Top 10 Mind Bending Modern Puzzle Games

Top 10 Mind Bending Modern Puzzle Games Subscribe: goo.gl/Q2kKrD // TIMESTAMPS BELOW ----------------------- CHECK OUT WATCHMOJO'S NEW BOOK, LINKS BELOW!
Which are the best games to make you think outside the box, the games that force you to use your brain, make you feel smarter, the one’s that basically eff your head up real good? Which games take the puzzle genre to new, sometimes dizzying heights? Well, you’re about to find out, because Watchmojo.com is here to count down our picks for the Top 10 Mind Bending Modern Puzzle Games!
00:44 #10: The Witness
01:35 #9: Antichamber
02:19 #8: Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
03:08 #7: The Talos Principle
03:59 #6: Braid
04:49 #5: Obduction
05:50 #4: Monument Valley
06:33 #3, #2 & #1: ????
The 10-Year Overnight Success: An Entrepreneur's Manifesto: How WatchMojo Built The Most Successful Media Brand On KZbin
PAPERBACK: goo.gl/93prjz
KINDLE: goo.gl/Hs1hKq
WatchMojo's Social Media Pages
/ watchmojo
/ watchmojo
/ watchmojo
Get WatchMojo merchandise at shop.watchmojo.com
WatchMojo’s ten thousand videos on Top 10 lists, Origins, Biographies, Tips, How To’s, Reviews, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.

[@antonhbp]

Portal 2 is one of the best games ever, all genres

[@misterfrancis]

@@anexantony8315 ?

[@__BliTZ__]

true

[@glister1065]

Portal 1?

[@__BliTZ__]

Portal 1 is great too but it short portal 2 is long

[@balazsjanosdominko5603]

Agree

[@highvoltage1971]

The Talos Principle is simply one of the best games I have EVER played...so esoteric and atmospheric

[@LynchtheFinch]

Definitely. The soundtrack, graphics, and super satisfying gameplay combined make for less of a game and more of an experience.

[@janX9]

Talos is overrated and dull, Want something 10x more atmospheric & immersive? Better soundtrack, graphics, puzzles and a vastly larger world. Riven. And all the Myst sequels. Also, most games made by "the adventure company" are very atmospheric and immersive full of a variety of puzzles with great story lines to bring it all together. Talos and the witness are dull games with simple repetitive puzzles. So boring 😩

[@junkoe3808]

@@janX9 Myst has boring puzzles. At least talos had some clever extra puzzles in the dlc. Witness started great, but ended horribly. The best puzzle game you and play at the moment is Baba is you. It's so far above everything else that it will make other games feel conceptually bland.

[@A-G-F-]

I loved the philosophical aspect of it, the puzzles were okay

[@maddym8795]

@@janX9 Bro i just got done playing every single Myst game. Yes I love myst, but it's not magical like Talos. If you think its boring, then you haven't paid attention to anything in the game. The puzzles are not repetitive, and require outside the box thinking (unlike the myst games). Talos has so much emotion even though its so quiet. Im sad you feel this way, and I hope you can take another look at such a magical game.

[@the_grand_secgend2134]

The Talos Principle was phenomenally good. Glad it made the list.

[@carnictus23]

its the only game that's ever made me feel something emotionally.

[@PolarisCastillo]

@@carnictus23 SAME. It's fucking magical.

[@janX9]

Talos not very good neither is the witness. I could name 30 better puzzle games from the late 90's and early 2000's.

[@maxnovakovics2568]

​@@janX9what, like nyt crossword and expert sudokus? Come off of it, you didn't get it so it must me shit. Cope and seethe about it.

[@janX9]

@@maxnovakovics2568 no like games by "the adventure company" or Myst and Riven. Riddle of the Sphinx, the Omega stone, the black mirror, safecracker, missing since January etc... Talos principal and witness are okay, but fell short in puzzle creativity and immersion. They clearly got their influence from the aforementioned adventure company and the like which I respect, but they are cheap imitations of the real thing. The puzzles were just too easy and I didn't get that feeling like I was really there experiencing a new reality. I'm probably being a bit too critical, comes with decades of playing puzzles and puzzle games. I guess it's just difficult to be surprised anymore.

