Tricky Towers (Switch eShop)
By removing the ‘well’ from that most famous of falling block games, Tricky Towers puts the skills you’ve honed through years of Tetris to creative, constructive use and does so with a mischievous glint in its eye. Seeing tetrominoes stacked haphazardly, freed from their rigid grid and ruleset, is unnerving at first – it’s difficult to overstate how odd being able to move blocks in half-space intervals feels! Developer WeirdBeard fills the game with catchy tunes and a silly cast of wizards dealing in light and dark magic, the latter enabling you to scupper three friends as you either race towards a floating finish line, build using a specific number of bricks, or compete to jam the most blocks under a horizontal laser beam. Simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, its focus on riotous local multiplayer suits Switch right down to the ground.
The Gardens Between (Switch eShop)
Time manipulation is something that video games can do very well, and a trusty rewind mechanic is used to solve puzzles in The Gardens Between from Australian developer, The Voxel Agents. Controlling an intrepid pair of children across a series of abstract 3D islands, you’ll follow moving blocks back and forth, capture balls of light in a lamp, and freeze environmental elements as you experiment with the flow of time and journey through this mind-bending but relaxing puzzler. Its lovely art style and nods to a certain classic game make this a welcome tonic between the larger epics vying for your downtime on Switch.
Snipperclips Plus: Cut it out, together! (Switch)
One of the first games to appear on the console, you control a pair of anthropomorphic cut-outs on a drawing board and must use your bodies to cut shapes in each other, fashioning solutions to environmental puzzles. Levels start out easy enough but soon turn fiendishly difficult, especially in this enhanced edition which brings extra stages, plus new minigames for up to four players. While you don’t strictly need a second player, we wouldn’t play Snipperclips without a friend, relative, or significant other – when solutions elude you or an attempt goes sideways, exorcising frustration by snipping (and, indeed, clipping) your partner is always cathartic and hilarious.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Lumines Remastered (Switch eShop)
A PSP mainstay, the Switch edition delivers most everything you could want from a modern version of Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s musical puzzle classic. 2x2 blocks containing two colours fall steadily onto the field and you must rotate these to form 2x2 squares of the same colour which disappear in time to the beat with the regular arrival of a sweeping timeline. Although not particularly challenging, the focus is more on the synaesthesia that characterises Mizuguchi’s work (famously Rez, and more recently Tetris Effect). Paired with some decent headphones, Lumines Remastered is the perfect game to zone out with on public transport. Maybe set an alarm so you don’t miss your stop, though. Don’t be silly; of course that’s never happened to us.
Subsurface Circular (Switch eShop)
On the topic of public transport, this text-based narrative game has you using your best detective skills as you puzzle through conversation trees with people you meet on the metro. We say ‘people’, they’re actually android commuters going about their business in a future world you only glimpse through the doors of the train. Listening for clues and asking the right questions is the name of the game in this ‘talking simulator’, and we adored our time with Subsurface Circular. Again, it’s a blessedly short two-three-hour journey, so we recommend everyone jump aboard and experience it.
World of Goo (Switch eShop)
We were ecstatic when this Wiiware game came to Switch at launch, and it’s still one of the smartest, funniest physics puzzlers you’ll find anywhere. Controlled with a pointer or the touchscreen, you must assemble a gooey framework and negotiate ever more hazardous environments while guiding your precious goo balls to an exit pipe. Excelling with its satirical narrative as well as its mechanics, Kyle Gabler’s unmistakable art style would go on to form the basis of the Tomorrow Corporation games from earlier in the list. If World of Goo somehow passed you by, do yourself a favour and indulge your rampant consumerist tendencies immediately.
And there's more where that came from...
World of Goo 2 (Switch eShop)
World of Goo 2 is a fantastic sequel to a stone-cold classic. The new focus on liquids feels right at home, and the utterly bizarre fourth chapter elevates the experience to one of considerable excellence. It’s a shame that it's somewhat let down by limited control options, occasionally wobbly performance, and some underutilised mechanics, but its core is so solid, we can’t help but recommend it regardless. It's very... goo-d.
Sorry.
