Best Of
5 Best Puzzle Games on PlayStation 5
Puzzle games are a great way to refresh and exercise your brain. Not only that, but puzzle games actually improve your cognitive and fine motor skills. As well as the speed of your thought process. In fact, there is a test that proved Tetris effectively combats the stress and anxiety of PTSD. So, to the fourth-grade teacher that said video games will “poison our minds”, we say, check out the five best puzzle games on PS5 and reconsider that statement.
From Tetris to Doom and even modern AAA blockbusters, puzzles have been implemented into gaming since its dawn. It's a classic way of posing a challenge that requires some thought, which usually takes longer than we'd like to admit to problem solve. Regardless, if you love exercising your brain and passionately raging by overthinking simple tasks, then we’ve got you covered. Because it's time to dive into our picks for the five best Puzzle Games on PS5.
5. Bonfire Peaks
Bonfire Peaks is a brilliant puzzle indie game that hasn't gotten the respect it warrants. The game is set in a voxel-based world and consists of over 200 expertly crafted puzzles. Even puzzlers who believe they can overcome any problem will find these challenging, despite their seeming simplicity on the surface. That's because with Bonfire Peaks you need to think outside of the box and understand the meaning of the game to help solve its puzzles.
Bonfire Peaks is a game about closure. In most of the levels, the whole goal is to move blocks around so you can set fire to your belongings. It's such a simple presentation of the theme, but works in so many different ways. Don't discount its straightforward gameplay for anything less than charming, restrained emotion, and a few ground-breaking smiles. If you want to expand the horizon of your puzzle games, Bonfire Peaks is one of the best PS5 puzzlers to do that with.
4. The Pedestrian
If you’re looking for an original experience in a puzzle platformer, check out The Pedestrian. The side-scroller sees you playing as a pixel pedestrian, quite literally the one frequented in crosswalk signs, working his way across the city by traversing through street signs. The main gameplay is formerly a 2D side-scrolling platform puzzler, however, the game's surroundings are presented in 3D. The result is a beautiful and immersive 2.5D puzzle game.
By rearranging and connecting public signs, you must work your way through the levels. To go with that, there's a multitude of other puzzles to solve, inside the signs. So effectively, you have to combat two puzzles in one, and bring the whole platform together full circle. It's almost like puzzle inception. To top it off, each level has a new immersive cityscape environment, that really brings the game to life outside the signs. So, if you want one of the best original ideas for a puzzle game on PS5, check out The Pedestrian.
3. Little Nightmares II
If you’re looking for a more immersive puzzler, Little Nightmares II is a great pick. The side-scrolling suspenseful horror game finds you playing as Mono, who’s stuck in a world that’s been distorted by evil. However with his new trusty friend Six, together they set out to find the source of this evil and relieve the world of its burden. However, they encounter some unwelcoming characters and of course, difficult puzzles along the way.
Little Nightmares II is super atmospheric and really harnesses an eerie and spooky presence. Which makes you want to get through each level with a bit of haste, but at the same time, hesitation – as you don’t know what’s around the corner. The game is full of challenges and with that, spooky surprises, prompting you to stay calm and think under pressure. Therefore, Little Nightmares II is one of the best PS5 experiences if you prefer a little touch of horror in your puzzle games.
2. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
Tetris is one of video games' oldest and longest-standing titles – originally debuting in 1984. Today it’s still sticking around on the PS5 in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2. The game is a more modern version of Tetris, playable with up to four players and up to six different game modes. Obviously, the game features classic Tetris, and vs mode, so you and your friends can finally squash who’s the better block placer.
However, if you’re looking for more of a challenge, there’s a Big Bang mode, which lets you attack another player by successfully completing rows. There’s a Party Mode which adds items to spice up the action. Or you can try out Skill Battle, with brings in characters with unique abilities. But that's the joy of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, there are so many game modes that keep the puzzler a constantly engaging and refreshing experience.
1. It Takes Two
It Takes Two is a whole-hearted representation of just how great puzzle games can be. The idea of creating a co-op puzzle game about divorced parents coming back together is one, emotional, and two, uniting. That’s most likely why It Takes Two won the Game of the year award in 2021 – beating out a lot of outstanding titles.
The setting of It Takes Two essentially finds players, as a couple, who have been turned into dolls in fantasy land. The only way out is to put aside their differences, work together through a variety of fun puzzles, and re-spark their love by doing so. Some problems are simple to solve, some need a little bit of skill and finesse, however, most of the time, they require you to work together. Which may be the hardest puzzle of all time, getting people to constantly agree. It’s an ingenious idea for a game and for us a must-play as one of the best puzzle games on PS5.
