Tips for Navigating Complex Puzzles in Adventure Games

Tips for Navigating Complex Puzzles in Adventure Games

Adventure games. They’re a blast, right? You get to immerse yourself in incredible worlds, solve tricky puzzles, and experience stories that stick with you long after you’re done playing. But let’s be real—some of those puzzles can be downright maddening. If you’ve ever found yourself staring blankly at a screen wondering if your brain has been replaced by scrambled eggs, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Actually, I’m still there sometimes (it’s a journey, alright?).

But after playing my fair share of adventure games, I’ve learned a few tricks to help me get through those brain-bending moments. So if you’re stuck on a puzzle that feels like it was designed by a mad scientist, here are some tips that might help.

1. Take a Step Back, Literally and Figuratively

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stared at a puzzle for what feels like hours, only to realize that I’m overthinking it. Seriously. Overcomplicating puzzles is a game developer’s dream (and player’s nightmare). If you’re stuck, sometimes it helps to step away from the game for a bit. Maybe take a break, stretch your legs, or just chill for a few minutes. It’s amazing how often a fresh perspective can reveal the solution you were missing.

On one particularly brutal puzzle from The Witness, I was convinced I had to solve some kind of hyper-complex geometric riddle (trust me, it made no sense). I walked away for 15 minutes, cleared my head, and when I came back, the solution was so simple, I almost laughed at myself. So, yeah, take breaks!

Pro Tip: Try getting a snack while you’re at it. Honestly, brain fuel is real.

2. Observe Your Environment Thoroughly

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve jumped into a puzzle and immediately started clicking everything, hoping for some random combination of actions to solve it. Spoiler alert: that doesn’t work. If anything, it just wastes time and gets you frustrated. What I’ve learned (the hard way) is to pay close attention to the environment around you.

Many adventure games are built with clues scattered everywhere. You’ve got to look at everything—the walls, the floor, the objects in the room. I’ve had moments where I missed crucial details because I didn’t think something was important, but it ended up being exactly what I needed to solve a puzzle.

In The Room series, for example, there was one puzzle that required me to inspect a book closely. I almost missed it, but when I rotated it in the right direction, I found a hidden symbol that unlocked the next piece of the puzzle. Little things like that matter, so don’t skip the details.

Pro Tip: If something seems out of place or doesn’t seem to fit with the environment, it probably is important. Trust your instincts.

3. Write Things Down (Seriously)

This one might sound old-school, but believe me, it works. Adventure games love to throw a lot of info at you, and sometimes you need to keep track of things like numbers, symbols, or strange sequences. It can be a lot to handle, and I’ve spent way too much time trying to remember the specifics of a puzzle I’d encountered 20 minutes ago.

For example, in Myst, I had to jot down every single number sequence that appeared on different books throughout the game. Later, when I needed those sequences for a puzzle, I was ready. And let’s face it, that small notebook was like a lifeline.

Pro Tip: If you’re not into paper and pen, take screenshots. But writing stuff down can help you process the information, which is key when you need to think critically.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Look for Patterns

Many puzzles in adventure games are based on patterns. They could be visual patterns, sound patterns, or even behavioral patterns in the way characters or objects behave. I used to get frustrated thinking I was missing something huge, when in reality, it was all about noticing a pattern that I just hadn’t put together yet.

One great example of this is The Talos Principle. There’s this one puzzle involving beams of light, and at first, it seems like there’s no way to get everything lined up just right. But once I stopped panicking, I noticed the beams were reflecting off of certain objects in a predictable way. Recognizing that pattern was the key to unlocking the puzzle.

Pro Tip: If you’re stuck on something, step back and see if you can find any repeated or predictable elements. Patterns are often the secret sauce.

5. Talk to NPCs (Yes, Even If You Think You’ve Heard It All)

I used to skip over NPC (non-player character) dialogue as soon as I thought I’d heard the important stuff. Big mistake. In games like The Longest Journey and Syberia, I found that talking to every NPC and really listening to what they say (even the seemingly trivial stuff) often led me to the solutions I needed. Sometimes the dialogue contains cryptic hints, or even just a random piece of info that makes everything click into place. Don’t write off the chatter.

For instance, in Grim Fandango, I spent a good 30 minutes confused by a puzzle involving a ticket booth. When I talked to a character who seemed like he was just being goofy, he dropped an offhand comment about the ticketing system that completely changed how I approached the puzzle.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to all conversations, even the ones that seem unimportant. Game developers love hiding clues in plain sight.

6. Use In-Game Hints Wisely

I’ll admit it—I used to avoid hints in adventure games like they were some sort of weakness. I mean, I wanted to solve the puzzle on my own, right? But after getting stuck in a puzzle for hours and banging my head against the wall in frustration, I learned that it’s okay to ask for a little help.

Most games will give you optional hints if you’re struggling. In The Secret of Monkey Island, for example, the game will give you gentle nudges if you’re stuck too long. At first, I resisted it, but eventually, I realized these hints were like a friend guiding me without giving away the whole solution. It’s a balance, but I’ve gotten better at using them without feeling like I’m “cheating.”

Pro Tip: If the game offers hints and you’re really stuck, don’t be afraid to use them. They’re there to help, not hurt.

7. Save and Experiment

Finally, here’s the big one: save your game and experiment. I know it sounds obvious, but sometimes you forget to save before diving into a puzzle. You might think that pressing that button or pulling that lever will solve everything, but if it doesn’t, you don’t want to backtrack for 30 minutes. In these kinds of games, experimentation is key.

In Life is Strange, for example, you can rewind time and try different solutions to a problem. Even in games without this kind of feature, saving before key decisions gives you the freedom to experiment without losing progress. Trial and error is a classic way to solve puzzles, and it’s a lot less painful when you don’t have to start from scratch every time.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to try things out and see what happens, especially in complex puzzles. Just make sure you have a save file to return to if things go awry.

Quick Puzzle-Solving Checklist:

Puzzle-solving in adventure games can be one of the most rewarding parts of the experience, even if it drives you mad at times. So, take a deep breath, trust the process, and enjoy the journey. And hey, if all else fails, you can always look up a guide (we’ve all been there).