puzzle design Archives

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

Blue Prince, the best game of 2025 (don’t check our GOTY just trust me) is on sale on Steam for under $20 for the first time

PC gamers can purchase the acclaimed 2025 Game of the Year, Blue Prince, at a 34% discount during the Steam Detective Fest, bringing the price to .79 / £16.49. Blue Prince was recognized as the Best Designed game of 2025 by PC Gamer but finished as the runner-up to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The game features intricate puzzle design and a unique approach to puzzles and discovery, developed over eight years. Players have expressed frustrations with the game's random number generation (RNG), which is integral to its challenge. The Steam Detective Fest runs through January 19, offering various games on sale.

AppWizard

January 8, 2026

Is today’s puzzle game scene interesting? ‘No, I don’t think it is,’ says Jonathan Blow, even though there are ‘really good games in the past’ devs could look to for inspiration

Jonathan Blow has unveiled his new project, Order of the Sinking Star, at last year's Game Awards. The game has been in development for nearly a decade and is described as a "game design supercollider," combining four distinct puzzle games into a vast puzzle chimaera with 500 hours of content. Blow considers Stephen's Sausage Roll one of the best puzzle games, despite its difficulty, and found Trifolium: The Adventures of Gary Pretzelneck interesting due to its deceptive simplicity. He has not encountered many recent puzzle titles that have impressed him.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

Siliconera’s PC Game of the Year 2025

The PC platform has become a supportive environment for indie game developers, allowing innovative titles to thrive before expanding to other systems. Siliconera's PC Game of the Year selections showcase games that have succeeded due to the unique PC ecosystem. The awards reflect the opinions of the Siliconera team, with multiplatform games assessed based on the platform that received the most support. Hades II continues the legacy of its predecessor, showcasing the developers' commitment to quality during its Early Access phase, resulting in a seamless gameplay experience. Monster Train 2 expands on the original by introducing more factions, increasing strategic possibilities and providing fresh challenges for players. Blue Prince, the winner, offers engaging puzzles with clear solutions, making it accessible for players who may struggle with traditional exploration puzzle games.