Baba Is You (Switch eShop)
Baba Is You is like a compilation of gift shop brain teasers; they’re not for everyone, but some people can’t get enough of them. A Sokoban-like grid-based 2D puzzler that lays out its rules and then asks you kindly to break them, you play as a little white rabbit-ish creature called Baba, which spends its time pushing word blocks around levels which are used to formulate the rules of each level. It's one of the most unique puzzlers you can find on the Switch and how it encourages you to break its rules and create your own ones is refreshing and unique. Its sudden difficulty spike and lack of a hint system could easily discourage some from continuing, but if you enjoy a good brain-teasing, you could easily spend hours getting lost within Baba’s puzzles. Just make sure to take a break or two, or you may forget which Baba is you.
The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition (Switch eShop)
Croteam, the creators of The Talos Principle, were previously known primarily for their silly (but fun) Serious Sam titles. The Talos Principle shows a remarkable maturity and depth of scope that's perhaps surprising, but in a very good way. This first-person puzzler poses interesting questions, allows the player to progress at their own pace — mostly in a non-linear fashion — and is a hugely satisfying piece of game design. Utterly entrancing and highly recommended.
TENS! (Switch eShop)
TENS! is very much like Sudoku; it’s the kind of puzzle game that is so immediately accessible to everyone, it’s actually quite difficult to pick out any significant flaws. Ultimately, your enjoyment of the title will come down to how much you want to play a game that’s essentially about adding and subtracting numbers. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re up for it, then TENS! will sink its hooks in you and won’t let go for a long time.
Mr. Driller: DrillLand (Switch eShop)
Mr. Driller is one of those elite few puzzle games that, like Tetris, remain immensely playable no matter what year it is. The GameCube edition was one of the finest examples of this and, a full 18 years later, it hasn't aged a single day. Given that you can easily enjoy it in 10-minute bursts or epic three-hour sessions, there are fewer games better suited to the Switch. A must-have for puzzle fans.
Tetris 99 (Switch eShop)
Exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, Tetris 99 offers a truly unique way to play the tried-and-tested classic, even if the overall package feels a little lightweight. Essentially a battle royale take on Tetris, playing live against 98 others is chaotic, and the action feels fast, precise, and wonderfully addictive. It’s seriously difficult, too – we’d fancy our chances in Fortnite over this any day – and we’re impressed with the fact that it's forced us to play the game with a completely different approach to our usual slow-and-steady ways. Signing up for Nintendo Switch Online just to play this game might be a bit of a stretch, but if you’re already a member, what are you waiting for? It’s free, and it might just become your next favourite time sink.
Touhou Spell Bubble (Switch eShop)
Touhou Spell Bubble is a top-notch puzzler with a ton of content to enjoy. The wonky localisation is a little disappointing, especially from a well-established company like Taito, but ultimately it doesn’t hurt the experience to a significant degree – the mechanics are the real star here; a thoroughly enjoyable, very modern, and hugely stylish take on Puzzle Bobble’s base formula.
Comments 109
Puyo Puyo Tetris is great fun! Will probably try Lumines in the future.
heads up up for colorblind folks:
Puyo Puyo Tetris is unplayable if you are colorblind.
Will get Gardens Between, Lumines, and Gorgoa sooner or later.
Glad Toki Tori 2+ got a mention, even if, as with Human Resource Machine, it was only in passing. I love a puzzle game that actually makes you think, rather than just match shapes.
Gorogoa is an unforgettable experience. I read the glowing reviews and bought it at launch, then sat on it for a couple of months... Then one day at a dinner party, all the kids went to bed and on a random whim us adults collectively completed the game in one sitting. It's beautiful, it's breathtaking, it's ingenious. My friend figured out (what I feel is) the trickiest puzzle and to this day I am in awe of his lateral thinking. It's not a cheap game and it's not a long game but it's worth every penny.
I have to agree with @TheFongz: Gorogoa is a pretty unique and memorable experience. Well worth the asking price, in my opinion.
I'd put in:
Death Squared
Pode
...though maybe you put them into multiplayer?
Death Squared does seem like an omission here.
Hexalogic should’ve made the list. A cool and relaxing puzzle game. An understandably, yet criminally overlooked title.
