10 Mind-Bending Video Games That Will RUIN You
6. The Talos Principle (2014)
Set in a near future in which humanity has become extinct, The Talos Principle sees players take on the role of an unnamed android tasked with solving an array of physics-based puzzles.
Without offering any sort of tutorial, players are left to figure out puzzle elements and mechanics for themselves. Whether it's using blocks to activate switches or directing lasers to power doors, the puzzle aspects are straightforward and intuitive enough to grasp while still providing plenty of challenge. More layers of complexity are gradually added throughout the game, encouraging players to use their acquired knowledge to find inventive solutions without the puzzles ever becoming too obtuse.
In addition to its head-scratching puzzles that are capable of stumping players for hours, The Talos Principle likewise tackles grand philosophical questions about what it means to be human, the ethics of technology, and whether there could be a higher power.
Whenever players aren't trying to solve tricky logic puzzles, they'll be left grappling with huge existential questions that could reshape their understanding of the universe. Alongside its sequel, The Talos Principle stands out as one of the best puzzle games ever made.