[@Michael_Michaels]

Portal games are my favorite of all time!

[@schmopfi]

Tried Portal Stories: Mel?

[@Michael_Michaels]

Wow!!! I have not!!! Thank you, I had no idea such beauty exists!!! =o

[@gladesart4840]

YES!

[@NohhvaX]

Same

[@FallenLight0]

@@schmopfi how to play that? It's a mod?

[@nadavshmayovits6511]

The talos principle in my opinion is the most underrated puzzle game of all time, it should be easily atleast number 3 in the video (in my opinion number 1 but it should be atleast number 3 for sure), the story of the talos principle easliy is the best story ever was in a video game if you like thinking philosophy and you really complete the game 100%

[@carnictus23]

idk bout you, but it made me feel something which made me happy. Weird kinda feeling, like after I'd finished playing for a bit I'd go outside at night and just stare at the stars.

[@nadavshmayovits6511]

I thought I am the only one who the game made him feel happiness and just changed his life, nice to know that I am not the only one (:

[@DeltaSteak991]

Why is the talos principle underrated? It doesn't only consist of puzzles, but a very complex story that isn't for everyone either. This game must have been made to satisfy curious minds and natural philosophers and not the average gamer.

[@silentAssassin1112]

I am with you man! I'm in the middle of it, and I'm living through an experience. Amazing Game!

[@FallenLight0]

Do you guys recommed me to buy it even nowadays? I love Portal and I was playing Ever forward (a new interesting puzzle game) and searching I found this Talos game that I never heard of before and many people saying it is good.

[@LapisGoBlue]

Portal was the best fucking game I've ever played in my life.

[@LapisGoBlue]

Mystic 7897 their will never be any game as good as that one..

[@rougeau49]

_Good for you._

[@stairwaytoinfinityandbeyon293]

LapisGoBlue sup fucking gamer

[@fishdinners7760]

WATCHMOJO YOU CANT JUST SPOIL WHEATLEY LIKE THAT

[@theawesomeman5391]

uuuuuuuh spoilers????

[@fishdinners7760]

Yeah they spoiler the major plot twist of portal 2 in there

[@TardisCoreST]

Yep, some SEVEN years after release xD

[@fishdinners7760]

Have you played every game released in the past 7 years? No. Some people want to play old games for the first time.

[@TardisCoreST]

If you don't live in a vault and use Internet, it's nearly impossible to avoid spoilers for the game that was out there for seven years, in half of the game related videos on KZbin.

[@antodouv]

I highly recommand Antichamber. This game is awesome!!

[@parthsuyal5879]

I couldn't agree more

[@janX9]

It's pretty good. I like games that have that psychological element. Like the Stanley Parable for example.

[@joeltheowl3299]

Portal is an amazing game, no doubt, one of the best of all time I might even say. But as a puzzle game, The Witness remains as the best game, IMHO. Every single centimetre of that world is designed to perfection, every little detail is there for a reason and the puzzles made me throw my hand to my head and think "...wow" countless times..

[@veematoo]

Seriously. I've never had so many rewarding epiphanies during a single game. The Witness is such a beautiful piece of work that I've begun forcing my friends to play through it. They say "Oh I'm not big into video games" or "I don't really like puzzle games" but once they are 20 minutes in, they are completely hooked.

[@eduardodestri7058]

I can’t decide between the witness and outer wilds now

[@ulz_glc]

I am 5 years late, but try the Portal reloaded mod if you havent, much more complex than the original.

[@kentertainment9426]

Talos Principle made me rethink my life. Way too deep

[@TarksGauntlet]

Are you sure you can even think? How much of your brain has to be replaced by machine before you no longer believe you are in control of it? Would you even know if your brain is your own? Yeah. It left it's impression on me too haha.

[@kentertainment9426]

Tarks Gauntlet that part where they ask if you have free will so you try to answer "yes" but the game won't let you. So you have to hit "no"

[@alexm.2960]

+Noobish that is not true. It is still one of the biggest questions out there. "Do we have free will? Or is free will just an illusion?" if you ask me, neither "yes" or "no" is a satisfying answer.