Magical Drop 3 for the win!
Does Picross S2 really not have touch screen support? That's crazy.
Was gonna pick that up but might not bother now!
Though I only played the demo, Piczle Lines DX was pretty fun too.
I'd love a Tetris game in the vein of Tetris DS.
@CharlieSmile Wasn't there an option to turn the Puyos into different sized shapes? Maybe people who are colorblind can play that way too.
No Zen Bound mentioned. Will riot.
But good to see a nod to Sushi Striker, surprised nothing of it is in Smash at all.
Wow! Puyo Puyo Tetris at #1! Now that's a sight for sore eyes.
@Nagi_Nagisa
wait, what???
Just got Puyo Puyo Tetris from the eShop sale. Really good game, even though I'm not great at Puyo Puyo. XD
Too bad. 🤔
Magical Drop 3 on Switch = Arcade version, Not the PS1 version which each gems associated with their Elementals (Red = Flame Sword, Yellow = Twinkle Stars, Green = Leafy Tornado, Blue = Glass of Water) + some Gimmick gems like Frozen gems, Bomb, Direction gems, Bubble gems, etc.
It called Special Mode on PS1 version.
I love puzzle games, and am rather good at them. That said, I can't wrap my head around Puyo Puyo. I have never struggled with a puzzle game so much, and I don't understand the love it gets. Puzzle League, Tetris, Bust-A-Move, and Lumines are all better, and even amongst Sega's puzzle offerings, I find Columns superior.
@CharlieSmile - In Puyo-Puyo (at least the last two games), you are given options to change (sometimes drastically) the shape and theme of the puyos. Not the most ideal scenario for those colorblind, but a current work around til SEGA starts considering the feature for future titles.
Where's Puzzle Adventure Blockle?
@Paraka that's actually super useful, thank you.
I could not play the demo of the game on account of my eyesight.
I preferred Sushi Striker over Puyo Puyo- I didn’t think the Puyo Puyo demo offered me much I haven’t experienced to warrant purchasing it. My favorite puzzler now is Piczle Dines DX- I’ve gotten 70 hours in it and still have at least 1/3 of the puzzle packs left. Well worth the money spent. I’m thinking about picking up The Gardens Between since it’s on sale now. Overall I’m glad Nintendolife did a column like this I think puzzle games get overlooked compared to games like Smash Bros..
I stink at these games but nonetheless have PPT and Lumines from this list. I never played Lumines on the PSP but this game rocks on the Switch. Chaining those combos is addicting.
I can also recommend Whip! Whip!. Great little killemup!
Lumines is number 1 for me
Puyo Puyo Tetris and Toad Treasure Tracker are my top 2.
Where is The Room? This game looks a lot better than the mobile version.
@Mamabear Agreed! I love puzzle games. Glad they don’t get overlooked.
I liked Tumblestone on Wii U, but I hit a mode that I found too difficult to pass.
I forgot about Soldam. Sounds interesting.
@datamonkey Pic-a-Pix Deluxe and Pic-a-Pix Pieces both have touchscreen support. Free demos of both.
I wish I'd not been so terrible at Gorogoa. That is a difficult game. Ingenious, but difficult. 😥
@chrisnewman Thanks I'll take a look!
I Haven't played many of these games. Captain Toad has a special place in my heart. I love that game! Lumines and Puyo Puyo Tetris are the other two games in this list I've played and loved. I still play them now and then. Maybe I'll take a look at Gardens Between
@Paraka There is at least one spirit from Sushi Striker in Ultimate.
Puyo Puyo Tetris is superb. The swap mode is amazingly fun.
Ive held on to the JP demo of ppt, though we tend to have a blast whilst playing, we don’t play it that often to warrant buying the full game.
@Paraka
update: I flexed my peepers on all the available skins, none of them worked for me.
the Sonic character Puyos have Sonics and Amys that look too similar, and the alphabetical Puyos still have strong colors.
I tried
@CharlieSmile - I am actually pretty disheartened that none of the options worked for you. Were any the shapes at all useful?
@Paraka sadly, no. like I said, the shapes still have intense colors that really blur together for me.
