19 Free, Browser-based Puzzle Games on Itch.io

September 5, 2022

[~1600 words]

Lately I’ve been really into playing puzzle games the last several months.19

So, I’ve put together a list of puzzle games on itch.io that I recommend. I try not to post on this blog anymore, but I realized that I had played a lot of these games and probably could write a few sentences on each. So, might as well. These are free and can be played in your browser, although some have the option to download and/or ask for a choose-your-price payment.

These are loosely organized from least puzzle game to maximum puzzle game.

1. Knightin’ by Wolod

https://wolod.itch.io/knightin

This isn’t really a puzzle game. It’s more of a Zelda-like game with some puzzles in it. But I enjoyed it and its two or three puzzles well enough to put it on this list.

2. Emuuron by borbware

https://borbware.itch.io/emuurom

This is a weird one to add to this list. Ostensibly, this is a nonviolent, metroidvania platformer that focuses on scanning lifeforms in the environment with your scanner gun. You can use different lifeforms to help you navigate the terrain (a few plants and animals are actually bouncy platforms, for examples) and your scanner can trigger certain actions. It does feel mostly like a platformer, but there definitely are puzzle-platformer elements. Also, I really like the concept of a game that revolves around exploring an alien world and learning about alien life. Currently it’s just a demo, that can be downloaded or played in browser, with a choose-your-price donation, and it seems that the dev is working on a full version of the game.

3. Octo and the Pocket Dimensions by IcebergLettuce

https://iceberglettuce.itch.io/octo

4. Allocation by Mush

https://mush101.itch.io/allocation

I’m grouping these two together because they both use a similar meta-mechanic. They’re both platformer, sort-of metroidvanias where you collect rooms and then you can go to a central hub where you rearrange those rooms to make the entire level; then you play through the level you created to get to unlock new rooms to your inventory. Allocation leans on this the heaviest, but it is primarily a platformer where you shoot enemies. Octo has fewer rooms to unlock, but has more of a puzzle aspect in that different rooms have certain items or gates that need to be arranged in a certain way to progress further. T hey both use a really cool, clever mechanic in two different but inspiring ways.

5. E.T.P. by Nutmeg

https://itch.io/search?q=E.T.P.

This is a slick puzzle platformer with a great movement mechanic twist. You can move with WASD but you can also click on the screen to teleport to where you clicked. That teleportation becomes the basis for puzzles as well as the boss battle at the end. The teleportation was so satisfying that it made me wish I had that kind of movement in every game.

6. Sulka by Kultisti

https://kultisti.itch.io/sulka

This is a minimalistic puzzle platformer. You’re a bird and you’ve got to jump your way to the exit. The twist is that when you fall through a certain barrier, your gravity will reverse. Ceilings become floors and vice versa. This creates some interesting puzzles especially involving conservation of momentum. Some of it reminded me a little of those momentum based Portal puzzles.

7. Late Bloomer by Scootch

https://scootch.itch.io/late-bloomer

Okay, this is a very basic game. It’s very short and the puzzles aren’t really challenging. However, what I loved was that the mechanics all revolve around growing plants to make progress. I also thought that what happens at the end of each level is genuinely funny.

8. Aquadrata by Four Quarters team

https://fourquarters.itch.io/aquadrata

This is a weird one and not exactly a puzzle game in the normal sense. You’re an underwater diver dismantling some sort of alien machine or craft. It’ll become clear that the goal is to find all three endings to the game. While playing it I found it a bit strange and frustrating, but after getting all the endings I felt it was worthwhile experience. Also has a killer soundtrack.

9. Stasis by ramjing

https://ramjing.itch.io/stasis

This feels more like a prototype, but that’s okay. There’s only like two or three levels that demonstrate the core mechanic: selecting objects to freeze in time and then make them travel backwards through time. However, the delivery is very good, I like the visual design of the player character, and I’m recommending it largely because of the potential I see in this mechanic for a larger game (figuring out how to get myself out of a pit was a revelation).

10. Dank Dungeon by Jakub Wasilweski

https://krajzeg.itch.io/dank-tomb

I have sort of mixed feelings about this one. Compared to the other games on this list, this is a pretty big game. You can play it in a browser, but if you want to save your progress across multiple play sessions you’ll need to download it. It is free, but does ask for a choose-your-price donation. This is the most elaborate of the games on this list and the most “complete”; there’s items that give you new abilities, secrets to find, different types of puzzles, and it’s all done in an extensive top-down dungeon. My big problem with it is that it tries to do platforming. Platforming from this top-down perspective usually doesn’t work well because of the perspective alone; but Dank Dungeon also has an art style that makes it difficult to judge where the edges of pits are and where your character is actually standing. I kept falling into pits in situations when it looked to me like I was clearly standing on solid ground. If you don’t find the platforming frustrating then it is definitely worth your time.