[@TarksGauntlet]

We have influenced agency. That's about as close to free will as we can really get.

[@3DPDK]

You shouldn't take a computer game so seriously. The game isn't some universal brain with all the knowledge of the universe, it's a game premise made by some guy sitting at his computer. You don't even know if the physiological ideas in the game are actually the views of the game creator but just some ideas that would make for good game play.

[@Noah-lo9we]

Made me happy to see professor Layton on the list. I tend to forget about the series though I bc It’s one of the earlier “difficult” puzzle games I remember playing. The nostalgia is real 👌🏼

[@fabiojovanovich]

The "when life gives you lemons" speech by Cave Johnson was damn motivational

[@therealmochyeh6099]

I saw this thumbnail, I was like PORTAL 2!! PORTAL GOD DAMN 2!

[@parkerhollingsed1910]

the witness is my all time favorite puzzle game. its different in every way

[@Neo......]

Portal 2 was freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[@smelly_code_odor_coder]

Its excruciating to think about how they decided "world of goo" is some how third place and the talos principle number 7. The talos principle was a masterpiece. Possibly one of the greatest games in existence

[@janX9]

Because Talos is Crap.

[@maddym8795]

Absolutely agree!!! Portal was my favorite game of all time until I played Talos Principle. Ive replayed TP so many times over the years, and Ill always keep coming back to it (cause I always forget how to do the really hard ones and some stars haha)

[@HOErumi]

Yeeess. I gotta thank my brother for introducing me to Portal 2. Loved it! I really enjoyed playing it!

[@deadmanrunning6670]

Great list, I've played most of those games and the ones that stand out to me are Portal 2, The Witness, The Room, Monument Valley, but in my opinion, the greatest on the list is Talos Principle for it's serenity, spirituality, thought provoking story, amazing backdrops, soundtrack, puzzle construction, and replay value. It's a true logic puzzle full of Easter Eggs, multiple endings, the Star Maps. A game of puzzles within puzzles. It's virtually perfect on every possible level and of the approximately 2,000 games I own, it's my favorite!

[@eloradonovan6846]

I love Portal and Portal 2 so much. But Talos takes my top spot. It's so challenging, thought provoking, and there's so many freakin Easter eggs. I had to work so much more for Talos which is probably why I love it more. Ooo and Monument Valley. Loved that one too

[@maddym8795]

Absolutely agree!! For me personally, Talos takes my #1 favorite game of all time, even past minecraft and both portals.

[@MandieBoox3]

I would absolutely check out Hue! Amazing art and very fun puzzle game with beautiful scenes.

[@maddym8795]

IT'S A REQUIREMENT TO PLAY TALOS PRINCIPLE!!!!!!!! If you love puzzle games, this will be your all time favorite. Very challenging (you'll get stuck so many times but it's a non-linear game so you can leave and come back to puzzles), very thought provoking, incredibly interesting storylines, different endings, different paths, tons of easter eggs, an amazing environment and feeling, and the graphics are wonderful!!! I've replayed this so many times. It's magical. Nothing is like it at all. It is BETTER than portal and that comes from someone who's favorite game was portal for years and have replayed it so many times. Talos is so long that you forget how you solved everything and so you replay it every year or two! There's an amazing DLC too. Plus you can spend 25-40+ hours completing the entire game and all 3 different endings (and 50+ if you like to read all the extra writings in it!). You need to play this. Trust me, you will not regret buying this game!!!!! (it has never been topped, its been my favorite game since I first played it in 2015!!)

[@maddym8795]

Also, the DLC is mad hard haha, you must get it with the main game!!!

[@miletakojanovic3270]

#GabeLetValveMakeAnotherPortalGame

[@emmajensen7774]

That would be amazing. The question is if they'll continue where they left of or if they start when GLaDOS was made

[@acchiot]

They can't. If they did then they would reveal that they are actually able to count to three.

[@miletakojanovic3270]

TitoliniTortellini prequel would be nice since they wouldnt need to learn counting to 3 it could be like Portal:Before Whisley...

[@menace5802]

Valve CAN NOT count to 3.

