by Video games aren’t just timewasters. They of course provide valuable entertainment, but if you’re us here at Happy Hobbyists, then you also understand how important they can be in shaping your understanding of the world. Games have long been an important part of educational systems around the world, and even if you’re not looking for a strictly educational game, there are plenty of video games available that will push your ingenuity and problem solving skills to the max. Here’s our collection of some top contenders for video games that will boost your IQ and get your neurons firing on all cylinders:
Myst
Originally released in 1993 this puzzle adventure game became a huge hit reaching over a million copies sold in less than two years after its release which was a massive pull at the time. In the game you travel through many different worlds called ‘Ages’ to solve puzzles and collect clues and items needed to solve the overarching puzzle within the main world known as Myst. Originally the game was characterized by navigating individual screens but it has since been remade with two versions allowing open-world free roam and the latest version being in VR. Here’s an excellent YouTube video comparing original Myst with the remastered version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZOxPlWGiL8
The remakes have even included an extra ‘Age’ with bonus content. If you enjoy Myst, there are several sequels in the game series as well and plenty of similar puzzle games inspired by it.
Relicta
Relicta is a 3D first person physics based puzzle game similar to Portal where the player must take advantage of many gravity and magnet based puzzle mechanics to make their way through a lunar base and reach the eponymous Relicta. The puzzles start out simple to introduce the mechanics and become incredibly complex over time presenting a great challenge.
Working out complex spatial awareness problems is sure to have positive benefits on your brain. Even though you might not be dealing with overly convoluted gravitational puzzles in the real world, it’s still good to be aware of your surroundings and understand some basic physics.
The Witness
The Witness is a large open-world game filled with over 650 puzzles to solve. Most of the puzzles are in the form of interactive grids that the player needs to intuit the rules for scattered around the area but there are also puzzles incorporated into the environment. This game is filled with many challenges and success is based entirely on the player’s own intuition rather than any sort of verbal tutorial.
Opus Magnum
Opus Magnum is a programming style game based on the antiquated ideas of Alchemy. Using a collection of mechanisms on a hexagonal grid the player must disassemble, transmute, and combine the four basic elements and the metals of antiquity to create various products that the story calls for. Not only is the story interesting but there are plenty of additional challenges in the game as well as many puzzles created by other players available in the Steam Workshop.
World of Goo
World of Goo is a 2D landscape physics based game where the player uses living balls of goo with a variety of different effects to create structures bridging the gap between the player’s starting point and their ending point. Additionally the sequel to this game came out in 2024 so if this game is up your alley there is an even bigger game with the same premise just waiting for you.
