The best games that skillfully combine action and puzzle

Key foods

  • Puzzles in games change the pace of the fast action and add depth to the gameplay mechanics.
  • Some games integrate puzzles seamlessly while others allow players to opt out.
  • The perfect balance between puzzle solving and combat experience enhances the overall gaming experience.



Puzzle design is difficult to make. Perfect puzzles keep players engaged for just the right amount of time and make them feel like they've tried to answer without letting them down. How do designers get this formula right when there are so many different types of gamers?

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Maybe there is no perfect answer. However, puzzles add to the gameplay or allow gamers to take a break from the fast-paced action in all of the titles listed below. There are times when it seamlessly integrates with the combat and core gameplay mechanics, while at other times it helps speed up the game.


6 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Players can take or leave most of the puzzles


Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Systems

PlayStation 1

was published
August 22, 2017

OpenCritic rating
able

particle for direct object Uncharted The series constantly struggles with the pace between exploration and combat. Jumping from one battle arena to another is exhausting, but staying in the puzzles for too long can also be quite tiring. The series' witty writing and engaging characters help smooth out the rough edges in the cohesion between combat and puzzle solving, turning each game into a joyous narrative experience.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy It makes the list above all other games because of the optional content integrated into the story. Players can rush through the game in a few hours or they can explore the open areas to find all the collections. The artifacts are nice, but the real treasure is the dialogue between Chloe Fraser and Nadine Ross, which would otherwise be missed if they were in the story.

These sections in
A lost legacy
and
Uncharted 4
There are clear frontrunners for Seattle's preliminary division
The Last of Us Part 2
.


5 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Systems

Super 8-bit grayscale logo

was published
May 12, 2023

Developers
nintendo

OpenCritic rating
able

While experts can defeat newer Zelda Games without much trouble, the average player wants to improve his stamina and heart by completing as many shrines as possible in the open world environment. This is how it is tears of the kingdom and by extension, wild breath Match your fight with the puzzle.

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Each shrine link completed brings players one step closer to becoming strong enough to defeat Ganon. Can't say if they would have been as fun to complete if they had a different reward. Many players may not have the same motivation to do them.


4 Resident Evil 2

Danger lurks even when solving puzzles

was published
January 25, 2019

OpenCritic rating
able

2019 Resident Evil 2 The restructuring makes the Raccoon City Police Department feel more cohesive than ever. Rooms are no longer separated by loading time. Because of this, finding keys and unlocking new areas is even more like walking inside a puzzle that is slowly being put together.

The lack of loading time between rooms also means that threats follow Claire or Leon wherever they go. Mr. X in particular has become iconic again because of how he follows players around the environment. Clearing the room isn't enough to give players a quiet moment to think about a puzzle. Now, one has to be on one's feet, constantly expecting Mr. X and Fedorash to enter the room like an evil Kool-Aid man.


3 God of War: Ragnarok

The same combat mechanics help solve the puzzles

Systems

PC-1 PlayStation 1

was published
November 9, 2022

OpenCritic rating
able

Whether we're talking about the original trilogy or newer titles that put the camera behind Kratos' shoulder, god of war It always brings puzzles into the equation. Title 2018 and Ragnarok Due to the abundance of optional content in the games, put it above the classic titles.

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It's hardly an open world game, but the hub areas are large and full of nooks and crannies to explore. There are interesting puzzles in many of these that use many of the same mechanics as Kratos in combat, such as the trademark leviathan axe.

2 tonic

Everything is a puzzle


was published
March 16, 2022

Developers
Andrew Shouldice

OpenCritic rating
able

Retro gaming enthusiasts have a lot to love tonic. Its design evokes many of the classic gaming sensibilities, such as the sense of wonder and discovery from NES-like titles Metroid and The Legend of Zelda. Even more game mechanics are discovered organically through notes and cryptic messages throughout the world.

The main difference is in the fight tonic It has depth and variety in addition to some mysterious puzzles. At the end of the game, some may find the puzzles more challenging, but the interesting world and other gameplay parts are enough to keep them hanging in there until they find a solution.

1 Tomb Raider: Legend

It adds more action to the series and balances out the puzzles


Tomb Raider: Legend

platform(s)
Android, iOS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, GameCube, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox (original), Xbox 360

was published
April 11, 2006

original Tom Ridder Games are a product of their time. Modern gamers will have a hard time wrapping their minds and hands around the unorthodox control scheme and focus on exploring empty spaces in battle. Tomb Raider: Legend It takes a more mainstream approach, trading in long, isolated treks through caves for an easier pace.

The opening montage before the main menu establishes the game as something closer to a James Bond-Espionage esque as opposed to a slow puzzle game. Lara Croft still has her share of puzzles, but this time it's in the middle of confusing encounters with enemies after the same treasures she's looking for. He is also in constant touch with his team, who offer tips as well as witty banter.

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