Best games
Best Puzzle games of 2014
The 12 best Puzzle games released in 2014, ranked from 2,993 critic and player ratings.
The best Puzzle game of 2014 is Tales from the Borderlands, with a critic score of 88/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2014.
- 12 games are listed on this page, carrying 2,993 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 12
01
Tales from the Borderlands
Tales from the Borderlands is a five part episodic game series. Set on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2, this is a story full of Borderlands' trademark humor, following two adventurers on their quest for greatness.
88
/100
02
The Talos Principle
The Talos Principle is a philosophical first-person puzzle game from Croteam, the creators of the legendary Serious Sam series, written by Tom Jubert (FTL, The Swapper) and Jonas Kyratzes (The Sea Will Claim Everything).
85
/100
03
P.T.
P.T. (Playable Teaser) is a first-person interactive teaser directed by Hideo Kojima and developed by Kojima Productions under the alias of "7780s Studios". It is a psychological survival horror that combined simplicity with an anxiety-inducing environment. The player must investigate the gruesome backstory surrounding the house, and solve puzzles to get to the end game where a cut scene will initiate, and reveal the official teaser trailer for Silent Hills. P.T is widely accepted as a game in its own right, as not only is it considered deeply engaging, but also enjoys significant replay value thanks to its cryptic nature. Due to the cancellation of Silent Hills, it is no longer available for download.
83
/100
Tales from the Borderlands
Tales from the Borderlands is a five part episodic game series. Set on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2, this is a story full of Borderlands' trademark humor, following two adventurers on their quest for greatness.
88
/100
02
The Talos Principle
The Talos Principle is a philosophical first-person puzzle game from Croteam, the creators of the legendary Serious Sam series, written by Tom Jubert (FTL, The Swapper) and Jonas Kyratzes (The Sea Will Claim Everything).
85
/100
03
P.T.
P.T. (Playable Teaser) is a first-person interactive teaser directed by Hideo Kojima and developed by Kojima Productions under the alias of "7780s Studios". It is a psychological survival horror that combined simplicity with an anxiety-inducing environment. The player must investigate the gruesome backstory surrounding the house, and solve puzzles to get to the end game where a cut scene will initiate, and reveal the official teaser trailer for Silent Hills. P.T is widely accepted as a game in its own right, as not only is it considered deeply engaging, but also enjoys significant replay value thanks to its cryptic nature. Due to the cancellation of Silent Hills, it is no longer available for download.
83
/100
04
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
In The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, you play as Paul Prospero, an occult detective who receives a disturbing letter from Ethan Carter and realizes that the boy is in grave danger. When Paul arrives in Ethan's home of Red Creek Valley, he realizes things are even worse than he imagined. Ethan has vanished in the wake of a brutal murder, which Paul comes to see might not be the only murder to investigate. Using both regular and supernatural detective skills, Paul must figure out what happened to the missing boy.
82
/100
05
Ether One
Ether One is a first person adventure that deals with the fragility of the human mind. There are two paths in the world you can choose from. At its core is a story exploration path free from puzzles where you can unfold the story at your own pace. There is also a deeper, more adventurous path in which you can complete complex puzzles to restore life changing events of the patients history in order to help the validation of their life. The choice is left to you. Welcome to Pinwheel. The aim of the parallel paths was to make Ether One accessible to a range of skilled players. The hope was that people would be able to enjoy playing the game and solving puzzles with parents or friends, as well as immersed in the game on your own with the lights off. From a young age we enjoyed the first person puzzle games that required you to write cryptic notes on spare pieces of paper to unravel mysteries. Ether One aims to bring back pen and paper puzzle solving, whilst still being accessible and optional for people not wanting to get stuck and frustrated on the harder puzzles.
82
/100
06
Broken Age
Broken Age is a point-and-click adventure telling the stories of a young boy and girl leading parallel lives. Vella Tartine has been chosen by her village to be sacrificed to a terrible monster — but she decides to fight back. Meanwhile, Shay Volta is living a solitary life on a spaceship under the care of a motherly computer, but he wants to break free to lead adventures and do good in the world. Adventures ensue.
77
/100
07
Roundabout
Drive a constantly spinning limousine around town! Roundabout is a '70s B-Movie game where you pick up passengers, find secret collectibles, take on dangerous missions, and fall in love in a far out open world puzzle adventure - all while driving a revolving limo!
