VGChartz’s Lee Mehr: “Whether you call it a brainteaser, a conundrum, or – dare I say – a puzzle, the point remains the same: challenging one’s mental ingenuity moreso than their finger dexterity. In this respect, the list of genre-defining titles from last year ranked among the best of the past decade. That doesn’t mean 2024 was a slouch though; hell, even Mario was getting in on the puzzle action. That’s often the surprise with the genre as a whole: indie titles with fresh ideas and established franchises have an equal chance of enjoying the winner’s circle.
Our varied shortlist represents that to a tee. Whether it’s the aforementioned Mario-themed game, the splendid pair of indie darlings, or a sequel over a decade in the making, there’s no telling who makes the final cut. It’s another eclectic list of disparate aesthetic & design personalities slowly moving the genre forward. Without further ado, here are the final four.”