11. Pakpok by st33d

https://st33d.itch.io/pakpok

I really loved this puzzle platformer about being a bug that uses bug friends to get to the exit. The game is simple and charming, but what I loved most is how the puzzles were largely based on you getting help from other bugs. The sense of cooperation was really good. At a certain point the platforming started getting really demanding, though, and that’s when I lost interest. Also, the sound design is really sharp.

12. That Gravity Glow by Toombler

https://itch.io/search?q=That+Gravity+Glow

Don’t let the minimalist graphics deceive you. Same goes for the first few levels. At first I thought this was just a standard block pushing puzzle game made for a game jam. Then the game introduced a mechanical twist that really won me over. Also, despite having such minimal graphics, it winds up having a really creepy, moody atmosphere.

13. Cats n wires by Kultisti

https://kultisti.itch.io/cats-n-wires

This is a real simple puzzle platformer with what I’d consider a unique mechanic. You have different sockets you can draw wires between. Then you can use those wires as walls or platforms. I didn’t find it terribly difficult, but it was challenging enough, and clever enough, to keep me engaged till the end.

14. Laser Focus by ddarknut

https://ddarknut.itch.io/laser-focus

A solid, minimalist sokoban puzzler with a twist. The twist is there are three blocks to push. A battery, a laser machine, and a laser receiver. The battery goes in the laser machine to turn it on, and the laser machine has to fire its laser into the laser receiver. Once all the receivers are powered by a laser you can exit the level. Simple, but it can also be mind bending.

15. Kitsu by Fayer

https://fayer.itch.io/kitsu

This is a delightfully simple puzzle game with cute graphics. It takes a your typical sokoban block pushing but combines it with a match-3 mechanic. This is a well rounded puzzle game that does a good job of combining two classic mechanics in a new way. Good graphics and good gameplay.

16. Long Spear by TecoSV

https://tecosv.itch.io/long-spear

I loved this puzzle game. It takes a classic puzzle mechanic, a block that slides continuously until it hits a wall, and puts a new spin on it. You’re actually soldier or assassin who uses a long spear as your main form of movement, sort of like a grappling hook. This narrative wrapper opens up new elements for this type of puzzle game such as cutting ropes or killing guards. Just a really great game that knows what to innovate and what to keep the same. It also has secret areas!

17. Fort Loop by Deepnight Games

https://deepnight.itch.io/fort-loop

This puzzle game has some of the best presentation I’ve seen. The graphics and animations are fantastic; it just looks really good. It also has a somewhat unique concept. You’re a chief trying to steal treasure from a castle. However, the castle is in a time loop where almost everything resets itself after like 10-15 seconds. Your character doesn’t reset, though, and that’s where a lot of the puzzle elements come into play. This one was great and I’d pay for a full version if it ever gets made.

18. Pathfinder by Ben James

https://benjames171.itch.io/pathfinder

This is a really excellent and well designed puzzle game. You play a little alien guy running around what looks like an alien factory. I love the visual design and the color scheme. The stand out thing to me is how solid the game design is. The puzzles usually revolve around using a switches to activate three machines to get to the exit: an elevator, a teleporter, and the exit door. However, the design is really clean and you never see two of the same machine in a level. You’ll never see two teleporters in one level, for example. That’s just a really good design decision. Lastly, I’ll mention that there are three difficulty modes and the levels are unique for each mode.

19. Give Up the Ghost: a puzzle checklist by gate

https://gate.itch.io/ghost

Wow. Graphics are simple, but puzzles are complex! You want to spend a lot of time doing puzzles that you can really sink your teeth into? This is the game for you. There are 50 puzzles. I’ve only had time to finish about 14 and already I’ve seen some brilliant uses of the mechanics it introduces into the game. On the surface its using your typical sokoban block pushing, but it there’s some real twists here.

The End

20. Mushroom Mountain by John Saba

https://sabajt.itch.io/mushroom-mountain

Originally I had 19 games on here. Then several weeks later I played Mushroom Mountain and was so impressed that I had to come back and add it. It can be played free in your browser, but the developer does ask for a pay-what-you want purchase, and like the other games in this list, it deserves your money. It’s a simple puzzle game with a unique mechanic: you’re trying to grow as many mushrooms as you can. Once all the plots of dirt have mushrooms, then the exit will open up. With that alone, this is a solid, well designed puzzle game. But the thing that pushed me out of my laziness to actually add it to this post is the twist that happens when you switch from the blue path (easy) to the red path (hard). I highly recommend starting with the blue path, even if you’re really good at puzzle games. The red path puts a delightful spin on the game without really changing anything about it. Really brilliant stuff.

The End (for real this time)

Written by Makeelshoktil Posted in Review Tagged with browser based, indie, itch, praise, puzzle, puzzle platformer