75
/100
08
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
Crimes & Punishments lets you become the greatest detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes! Solve six high-profile, gripping and varied cases: murders, disappearances, spectacular thefts and sensational cases will sometimes take you to the realms of the fantastic in this stunning game of investigation in the fine tradition of the Conan Doyle novels. Crimes & Punishments offers you a large degree of freedom to make moral choices that go beyond merely seeing that justice is done: your decisions have a real influence on the game both in terms of your character’s reputation and the consequences that arise in a realistic and sometimes unexpected way. Will you listen to your moral sense, or will you impartially enforce justice?
75
/100
09
Timberman
Timberman is an oldschool arcade style casual game. Become a Timberman, chop wood and avoid the branches. Sounds like an easy task? It's easy to play but hard to master. 4 variable environments and 30 + 5 exclusive Steam Timbermen to unlock. Master your skills for the top records on the leaderboards. Take your axe as every lumberjack does and chop the tree as fast as you can!
73
/100
10
Among the Sleep
Among the Sleep is a first person horror adventure, in which you play a two year old child. After waking up in the middle of the night to mysterious sounds, you start exploring the dark looking for comfort. The game explores horror through atmosphere and exploration, not with scores and combat systems. In Among the Sleep you’re vulnerable, scared, and trying to make sense of the world
66
/100
11
The LEGO Movie Videogame
64
/100
12
DreadOut
55
/100
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
In The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, you play as Paul Prospero, an occult detective who receives a disturbing letter from Ethan Carter and realizes that the boy is in grave danger. When Paul arrives in Ethan's home of Red Creek Valley, he realizes things are even worse than he imagined. Ethan has vanished in the wake of a brutal murder, which Paul comes to see might not be the only murder to investigate. Using both regular and supernatural detective skills, Paul must figure out what happened to the missing boy.
82
/100
05
Ether One
Ether One is a first person adventure that deals with the fragility of the human mind. There are two paths in the world you can choose from. At its core is a story exploration path free from puzzles where you can unfold the story at your own pace. There is also a deeper, more adventurous path in which you can complete complex puzzles to restore life changing events of the patients history in order to help the validation of their life. The choice is left to you. Welcome to Pinwheel. The aim of the parallel paths was to make Ether One accessible to a range of skilled players. The hope was that people would be able to enjoy playing the game and solving puzzles with parents or friends, as well as immersed in the game on your own with the lights off. From a young age we enjoyed the first person puzzle games that required you to write cryptic notes on spare pieces of paper to unravel mysteries. Ether One aims to bring back pen and paper puzzle solving, whilst still being accessible and optional for people not wanting to get stuck and frustrated on the harder puzzles.
82
/100
06
Broken Age
Broken Age is a point-and-click adventure telling the stories of a young boy and girl leading parallel lives. Vella Tartine has been chosen by her village to be sacrificed to a terrible monster — but she decides to fight back. Meanwhile, Shay Volta is living a solitary life on a spaceship under the care of a motherly computer, but he wants to break free to lead adventures and do good in the world. Adventures ensue.
77
/100
07
Roundabout
Drive a constantly spinning limousine around town! Roundabout is a '70s B-Movie game where you pick up passengers, find secret collectibles, take on dangerous missions, and fall in love in a far out open world puzzle adventure - all while driving a revolving limo!
75
/100
08
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
Crimes & Punishments lets you become the greatest detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes! Solve six high-profile, gripping and varied cases: murders, disappearances, spectacular thefts and sensational cases will sometimes take you to the realms of the fantastic in this stunning game of investigation in the fine tradition of the Conan Doyle novels. Crimes & Punishments offers you a large degree of freedom to make moral choices that go beyond merely seeing that justice is done: your decisions have a real influence on the game both in terms of your character’s reputation and the consequences that arise in a realistic and sometimes unexpected way. Will you listen to your moral sense, or will you impartially enforce justice?
75
/100
09
Timberman
Timberman is an oldschool arcade style casual game. Become a Timberman, chop wood and avoid the branches. Sounds like an easy task? It's easy to play but hard to master. 4 variable environments and 30 + 5 exclusive Steam Timbermen to unlock. Master your skills for the top records on the leaderboards. Take your axe as every lumberjack does and chop the tree as fast as you can!
73
/100
10
Among the Sleep
Among the Sleep is a first person horror adventure, in which you play a two year old child. After waking up in the middle of the night to mysterious sounds, you start exploring the dark looking for comfort. The game explores horror through atmosphere and exploration, not with scores and combat systems. In Among the Sleep you’re vulnerable, scared, and trying to make sense of the world
66
/100
11
The LEGO Movie Videogame
64
/100
12
DreadOut
55
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Puzzle game of 2014?
Tales from the Borderlands currently tops the ranking with a score of 88/100 across 563 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.