This year, I finally dove into the mystery game Case of the Golden Idol from 2022, which tosses you right into a murder scene to solve the puzzle.
In the game, you scan through screens, noting every tiny detail, collecting clues, and making logical deductions to fill in the blanks of what happened. While it starts off pretty easy, by the end, I was really pushed to my limits. The initial mysteries were a breeze, taking just 10 to 25 minutes, but the last one felt like it lasted the whole night. My mind was overloaded with ideas about who might have done it and why. Hats off to Case of the Golden Idol for giving me the space to make mistakes until I finally cracked the case. It was incredibly frustrating, but I absolutely loved it.
Thinking about this game makes me realize how many of 2024’s top games gave me similar feelings. Titles like Animal Well, Rise of the Golden Idol, and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes are packed with tricky puzzles that still stump me. Even though they made me feel like I was banging my head against a wall, I wouldn’t give up those experiences for anything.
Fans love it when games challenge us to think deeply and solve problems on our own.
In Rise of the Golden Idol, which came out in 2024 as a sequel, I often got names and aliases mixed up. The scenarios grew more complicated, and I missed lots of small details in the beautifully crafted settings. Several times, I misunderstood the story, and the surprises at the end of each level caught me off guard. Despite being frustrating, this game stood out as one of the best because it pushed back when I tried to take shortcuts.
The challenges in Rise of the Golden Idol made me rethink my conclusions. One of my favorite parts involves a man cleaning a bloody shirt in an apartment complex, making me suspect he’s at the center of something big. The game tricked me into thinking I was right, then shattered my theory, forcing me to make real deductions instead of following obvious hints. It believed I could figure things out on my own.
This year, some of my favorite games didn’t hand me easy answers. I’m not even sure if Animal Well has a proper ending. There’s a goal, but it hides many secrets I might never uncover. It’s exciting to have a game that keeps its mysteries, especially when guides appear online so quickly. Animal Well is a puzzle I might never fully solve, but I enjoy exploring its dark caves and poking around its interesting features.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is perhaps the most puzzling of them all. Every door hides another puzzle. There are video games inside the game with hidden clues, and the dialogue is mind-bending. Posters cover walls with patterns that unlock boxes, notes have secret codes, and portals lead to complex mazes. This game demands players rise to its level, confident they can unveil its secrets.
I love that these games let me explore freely, which feels rare these days. Many games are criticized for having too many tutorials or guides, holding players’ hands too much. There’s a debate over using yellow paint in levels to guide players, which can be good or bad depending on who you ask. There’s no one right way to design games, but I think we’ve leaned too much towards guiding players, which can flatten the experience. Of course, different games need different approaches, but I hope more developers feel inspired to try new things like these puzzle games have.
I always remember The Legend of Zelda and its secret bomb walls. Back then, the NES couldn’t show different textures, so hidden walls looked like any other. Players had to find these secret rooms by placing bombs in the right spots. It was probably super frustrating, but it also encouraged creative thinking and rewarded players with amazing discoveries.
I don’t think enough games today really challenge players. That’s why these three games feel refreshing. Many games rush players through scenes without much room for exploration, making me feel like a spectator. But Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Animal Well, and Rise of the Golden Idol made me feel like I was at my best. They’re all different, but they trust the player completely. I hope future games, no matter their style or size, learn from these gems and bring back the wonder of discovery.
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