Players go into their favourite games looking to test their skills – and sometimes, this includes their problem-solving skills, with puzzles being a common mechanic in most video games.
Typically, puzzles in these games are required to be solved in order to progress, but that doesn’t mean that developers are going to make it an easy endeavour. In fact, some of these puzzles are nearly impossible to solve, especially with the lack of hand-holding.
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For players who want to explore, but not be overwhelmed by a world larger than the story.
Sure, some of these difficultpuzzles are just outright cool, but in these instances, they’re so hard to comprehend that they end up being more frustrating than anything else.
It’s practically a mystery how some people were able to solve these without a guide – especially since some of these games were before online tutorials were around.
These puzzles end up being overly obtuse for a number of different reasons, but the frustrating sentiment remains all the same.
10Myahm Agana Apparatus
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zeldagames are an absolute gem, holding a special place in many players’ hearts. So, whenBreath of the Wildcame out, it completely revolutionized the series and how it can be played, displayed thecomplex narrativein a refreshing,open worldformat.
This includes a new approach to the franchise’s infamous temples, introducing over a hundred shrines across the map, testing the players’ strength in combat and in puzzle-solving. One of these puzzles, however, is far too complicated – the Myahm Agana Apparatus.
It seems simple at first: guide a ball through a maze using motion controls, then toss the ball from the maze across a gap and into its resting place. However, the controls end up making this task borderline impossible, with the ball frequently nose-diving into the pitfalls and even jumping over the maze fences.
Honestly, I cheated through this puzzle by rotating mySwitchas much as possible so the maze is completely flipped over, and I just rolled the ball across the smooth surface with no issue. I thought I was so clever until I realized that’s the common solution most players take.
Just saying, if players are actively solving the puzzle by just breaking it to fit their needs, it’s not the best idea for a puzzle.
9Goat Puzzle
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
There’s been a murder, one that spirals into a deeper conspiracy than anyone would have originally imagined. Yet, despite the subject matter,Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templarsis acozy PS1 gamethat’s located in a decrepit medieval castle inLochmarne, Ireland.
In this castle, you play as George, trying to solve the murder while uncovering the dark secrets of the Knights Templar. And, for some reason, you have to solve a Goat Puzzle before you’re able to put the mystery together – before you’re even able to enter the castle at all – and it’s a hair-pulling experience unlike any other.
Players stumble upon a tied goat that continuously butts the player, preventing them from entering – and they have to find a way to get past. However, nobody would have anticipated that being butted by the goat is required to solve this puzzle.
After letting the goat hit you, players then immediately have to interact with the farming equipment so that slight adjustments can be made, so when the goat butts the player again, they end up getting tangled and stuck, allowing the player to head inside the castle.
This goes against every instinct that players have (avoid being hit), and there’s zero indication from the game that this is supposed to be what they have to do, leaving players being stuck with this stupid goat for literal hours.
Just saying, any logical person would have just cut the rope.
8ALL of It
Baba Is You
When we learn the scientific method as children, we learn that if we do our experiment and end up with a different result, we go back to the drawing board to reshape our understanding. For the gameBaba is You, however, the scientific method ends up working a little differently.
In order for players to understand their results, they end up going back to the drawing board … and changing the rules entirely. It’san incredibly unique approach to puzzle-solving, and the entire game will make players scratch their head – the brain directly, if they could.
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These worlds are fun to explore, but you don’t have to get lost in them.
Literally, ALL of Baba is You is difficult (yes, the ALL pun is intended), with puzzles that will make players’ heads spin. MakingBaba file taxeswould be an easier endeavor, since there would be no rules to manipulate to get those files to the IRS.
Despite this, Baba is You is absolutely fascinating – that’s just if players are even able to figure out a puzzle to progress.
Super Mario RPG
Nothing in gaming will be as iconic asSuper Mario Bros– and that’s an indisputable fact.Mariois an absolute titan in the gaming sphere, known for family friendly games and simple, lighthearted experiences.
EnterSuper Mario RPG, Mario’s first dip into an entirely new genre – and for once, players are met with an experience that’s a lot harder than it needed to be. And it can be found with a static camera deep underwater in theSunken Ship.
The3D Mazeis notoriously the most difficult puzzle in the game, which is an adjective that players would never expect to use with the titular plumber. Despite the game being three-dimensional for the most part, there is no way to move the camera in this maze, leaving players wandering endlessly for literal hours.
This ended up being adapted one-to-one in the remake, with no difference on the solution – however, unlike the classic game, players are now able to look it up if they’re stuck.
6Braille Puzzle
Pokemon Ruby
Ever wanted to learn how to read braille? If you end up playingPokémon Ruby, you’ll have to to progress.
Now, the game actually came with a manual that included the Braille Alphabet detailed on it – but let’s be honest: players don’t really keep the manual. In fact,another player on reddit did an informal surveyon who kept the manual – obviously, most did not, and when they got to the braille puzzle, they were absolutely befuddled.