[@Maun000]

Portal 4

[@brandonwithnell612]

im glad the room got mentioned, i recently played that and it sequel and i loved it

[@TheThingFromTheThing]

So glad the room made it on here. All 3 are awesome games!

[@tansej]

Best puzzle games in my opinion - really worth playing - Portal2, Talos Principle and Quern Undying Thoughts

[@user-pm5nk1xo5q]

Older game, but Myst was a really good game with really hard puzzles. Hope to see it here.

[@azatbeshimov9187]

Wow, perfect timing. was just looking for puzzle games to play today

[@thenotoriousdig610]

Azat Beshimov portal. Portal 2 There

[@azatbeshimov9187]

amit banai i knew about portals, but i found 2 new interesting games in this list

[@obelisk941]

"most famous English detective" Sherlock? Hello?

[@elliecinnamonroll]

Obelisk it said "video games most famous detective" plus layton isnt a detective anyway

[@mo55yoak]

i've finished antichamber and it was most satysfiyng moment of my life

[@hunterthomas1057]

7:51 uhh, cod zombies mystery box?😆

[@masonoreilly7512]

No, The Room

[@g1bs0n60]

Hunter Rambo thought exactly the same hahaha

[@WarAngelNikki]

I was pleasantly surprised to see The Room in here. I think I am going to replay it now.

[@noname-qs5lm]

Obduction was awesome. Beat it a couple weeks ago. Quern had is annoying interface/movement, but after some settings-tweaks, it turned out to be an awesome game.

[@Maun000]

Why the fuck valve has all the best games...

[@NextPlayAdventure]

Because... They can. Apparently. All Hail the GabeN!

[@Maun000]

Half Life 2,5 confirmed

[@stamisme26]

BOelius Oikeest it's valve

[@EuSouRCS]

I see you at the beginning and I need to give you an honorable mention,THE SWAPPER!!! Talk about a MASTERPIECE!

[@ixin645]

what about *Fez* ?

[@ThePikkutyyppi]

it should been on the list

[@kamurotetsu4860]

So glad someone mentioned this. FEZ never gets enough love these days. The last monolith puzzle still has not been solved properly without brute force. Edit: Sorry, it was solved, but took a while. There are still unanswered questions, like the meanings behind that stuff in the soundtrack and if it applies to anything in the game.

[@connorskidmore8579]

I came to the comments looking for this, and I'm so glad it was so close to the top. And Kamuro, you're right, it hasn't been solved properly

[@help_me_rhonda]

Absolutely, can't understand why Fez doesn't get wider appreciation. Maybe people only see the initial impression and switch off too early, but it definitely has some of the best eureka moments in any game.

[@samuelstephens6904]

Fez isn't very good. There are a couple of neat puzzle ideas in the game. But most of the time all the player has to do is rotate the screen.

[@domfabio8850]

Edge is another fun puzzle game. I also thought that The Witness should've been higher on the list, But at least it was on the list.

[@aderahmadan8405]

THE CAKE IS LIE!

[@shifo.2003]

Nope

[@laforce1518]

I love the Cube Escape, Rusty Lake games. They are so much dun and have a very strange/creepy stroy!

[@joshloebs1377]

The Turing Test is another awesome puzzle game for anyone looking for more!

[@PolarisCastillo]

Loved it!!

[@eduardodestri7058]

This one is bad imo

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@eduardodestri7058 lol Not even close. FAR from “bAd” in ANY way as The Turing Test is a AWESOME and AMAZING game as a whole!

[@eduardodestri7058]

@@Gadget-Walkmen I don’t found the puzzles so well made and clever like talos principle or portal 2. It was too easy, there’s a lot of nonsense solutions and the history is just not too charismatic. Generic version of portal

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@eduardodestri7058 uh huh, sure.

[@Spaaaceee]

Spaaaceee!

[@illusiontheHuman]

PORTAL2!!!!!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!! * flips table with excitement* freaken love that game

[@samuelstephens6904]

My list would probably be: 1) _Professor Layton and the Unwound Future_ 2) _Stretchmo_ 3) _Boxlife_ 4) _The Witness_ 5) _Snakebird_ 6) _Portal_ 7) _Braid_ 8) _Pokémon Picross_ 9) _Aero Porter_ 10) _Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker_ Honorable mentions: _Portal 2, Monument Valley, Impasse, I wish I were the Moon, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Picross 3D, Starseed Pilgrim, Threes!, Faultline, The Cave of Atman, Cut the Rope, BoxBoy!, The Last Rocket, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes, Zengage_ It's a shame the _Pushmo_ series isn't represented here. Puzzle gameplay doesn't get any better than that.

