Puzzle game kinds we make
We see that a lot of times people would like to know a definition of a puzzle game. The same question comes again and again in different forms: “what is a puzzle game”, “puzzle game meaning”, “puzzle game definition” etc.
In September we wrote a whole post about what a puzzle game is, where we also defined how much puzzle definition is applied to our games. Today we want to keep it even more simple and informative. Just the definitions and the main types of puzzle games. We will give examples from YesPuzzles.
What is a puzzle game
At its core, a puzzle is a problem with a definitive solution that you arrive at through critical thinking. A puzzle game is a game where solving such problems is the main thing that the player does. The game gives the player the rules and a goal and then it’s up to the player to apply the rules and win. Not with fast reaction and not with luck but with logic, patterns and planning.
There is also an interesting detail here worth mentioning. A game can have puzzle parts and still not be a puzzle game. Many adventure games have a locked door with a riddle but most of the time in such games the player is running and fighting. Puzzle elements don’t make the whole game a puzzle game.
The main types of puzzle games
Logic puzzles
These challenge the player to arrive at a single definite answer using provided clues. Well-known examples include Sudoku and Minesweeper. Our Hex Minesweeper is the same classic idea, but every tile has six neighbours instead of eight, so the numbers read a bit differently. Triangle Minesweeper uses triangles instead. A tile in the middle has twelve neighbours, and you never have to guess. Hex Sense is also a logic puzzle, with a small adventure on top of it: you guide Mochi to the exit and you never have to guess.
Word puzzles
Focused on letters and vocabulary, this category includes classic formats like anagrams, word searches and crosswords. Our first game Smartle is one of them - the player rearranges letters on a 5x5 board to form five 5-letter words.
Matching puzzles
The player has to match tiles of the same color or shape so they would disappear. Match 3 is one of the most famous kinds of puzzles and we have a separate post about what a match 3 game is. And we do have a couple of match games made by our studio: in the Clean! game groups of three or more tiles of one color disappear. And in our new Halloween Match game pairs of identical items disappear.
Merge puzzles
Combining two identical items provides a larger one, turning spatial management into the primary challenge. Careful strategy is required to decide item placement and avoid crowding the board. Our Catch’n’Merge game adds an arcade part to classic merge puzzle mechanics where you first catch the creatures and then merge them.
Physics puzzles
Gravity, weight and balance are the key factors in physics puzzles. Think of games where you cut a rope or stack blocks so they don’t fall. We don’t have a pure physics puzzle yet. Flask in the Catch’n’Merge game works with physics, so that’s probably the closest we got to this genre so far.
Spatial puzzles
Spatial puzzles are all about shapes and how they fit together, like jigsaw puzzles, sliding tile puzzles or Tetris. We haven’t tried this type of puzzle yet.
Strategy puzzles
Usually they are multiplayer. The problem changes every turn because there is another player. In Vagabond you try to get four in a row on a 6x6 board and every move of your opponent creates a new puzzle for you.
Of course, the borders between these types are not strict. Most games mix two or three of the genres and our games are an example of that. From one side it makes them harder to put in one box, but from the other side we think that’s what makes them so fun to play.
Which type of puzzle game is your favourite? And is there a type you would like us to make next? Tell us in our Discord.
Written by
Ana