Added The Talos Principle
@dartmonkey I only recently got a Switch and have been finding your list articles super helpful, so thanks!
I was wondering whether you might consider creating a list of the best "relaxing" Switch games — I'd be keen to get your expert advice on top choices in that regard!
@MegaWatts Glad they’re useful I was thinking a while back about games to help combat stress. So many have the opposite effect! I’ll ruminate on it 👍
@CharlieGirl
Are you colorblind yourself? Someone at my workplace is color blind, and he has trouble identifying blues and purples (which ironically they sent him on a dumb course to know what color category a person is XD).
Puyo Tetros / Champions allows you to change the style of the Puyo and Tetris pieces. One of the Puyo options allows the Puyos to display the first letter of the color:
R = Red
B = Blue
G = Green
Y = Yellow
B = Black
I don't know how helpful that is to people who are colorblind, and personally, I would prefer matching colors instead of letters.
Puyo 2 Sega Ages for the Switch does have an option where you can change the colors of each of the Puyos. So the colors you are having trouble identifying, you can set to what is easier on your eyes. It maybe worth giving that version a go if you want to try the Puyo series.
Donuty County is the best sub-two hour experience I've had in years and Lumines Remastered is the best drop-puzzler not named Tetris.
Elechead and Toodee & Topdee should totally be on this list. Fantastic puzzle platformers, just like Portal is.
Sushi striker and battle chef brigade are my favorites.
@Maulbert There are not too many puzzle games that are designed for versus co-op. Maybe it shines better when playing against someone else?
I actually have quite a few of these. But I want to add to the discussion more. An obvious miss is probably Catherine Full Body, technically still a puzzle game.
And now I want to mention a few games for people that like to go off the beaten path.
I would say look at "Infini" if you like weirdness and stories intertwined with your puzzles. Also, look at mini-Trains, it's a little bare bones, but it's puzzles are interesting.
Also, just for diversity, check out Pudding Monsters. It definitely feels like a mobile port, but it's a well done port. It also might be the ONLY game that is both touch screen only and tate mode only. It has a lot of personality (as opposed to mini-Trains), and some puzzles that are really stump you.
Some great titles... don't overlook "Mr. Driller" as it's a fully realized, AAA quality console game from the GameCube era that we finally got an English version of.
Amongst my favourite genres in gaming and I have played and enjoyed all of thos games bar Tricky Towers and 7 Billion Humans. They are all either decent, good or excellent. The Switch is a great console for puzzle, brain and strategy games. My favourites out of this list are the Tetris games, Captain Toad and Gorogoa. I'd recommend all the others too though
@Royalblues I'd argue that fitting matching pieces together until you win makes it a lot closer to real world puzzle games than most of the other entries, though obviously the broader definition of a puzzle as something that's difficult to solve is a bit more flexible.
❗️I only have 'Toad: Treasure Tracker' as I liked it on the 3DS.
While you're adding things, I'd throw PAN-PAN, The Room, and Flood of Light on here. By the way, I can see there's already some overlap, but wouldn't Portal be more appropriate for the puzzle platformer list?
@Royalblues Fair enough. I'm just saying they look a lot closer to what most people would call a puzzle than something like Portal or Toki Tori. You know, like a rubik's cube or a box with a thousand pieces in it or one of those things where there's one empty square and you need to slide the rest around. Most of those just involve matching up shapes or colors.
Six Wii U ports, but I may have missed a few.
Captain Toad and Baba is You on this list are both great puzzle games.
One of my favorites not on this Iist is the rpg-one-room-puzzle game Dungeon of Dreadrock. Switch also has a ton of great puzzle-platformers (Wunderling comes to mind but there are a lot).
Tetris games are great too of course, they're just not what I would really call 'puzzle' in the same sense (Tetris and matching, bubble pop etc games really just need a different category). I also really enjoyed Gardens Between but the puzzle aspects were pretty light, it was mostly just pretty and had a nice mood, with almost a point-and-click vibe.
I think puzzle is a bit of an over-loaded and hugely varied game category and you could easily make a Switch list 10 times this long with great games.
@CharlieGirl Seconded. Blue and purple puyos are wayyyy too similar in color. Tetris is fine.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 has a colorblind mode, but it doesn't do much to help me.