[@Oscarmike247]

Samuel Stephens no talos principal? You need to go play that game, now.

[@theonewhoslost]

7:40 this was one of my favorite games(including 1,2,3 and old sins)

[@xxxrobloxpro123ltuxxxpromi8]

I love that you put Portal 2 in first place thats my favourite game

[@JDReC100]

World of Goo finally gets the recognition it deserves! :)

[@account-pm8ih]

portal one and two were both GREAT games

[@RuanTune]

I LOVE professer layton games, they have wonderful storys and puzzles.

[@AlephSharp]

I recommend project temporality as a good puzzle game, though portal 2 is my favorite game of all time.

[@EditsByLyra]

I remember playing a game very similar to the Talos Principle but I can't remember the title. It was a very short game, looked very nice. It ended with the protagonist becoming aware of the player being in control of its movements.

[@Nov-5062]

Sounds kinda familiar... Any other details?

[@JLISTMUSIC]

The Turing Test?

[@ColombianThunder]

portal 2 is one of the best games of all time.

[@WatchMojo]

WatchMojo in French: kzbin.infowatchmojofr WatchMojo in Portuguese: kzbin.info WatchMojo in Spanish: kzbin.info WatchMojo in Dutch:kzbin.info/door/ht3DEu9qWOSQWa1YzxADjA Watchmojo in German: kzbin.info/door/9hLYAhlQsx71_yNUbTeWWQ Watchmojo in Turkish: kzbin.info/door/V_0rWL0R2EcYlcko1ZxUIg WatchMojo in Polish: kzbin.info/door/0CC_MaeMKk6qRoQVwFdo_g

[@psycholamborghini4828]

I love portal, it’s one of my favorite games of all time

[@PK-sk4yf]

Antichamber is one of the few games that actually messes with your brain. True underrated gem.

[@cifey]

Talos was awesome, like portal2 with beautifal landscapes. Also "Return of the Obra Dinn" was memorable.

[@Bi11ieTheDo11]

I was going to poop on the floor if Portal or Portal 2 wasn't number one... thank you watch mojo. Lol

[@MrCiokos23]

where is machinarium and limbo?

[@1ShepardCZ]

Same question...

[@mariic2]

I think Limbo is more a Cinematic Platformer than a puzzle game.

[@Desh727]

Limbo is hardly a puzzle game, it's got puzzles but they are simple. Machinarium is a point and click adventure. Yeah its puzzle-y but less so. Also machinarium was cool, but it's a buggy mess and very unpolished, and I think that holds it back

[@jverghese80]

top 10 puzzle games #7 talos principle.....#3 world of goo.....seems legit!

[@SuperParadine]

I would recommend you to play *Tap & Clapp* - it also has map editor to create you own levels. And the fact that I am the developer of this game is not the only reason for my recommendation :)

[@Miaka99]

the rusty lake series of puzzle games are pretty amazing

[@XxX00LiGhTnInG00XxX]

oh yes I got addicted to those , they are a lot of fun , and creepy sometimes

[@lara-tf1do]

I love portal 2

[@faisalalha1190]

Expected to see LIMBO or Dark Echo on this! portal 2 is one of the best games of all time.

[@TarksGauntlet]

The Misadventures of PB winterbottom and Virtues Last Reward could definitely have a space on this list.

[@whitedragon7]

I love the old DOS game, "The Incredible Machine."

[@Leboyo56]

Magrunner: Dark Pulse is pretty mind-bending at times, using magnetic fields, platforms and boxes to avoid creatures from the mind of H.P.Lovecraft. No really, it's basically a unique rendition of Portal with Cthulhu monsters as occasional enemies. I love that Antichamber is on here, I've played that so much but have never beaten it as it's one game that a guide would ruin. There are a ton of awesome, mind-warping puzzle games for free on the internet, check out Mind Fcuk (it's misspelled differently wherever you play it) and Spewer, which were made by Edmund McMillen, the man behind Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac. Another gem is Sarah's Run, where after passing through a spot marked on the ground, you can run all over the walls and ceilings and change the direction of gravity.