When this came out initially, players couldn’t easily look up Braille on the internet, and their best shot would be to find a book in the library or ask a friend who had already figured it out. It’s a relatively challenging puzzle that could have easily been made easier if players were thorough with every facet of their game.
Yet, at the same time, the game also gives zero inclination about needing the manual for a puzzle, so it ends up just being a rude awakening for players who have no idea how to read or understand Braille.
5Water Sample
Resident Evil 3
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Science wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea while in school, and for many, it ended up coming back with a bite inResident Evil 3. In thisrelatively short horror game, you play asJill Valentine,trying to escapeRaccoon Cityas it’s overrun by zombies, all while running from aBio-Organic Weaponknown asNemesis.
At one point, you have to test a water sample in order to unlock a door and progress to the end of the game – however, it ended up being one of the most difficult puzzles in the entireResident Evilfranchise.
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Personally, I didn’t struggle too hard when I did this puzzle as a child – but I should also mention I pushed through the puzzle with brute force.
You have to align the colours and levels to match with the water sample, but if you switch through all the selections enough, the answer will quite literally fall in your lap.
This was a puzzle that wasn’t adapted into theResident Evil 3 Remakethankfully, as it ended up being too complicated for its own good.
4Niobe Labs
Fextralife Wiki
We’ve all heard of boss battles being so hard that developers had to nerf them in future patches and updates – however, we don’t hear about that as much when it comes to puzzles. That is, of course, unless you’re aDestinyplayer, then you know very well that it’s possible.
TheNiobe LabsinDestiny 2were notoriously so difficult that developers had to step in with an apology and an ultimatum, to either figure it out or the answer would be handed to them.
Playersactively worked togetherto try and figure out the labs and progress, bringing out the best in the Destiny Community, but the fact that it got to that point in the first place should indicate how insane the puzzle actually is.
Players had to decipher the cryptic messages in order to open Bergusia Forge. It ended up being solved after 80 hours, after several streamers pulled all-nighters and other insane feats just for a hint. This put a sour taste in many players’ mouths, despite their massive accomplishment.
I even asked a friend of mine about it (since it’s not really a game I play), and all he replied with was a meme illustrating Vietnam Flashbacks, if that says anything about how the labs were.
3Shakespeare’s Stanzas
Silent Hill 3
When people think of difficult puzzles, they often think of the ones found inSilent Hillgames, and there’s always a tie between two of them.
It’s either thePiano PuzzleatMidwich Elementary School, or they think ofShakespeare’s StanzasfromSilent Hill 3. And honestly, as someone who had to solve both, I had a far more difficult time with Shakespeare’s Stanzas.
If you haven’t taken AP Literature in high school, or if you aren’t familiar with any of Shakespeare’s works, you’re in for an incredibly tough time.
I took AP Lit, plus I was a theater kid that studied Shakespeare for fun (one of my wedding readings is literally going to be an excerpt from Hamlet) – and Istillstruggled through this puzzle.
You have to organize the Anthology in order to figure out a code for a door keypad, and you’re not done there, as you’re given additional riddles in order to decrypt the anthology volumes into the proper code. It’s a genuine headache, and it’s the first puzzle in the entire game, no less.
I’ll just save you the time: the code is 8352. At least with the piano puzzle players can follow the logic.
2The Water Temple
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Now just what on Earth wasNintendothinking when creating theWater TempleforOcarina of Time? It’s undoubtedly one of the most iconic dungeons in the franchise – but not for any good reason.
If all these other puzzles were simply obtuse, then the Water Temple is outright incomprehensible.
The entire temple revolves around you adjusting the water levels in order to swim (or sink, if you use theIron Boots) to the next level – and adjust the levels again. All of this to get you to the boss,Link’s Shadow(calledDark Linkin the fandom).
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Explore the world from the shadows.
TheNintendo 64was already a console with many limitations, and this included having players pull up the menu every single time they had to switch items, which turns the temple into a Settings Simulator – that is, if you’re able to even figure out what to do at first.
This was patched in the3DSversion of the game, but the rest of the temple remained the same, leaving players in the same state of confusion as they were in their childhood. At least, this time, they’re not going to be staring at their Inventory for the majority of the experience.
1The Black Monolith
When players talk about the gameFez, they immediately talk about how difficult of a puzzle game it is overall, whereplayers have to be a borderline genius in order to beat the game. To say that it’s challenging is an understatement of the game itself.
The most difficult puzzle in the game, by far, is theBlack Monolith. This is located in theNatural Region, specifically after lowering the sea level. to solve this, players have to press buttons in a particular order, all while switching between first and third person to get the full picture.
The solution is actually simple, but there’s no way that players would figure it out on their own.
After standing on the solo block, players have to pressDown, Down, L2, R2, R2, A, Up– and it releases the red heart cube. Easy. Players could have just hopped on the box and breakdanced, and it would have ended with the same results.
Fez is anindie puzzle game that aged like a fine wine, providing a fresh challenge every single time players boot up the file.
It’s always impressive to see how difficult it remains, even after all this time, to where players will never forget the sense of victory they felt when they finally figured it out (or looked it up, we don’t judge).
