Few activities are as rewarding as solving a puzzle: the dopamine rush, that smug sense of achievement post-solve, and that “locked-in” feeling that’s akin to zen. With a traditional jigsaw puzzle — or an IKEA dresser — your hard work and unrelenting focus are rewarded with a visual, tangible representation of your efforts. For puzzle-packed video games, the feeling’s similar. While you can’t glue your on-screen puzzle together and frame it, you’re still walking away feeling accomplished. Puzzle games, like every other niche, come in many forms. Whether you prefer to solve word puzzles, slide through Sokobans, sort messy spaces, or something else entirely, digital storefronts like Steam and Nintendo eShop have what you’re after. Because the Geoff Keighley-led Game Awards (TGAs) don’t have a puzzle category (!!!), we’ve assembled a list of the best new puzzle games from 2025. Despite being the products of an underrepresented and underappreciated game genre, these cool new puzzle games are among the year’s best titles.
Ready to scratch the deepest parts of your brain? Check out our picks for the best new puzzle games of 2025, and pick up a copy for your preferred platform.
Is This Seat Taken?
Available on: Steam • Nintendo eShop • App Store • Google Play
Release date: Aug. 7, 2025
Price: $9.99
“Is This Seat Taken? is a logic puzzle game where you play matchmaker for groups of hilariously particular people. Each character has pet peeves that make seating them a delightful challenge. Find the perfect spot for each person to unlock new levels in this cozy, silly, and relatable experience.”
Lumines Arise
Available on: Steam • PS5 • PS VR2
Release date: Nov. 11, 2025
Price: $39.99
“A mind-blowing, fiendishly addictive reinvention of the puzzle classic Lumines from the creators of Tetris® Effect: Connected, where sound pulses through your body, mind, and every block you place, triggering dazzling visuals synched to the driving beat of an infectious, eclectic soundtrack.”
Blue Prince
Available on: Steam • PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S
Release date: April 10, 2025
Price: $29.99
“Welcome to Mt. Holly, where every dawn unveils a new mystery. Navigate through shifting corridors and ever-changing chambers in this genre-defying strategy puzzle adventure. But will your unpredictable path lead you to the rumored Room 46?” Although Blue Prince isn’t up for “Game of the Year” at The Game Awards this year, the head-scratcher DID win “Best Indie Game” at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025.
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The Talos Principle: Reawakened
Available on: Steam • PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S
Release date: April 10, 2025
Price: $39.99
“Step back into a world of thought-provoking puzzles, philosophical intrigue, and breathtaking visuals with The Talos Principle: Reawakened. This definitive edition revisits the groundbreaking narrative of The Talos Principle, immersing players in an expanded and remastered journey through the world of the Simulation.”
Once Upon A KATAMARI
Available on: Steam • Nintendo Switch • PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S
Release date: Oct. 23, 2025
Price: $39.99
“Once upon a time a katamari rolled through both past and present. In this story across time, the adage endures: Let The Good Times Roll! Now onward through new worlds to roll up thy heart’s desires and to restore the stars!” Check out Once Upon A KATAMARI today!
Undusted: Letters from the Past
Available on: Steam | Nintendo Switch
Release date: Oct. 13, 2025
Price: $9.99
“Undusted: Letters from the Past is a casual game in which you clean and restore dirty items. What is her story as she returns to a long-neglected house? Enjoy the satisfying audiovisuals featuring sensually designed sounds and graphics.”
To a T
Available on: Steam • PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S
Release date: May 28, 2025
Price: $19.99
“A charming, colorful adventure game from the creator of Katamari Damacy and the uvula team about a teen navigating life in a small town with their cute dog companion. While their body is stuck in a T-pose, they do their best to make the most of it.”
Expelled!
Available on: Steam • Nintendo Switch • App Store
Release date: March 12, 2025
Price: $14.99 on Steam + Nintendo eShop; $5.99 on App Store
In the prep school-set whodunnit Expelled!, your school’s prefect falls through a stained glass window. But as quickly as they fall, your peers (and school leadership) begin to blame YOU for the accident. “Can you find the culprit – or someone to take the fall – before you get EXPELLED? Mystery with a wicked twist, from the creators of Overboard!, 80 Days, Heaven’s Vault and A Highland Song.”
Öoo
Available on: Steam • itch.io
Release date: Aug. 7, 2025
Price: $9.99
In the charming, pixel-art adventure Öoo, one cute bomb caterpillar embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. This exploration-heavy platformer-puzzle puts you and the titular critter into some head-scratching situations where you’ll have to find creative ways to use your buddy’s bombs. If you’re a fan of Bomberman, this is perfect for you!
Did we forget your favorite puzzler? Let us know in the comments!
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