Many of these games gave me hours and hours of enjoyment. Captain toad, Gardens Between and Lumines etc. One I would add is the Quell games. They are nice to look at, peaceful, with a gradual learning curve.
@RadioShadow It's totally the blues and purples that get me. Can't speak for @CharlieGirl, but I'm red-green colorblind, so anything with red hue shading (like purple) is hard to differentiate.
Fun fact, any male biological children of a woman who is colorblind has 100% chance of also being colorblind. Thanks, Mom!
Tricky Towers is very good. It's a game that needs a sequel!
What about Money Puzzle Exchanger? I wish the port had an online mode, but still. It one of the best arcade puzzlers.
The Turing Test should be on here. Pretty cool game with a lot of atmosphere and you can pick it up really cheap on sale.
I was also impressed with Q.U.B.E, 2
My favourite puzzle game that I've played so far on Switch isn't even a Switch game: it's Mario Picross on the SNES NSO service. It is by far one of the most relaxing and satisfying puzzle games I've ever played and I would highly recommend it to anyone with Switch Online. I have also been meaning to get Captain Toad though since I quite liked the demo and it's camera moving shenanigans seem right up my alley.
I don’t trust this list, as Superliminal isn’t listed, and am highly disappointed by that that. That game was profound!
@geo-shifter : I blind-bought Super Rare's release of that and really, really enjoyed it. In fact, it's one of few Switch games that I've seen to completion. Quite a relaxing, unique, and immersive experience.
In hindsight, I'm particularly glad that I didn't spoil myself by watching any footage of the game before the fact, as it's not often that I buy a game based solely on instinct.
I blinking love Grindstone. So glad it got a mention in this list. Sure, it's not perfect, but I have been playing it on and off for the last few months and I still haven't finished the Main Quest.
@BlueMoose I'm among the 0.5% of women with some form of colorblindness (protonopia).
YAY ME 🥴
Puzzle Bobble not being here is a sin.
@Silly_G Yeah. I’ve played through twice, and then have gone back to play specific sequences. I try to space the play time out to give myself time to forget the puzzles. I wish I could mind zap to forget and play all over again.
Paper Mario: The Origami King is as much of a puzzle game as it is an RPG.
Puzzle games have definitely grown more on me with the Switch as I like the pickup & play, quick game session appeal of them.
Def wishlisted and piqued by Gorogoa, Lumines, Boxboy + Boxgirl to check out sometime eventually.
For this Puzzle Games list I’d also add:
I’d love to see more intriguing entries in the genre keep coming. (Also I’m looking at you Taito, we need a new Bust-A-Move game on Switch!)
… Wun can only hope.
Puyo Puyo and Touhou Spell Bubble are mad fun
I really wish Captain Toad Treasure Tracker would get a sequel, it's so fun and charming and unique.
wHaT aBoUt tEaRs oF tHe kInGdOm?
But seriously, Art of Balance is one of the best puzzle games I've ever played, and it's super relaxing.
@ModdedInkling I didn't even think about Origami King as being a puzzle game until I read your post, but you're absolutely right. And I actually consider Origami King to be more of an action/adventure game with RPG elements.
My current obsession is Wario’s Woods for NES on Switch Online. I just discovered it and it’s brilliant.
I wish pushmo was on this list…
@FishyS thank you! Dreadrock is on the list as it seems (maybe Gavin added it after your comment?). Anyway please note that there will be a sequel next year https://youtu.be/KlytebvYBIE?si=1Rna1rsGry-asZDr
And Sidenote: DoD's currently 75% off in America.
I think you need to try the Tents and trees demo.
Check out The Pedestrian. I played the demo and was hooked!
I think Shin'en's Punchuin should be on this list.
I can’t believe The Witness never came out on Switch. One of my fav puzzle games ever.
@Paulo It really should not. It's not even very good, and UFO does literally everything better than it.
Where is Touryst?
Appreciate the article.
Was already aware of most of them, but not all.
Played and enjoyed a few, played and didn't enjoy a few of the others.
Added a couple that I wasn't familiar with to my wish list for future consideration when on sale: Bomb Chicken and Grindstone.
