For some people, falling-block puzzle games, ala Tetris, are the genre template. Other gamers gravitate toward platformers. Then some enjoy artistic experiences with interactive riddles, like what you may find in narrative-driven titles. Puzzle games are different things for different people.
While 2022 was not a massive year for puzzle games, we still saw how fun and diverse the genre could be. There's a puzzle game out there for every player, whether you prefer competitive fare, platforming adventures, or more passive titles. However, we can conclude that franchise throwbacks made a welcome return, along with the introduction of some sweet indies. So if you want a taste of the year in puzzle games, check out these titles!
Pac-Man Museum + - 2022's Best Retro Puzzle Collection
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1-4 Players |
E for Everyone |
PAC-MAN, the round, yellow ghost-eater, is so ubiquitous in gaming culture that even non-gamers know who he is. Perhaps it's one of the first video games you've ever played. Over the past four decades, this action-puzzle franchise has stood the test of time due to its simple controls, mesmerizing gameplay, and ambitious high-score topping.
So, if you wish to introduce a new gamer to the franchise or revisit the series yourself, no collection does it better than PAC-MAN Museum +! This archive includes fourteen games, including the original 1980 classic, lesser-known rarities, and even new releases. Plus, you can get to PAC-ing with the whole family in several multiplayer modes!
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo [Capcom Fighting Collection] - The Best Competitive Puzzle Game Of 2022
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Platforms |
Number Of Players |
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1-2 Players |
T for Teen |
Do you prefer puzzle games with a competitive edge? In that case, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo is for you! This gem turned heads in the nineties by throwing Capcom's most famous fighting game characters (including Street Fighter's Ryu and Darkstalkers's Morrigan) into a head-to-head block-falling puzzler. However, Puzzle Fighter's seamless melding of fighting and puzzle mechanics made the game a genre classic.
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo recently launched on modern consoles in the Capcom Fighting Collection. This compilation features ten fighting game classics with online functionality using rollback netcode. So you can duke it out with puzzle fighters from around the world! When you're finished clashing gems, check out the collection's gallery for some never-before-seen sketches chronicling the game's development.
Return To Monkey Island - The Best Point-And-Click Puzzle Game Of 2022
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1 Player |
E10+ for Everone 10 And Older |
Are you looking for a swash-buckling adventure with silly humor? Then set sail with the crew in Return To Monkey Island! This triumphant sequel of the beloved puzzle-adventure series marks the return of series creator Ron Gilbert. Departing where Monkey Island 2 left off, Guybrush Threepwood and his merry band of pirates navigate the changing times while exploring new and unknown lands.
Return To Monkey Island is a very accessible game. The series's point-and-click mechanics are as straightforward as ever, and an uncomplicated inventory system helps keep adventuring light and fun. But don't let this simplicity fool you. This game will entice you with fourth-wall-breaking humor, mind-bending puzzles, context-sensitive interactions, and reactive dialogue trees. Sounds like a hidden treasure to us!
Hindsight - The Best Narrative Puzzle Game Of 2022
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1 Player |
E for Everyone |
A strong narrative can elevate any game; no company understands that more than Annapurna Interactive. This publisher's namesakes are immersive story-telling experiences such as Gorogoa, Florence, and Twelve Minutes. Annapurna's latest title, Hindsight, is no exception.
In this moving tale, you'll relive the protagonist's life by diving into everyday objects to reveal hidden memories. While uncovering these memories, you'll explore the complexities of a fraught parent-child relationship expressed with sympathy, groundedness, and aplomb. If you're looking for a moving heart-wrencher, this is it.
Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles - The Best 3D Platform-Puzzle Game Of 2022
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Number Of Players |
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1 Player |
E for Everyone |
Expansive 3D worlds, complex puzzles, and a cute, squishy bioluminescent hero? Sign us up for Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles! This indie gem deserves your time if you're a hardcore puzzle-platforming enthusiast.
Lumote's puzzle-solving starts effortlessly enough, with the simple goal of changing the neon-colored BioVerse from red to blue. However, as you progress through the game, you'll encounter more intricate brain teasers, and your platforming reflexes will be tested! So, can you handle the challenge?
Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 - The Best Family Puzzle Game Of 2022
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1-4 Players |
E for Everyone |
Our next pick is ideal for people who yell at the contestants while watching game shows (we know who you are!). Ubisoft has launched several ports of Hasbro's board games in the past. However, Trivial Pursuit Live 2 adds significant quality-of-life changes that outdo the original game-show remix of this party classic.
Trivial Pursuit Live 2 will appeal to all types of gamers. With family question settings, contestants of all ages can join in the fun. Plus, Streamers can engage with their audience in a new way, thanks to TP Live 2's new Twitch Mode. This intuitive feature lets streamers play with their audience via Twitch chat's voting system.
Unpacking - The Most Relaxing Puzzle Game Of 2022
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1 Player |
E for Everyone |
Sometimes, the most straightforward tasks provide the most pleasure. This statement couldn't be more true regarding Unpacking, an indie hit partly about storage but also about progressing through new stages in life. You'll follow a young woman throughout the game as she unpacks into a new childhood bedroom, a college dorm room, her first apartment, and more.
All this lived-in nostalgia is couched within a concise packing system that provides equal parts structure and creativity. On the one hand, you must put each of your belongings in the room that suits its purpose. But, on the other hand, how you fit each belonging into that room is your decision. As a result, you'll slowly fall into a delightful sense of ease as you mix, max, and rearrange. Then, you can take pride in your stellar organization skills by taking snapshots in Unpacking's Photo Mode. It's the perfect stress reducer!
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