Puzzle games are perfect for those who like to get their brain working, whether it's dealing with tiles or exploring a world filled with different problems to solve. One of the best places to look for games in the genre is Xbox Game Pass as there are frequently puzzle games that are added to the platform.

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In the subscription service, the most prominent puzzle experiences are of the indie variety. However, they are also among the best puzzle games the indie space has to offer. From old-school adventure games to platformers to first-person puzzlers, there are a lot of variants to choose from.

Updated on April 30, 2024, by Mark Sammut: Although not one of the most overexposed genres on Game Pass, puzzle games are not in extremely short supply either. In recent months, The Rewinder and A Little to the Left were both added to the service, and they are just the tip of the iceberg. Microsoft's platform has a great selection of cult classics (Grim Fandango, Bejeweled) and modern releases that might not be that well-known. If someone is craving the best puzzle games on Game Pass, the following titles would be a good place to start.

11 Genesis Noir

Metascore: 81

Point-and-click adventure games have been around since the dawn of PC games, but while the genre isn't as prevalent as it once was, there are some modern takes on the genre that change things up to provide a truly unique experience. Genesis Noir is a great example of this.

A story about a man looking to rescue his love, this avant-garde take on the point-and-click puzzler has players going through various scenes and interacting with the screen as prompts are being presented to them. Genesis Noir has a unique art style that makes these scenes fit right in with the gameplay.

10 Venba

Metascore: 81

Puzzle games can be great for their mechanics alone, but sometimes they tell stories that not only add to the experience but give context to it in a way that leaves an impact. This is exactly what Venba does, which focuses on the story of Indian immigrants living in Canada during the 1980s.

Players will learn the story of the characters through different moments in their lives when they are making a classic South Indian dish. The recipes are missing specific details, and it is up to the player to use the tools provided and the context to make the dish to the best of their ability.

9 Botany Manor

Metascore: 86

A Day 1 Xbox Game Pass arrival, Botany Manor is a cute and detailed puzzle game set during the late 19th century. As a botanist who is writing a book on plants, players get to explore an impressive British manor while also solving puzzles relating to the protagonist's specialty. The brainteasers revolve almost entirely around a seed's requirements to grow, a decision that leads to a consistent and educational campaign.

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For the most part, Botany Manor grants players free access to its mansion, although they will need to solve a few puzzles to reach certain sections. Moving at a leisurely pace and containing just enough character-driven details to inject context, Balloon Studios' title is among the most relaxing puzzle games on Game Pass.

8 Return To Monkey Island

Metascore: 87

When looking for a modern point-and-click game that is a callback to 1990s classics, look no further than Return to Monkey Island, a Devolver Digital-published title that continues the story of the beloved Monkey Island franchise from the mind of Ron Gilbert.

The sixth installment in the franchise, Return to Monkey Island takes place after the events of the previous titles and picks up with Guybrush Threepwood going back on an adventure to truly find the secret of Monkey Island. Many characters from the franchise make their return, including Elaine Marley and the villainous LeChuck.

7 Human Fall Flat

Metascore: 73

It may not seem like the most complex game at first glance, but Human Fall Flat is a game all about ragdoll physics. This includes the player's ability to try to use the left arm and right arm of their character individually to solve specific puzzles as they navigate large, linear levels.

Each level in Human Fall Flat is filled with various puzzles that involve picking up and interacting with objects that will open up pathways to new areas. There are a handful of levels made by the original developers and many more that have been created thanks to users, some of which have been added to the base game.

6 Unpacking

Metascore: 81

There has been a trend in games that includes turning everyday chores into video games, largely to successful results. One of the best examples of this is Unpacking, which is all about setting up items in a room after having moved into a new place.

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With an underlying narrative being told through the various objects and places the game takes the player, Unpacking is a game about putting items in the right place based on general context clues. The puzzle aspect comes in assembling a room just right so that there are no items in weird places.

5 Hypnospace Outlaw

Metascore: 83 (PC)

A point-and-click adventure game about navigating the internet is a bit on the nose, but it fits perfectly for the story being told in Hypnospace Outlaw. This simulation game tasked players with being an Enforcer, a moderator that makes sure people are following the rules in the Hypnospace.

While players will initially be tasked with minor violations, the story will take players on a journey that will lead to a massive controversy. All the while, players of Hypnospace Outlaw will navigate through a 1990s-inspired web that features unique user pages, interesting personalities, and a ton of nostalgia for those who lived through the early days of the internet.

4 Escape Academy

Metascore: 76

For those who like the idea of solving puzzles in real life, there has been a rise in places that offer escape rooms for people to experience with their friends or family. These experiences have now made their way into video games, with the premise of Escape Academy being all about being the best at escaping rooms.

As a student undergoing training at the academy, players will be placed in scenarios where they will need to navigate a space and begin figuring out how to get out of the room. This involves various visual challenges that, when figured out, will give players access to new items that will progress them further. Escape Academy is made by former escape room "gamemasters."

3 Superliminal

Metascore: 80

In general, a puzzle format that has become a staple in the genre is the first-person puzzle game. And while there aren't a ton on Xbox Game Pass, one of the best games on the service to fall in that category is none other than Superliminal.

Participating in dream therapy, the player will navigate through various rooms with the ability to pick up objects and resize them based on the player's visual perspective. However, due to unknown reasons, the player is unable to escape this dream state. Superliminal is filled with various illusions to keep the players guessing as they first observe each area.

2 Inside

Metascore: 93

Puzzle games can refer to a variety of different experiences, but regardless of what kind of puzzle game players seem to like, there is no question that Inside is one of the most impactful games in the genre. And the good news for Xbox Game Pass subscribers is that it service.

Players take on the role of a young boy who is seemingly running away from something. The gameplay of Inside involves trying to remain hidden from various figures that will look to take the boy down while using items and creatures within an environment to figure out ways to advance through the boy's journey.

1 Cocoon

Metascore: 89

As stated, Inside is considered a massive hit among puzzle game fans. A lot of this is thanks to Jeppe Carlsen, who left the original developer to form a new studio called Geometric Interactive. Then, he made a new puzzle game called Cocoon which debuted on Xbox Game Pass upon its release in 2023.

As a bug-like creature, players navigate the world using orbs that have specific abilities that can help players in solving puzzles and getting through obstacles. Each orb also has its own world within it, where players will navigate around and run into a major boss that comes alive upon acquiring new orbs.

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