Recently tried some nature/hex grid games. Wanted to like Dorfromantik, but it just didn't grab me. Enjoyed Pan'orama for a few hours, but completing a run is just too time consuming IMO. Would prefer the building count be reduced from 52 to maybe 36 or so.
And for those still reading (anyone?), my current nature/hex grid addiction is 'Growth'. I have made enough runs to open everything, and figured out enough of how the algorithm works go be able to complete a run (sooth the volcano?) consistently. There are a few reviews online, so I recommend checking them out.
Lastly, check out match threes from Green Sauce games. My favorite is Storm Tale 2: a few years old so better production values and more helpful bonuses than their newer games. They can be found on sale periodically.
@MindfulGamer Thanks for the recommendations!
You should check out The Pedestrian demo if you haven’t yet (a puzzle platformer).
I haven’t bought the full game yet, but intend to. My impression from reviews is that the difficulty does ramp up, but not to where you are perpetually stuck.
PS I am not affiliated with the game at all. I just really enjoyed the demo. It has been out on other consoles, but the Switch port just recently released. 😊
@DwaynesGames Thanks for the Pedestrian rec. I did a brief search. Great reviews on Steam, and the trailer looked interesting. Wishlisted on eShop and plan to check out the demo.
On the non-puzzle game front, I've never been a farm sim guy (Stardew Valley just didn't compel me to keep going after a few hours), but something about Fae Farm piqued my interest. So when they released a demo and put it on sale a few days ago, I tried the demo, watched a few beginner videos, and then took the plunge. After a few days I'm starting to get addicted lol. So many games ...
It's nice to see Pizza Tower killer in the top.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 definitely didn't have the same "impact" that its predecessor had, but its numerous (subtle) improvements here and there made it the better game at the end of the day, in my opinion. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 deserved better...
Guys. Tents and Trees, and hexceed. Two puzzle games that will pull you in for weeks. Especially Tents and Trees, everything in it is a joy, from touch-screen controls to little animations to music.
@LadyCharlie Puyo Puyo Tetris 1 ans 2 have colorblind modes
Cocoon is still one of the best I've played this year, a great palette cleanser between larger games
First 3 on this list I hold in high regard.
Really would have liked to see Fire and Ice on here. I know it's an NES title, but it's one of the best games on the NSO service.
Um, excuse me, shouldn't Suika Game be on this list?
I feel like this list is missing A Monster's Expedition. It's my absolute favorite game because it's a brilliant puzzle game about a monster on an expedition through islands exhibiting human stuff (the descriptions of the stuff are very humorous in a dry and charming manner) that has the most relaxing vibes I know and sokoban-like puzzles that are very clever and satisfying. The only annoying thing is that I love it so much that it takes me a really short time now to play through most of the levels (something I've done many times), but I only manage to find a little more than 600 levels and then it's very hard to find the last few levels (it's around 700 islands all together). That's my only criticism, I absolutely adore A Monster's Expedition and I want more people to love it. I also want a sequel because it's just that fascinating.
Filmechanism is my favourite puzzle game on switch.
No picczle lines? Ive played nearly every game on this list, but only enjoyed Tetris and picross. Picczle lines dx and 2 ive spend hundreds, if not thousands of hours on.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Can’t hardly wait for World of Goo 2. So excited!
What about Super Puzzle Fighter??!?!?!
I recommend hexceed. I've put about 200 hours into it. It's good for those who like the 2D un-glamorous Picross style (I've got no better way of describing it...) No cutscenes, story or other nonsense. Just simple puzzles, reminiscent of Minesweeper.
I'm surprised that Dr.Mario didn't get a mention.
I know that it's not available for purchase on the eShop, but it's on the base tier of Nintendo Switch Online and is a fantastic puzzle game with really outstanding music. 2 player is super fun and speedrunning the single player mode is a meaty challenge. Always got love for the good Doctor!
Needs way more Q.U.B.E. - both the 10th Anniversary edition of the original, and the sequel. Both ridiculously good games.
Not seeing the mother of puzzle games, (real)Myst here feels surreal
Man I wish the Portal collection had a physical.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...