[@frankieparsonstop10s55]

Stretching it a bit to call World of Goo "mind bending" but I agree 100% with Portal (1 and 2) being at Number 1. Others to consider... Psychonauts - has some amazing sequences and is getting old but perhaps more an action-adventure. Max: The Curse of Brotherhood - more of a platform puzzler but inventive and mildly mind-blowing when I first played it. Papo & Yo - Underrated 3D platformer with lots of jumping puzzles but very clever rather than challenging.

[@billybobjoe1335]

The Room and Monument Valley are present. I am happy

[@masonoreilly7512]

I can relate

[@liizzychan7521]

I find portal 2 more funny then puzzling

[@Criticcizm]

Id say Portal 2 splitscreen multiplayer is one of the funnest games Ive ever played with someone else.

[@ardibeltz541]

Number 4 Monument Valley..? I love this game, but their concept was preceded by Echocrome and it's secuel from PSP

[@DancingGamerPenguin]

I really liked the zero escape trilogy a lot too

[@echoblackberry5573]

loved professor layton :D

[@masonoreilly7512]

1: Portal (both games) 2: The Room (all of them) 3: Monument valley maybe

[@parkway8]

you have to admit portal is just one of the best games ever

[@collezionista97]

I added Q.U.B.E., Limbo and Fragments of Euclid (I didn't play it yet)

[@caledunsmore]

Ghost trick is really amazing. Nothing quite like it out there...

[@abdulrafay2730]

Portal 2, talos principle, and the turing test r the best logical puzzle games

[@l_p2980]

I love the professor Layton games 😩😩😩😩😩

[@pedroluis906]

LIMBO or the swapper? Anyone?

[@ibmp7726]

This needs an update with all the new awesome games like stephens sausage, boulders: puzzle and all the new sweet games.

[@XMewtu1]

You forgot Quern - Undying Thoughts (2016) ... one of the best games ever made!!!

[@julikidman6954]

Superliminal is my fav so far

[@sangnu688]

omfg i freaking love Proffessor Layton eventhough i only played it for maybe 15 or 20 minutes

[@yazooog]

absolutely loved monument valley

[@ARIXANDRE]

Hitman Go deserved an official mention, not just the teaser for the Yet another list!

[@lautaro.O.L.]

0:43 Well... I wanted to see The Witness in the list

[@bekahmonroe9657]

I've beat the all the rusty lake/cube escape games and I've beat all The Room games and I've beat every level of Monument Valley

[@vb2388]

In mobile games, Distraint is an awesome puzzle game

[@noahstar2637]

Also, there is this incredible game called Blackbox on iPhone. You should definitely take a look at it (Mojo included)

[@johnd.sheldon2148]

I found hudgames when I was trying to find fireboy and watergirl, now me and my friend stick with this site all the time.

[@johnpfaff7532]

Portal and Portal 2 are masterpieces.

[@Patrick-iu7ri]

I replay portal every couple years when i forget abbout everything

[@jabbablade1884]

You forgot the game "Return to Mysterious Island" ! It's awesome :D

[@Dudleymiddleton]

Portal 2 community test chambers - another level of portal puzzles, there are literally thousands of them, some of them seemingly impossible. It will take something special to dethrone this game.

[@tnaoro]

5:50 is my favorite becus it has ILLUSIONS

[@evanfitzgerald3819]

Okay there pneuma birth of light. The turing test. Those are amazing games.

[@sjackson7315]

Yesss, Professor Layton!!

[@knuttsackjones3094]

The Room games are great, cheap and tons of replay value

[@mradamdust]

FEZ. Surprised it didn't even get honorable mention.

[@isoextreme]

Loved portal series for sure anyone try pneuma breath of life ?? Loved that game on Xbox

[@isoextreme]

The spectrum retreat as well

[@CrazeeAdam]

CAtherine should've actually been on here...The Witness should've been higher IMO