The Talos Principle

 PC
The Talos Principle Image
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 734 Ratings

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  • Summary: In The Talos Principle, players assume the role of a sentient artificial intelligence placed within a simulation of humanity?s greatest ruins and linked together through an arcane cathedral. Players are tasked with solving a series of increasingly complex puzzles woven into a metaphysicalIn The Talos Principle, players assume the role of a sentient artificial intelligence placed within a simulation of humanity?s greatest ruins and linked together through an arcane cathedral. Players are tasked with solving a series of increasingly complex puzzles woven into a metaphysical parable about intelligence and meaning in an inevitably doomed world.… Expand

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Talos Principle - Launch Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. Digital Spy
    Dec 12, 2014
    100
    The Talos Principle ties its seemingly disparate parts together beautifully, making for a game that is every bit as smart as it purports to be.
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 18, 2015
    91
    Satisfying puzzles, philosophically engaging storyline and exquisite presentation combine to make The Talos Principle one of the best of its genre. [Feb 2015]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Eurogamer
    Dec 9, 2014
    90
    The Talos Principle is a game of challenges and conundrums and philosophical wonderings, filled with logic puzzles and cerebral mysteries.
  4. The Digital Fix
    Jan 14, 2015
    90
    The Talos Principle will make you feel confounded but in that wonderful way that precludes an epiphany. You’ll leave each session feeling genuinely smarter – and perhaps a little rebellious to boot.
  5. GameOver.gr
    Feb 10, 2015
    85
    Don't let the Portal similarities fool you. This is a cleverly designed puzzle game with its own identity, that will keep you hooked for hours upon hours.
  6. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Feb 17, 2015
    82
    Despite the sharp turn toward pacifism one can easily recognize Croteam style: unusual for puzzles large open locations, majestic architectural forms of ancient civilizations... It seems that you are about to hear the cries of a headless kamikazes. So when a screaming figure dashes nearby you start spinning the mouse wheel in search of shotgun on pure reflex. [Issue #195, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Riot Pixels
    Feb 26, 2015
    50
    The Talos Principle’s worst transgression is that it is absolutely predictable. The levels are all too similar, and by the end of the game you do pretty much the same routine as you do in the beginning.

See all 57 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 121 out of 146
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 146
  3. Negative: 7 out of 146
  1. Esett
    Dec 13, 2014
    10
    A surprisingly fun puzzler with great graphics and great sound coming from the studio that made Serious Sam? That is a sentence i neverA surprisingly fun puzzler with great graphics and great sound coming from the studio that made Serious Sam? That is a sentence i never thought i would write! It is without a doubt the first FPS puzzler that comes near the perfection of Portal and in some, albeit subjective ways, it surpasses it. The "ways" i am talking about are the technical aspects(graphics and sound) which were always a forte of Croteam and the atmosphere. This game just grabs you from the first second with its amazing puzzle design and great writing. You just have to see what comes next. Overall a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale year filled with over hyped triple A boredom. I wholeheartedly recommend buying it.… Expand
  2. MacroZ
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    Great game! First look is very impressive. Love the idea and whole concept of game... Its original and unique... I really can wait for it toGreat game! First look is very impressive. Love the idea and whole concept of game... Its original and unique... I really can wait for it to release full version...… Expand
  4. Atralmedic
    Dec 24, 2014
    10
    This is an exceptional game. I'm not a big fan of puzzle games, or that worried by graphics, but this was so well designed I couldn't helpThis is an exceptional game. I'm not a big fan of puzzle games, or that worried by graphics, but this was so well designed I couldn't help but enjoy it. The puzzles are everything puzzles should be, simple and intuitive concepts used to build challenging puzzles, and the graphics and visual style are stunning. I'm finding myself taking time out from solving the puzzles just to look around and enjoy the scenery. And then there's a story which is excellent in it's own right. It's difficult to point out any single thing that is exceptional beyond every single aspect of this game being incredibly polished, right down to telling you how much progress you'll lose if you quit (< 1 minute for example)… Expand
  5. Babutto
    Aug 15, 2023
    9
    Cool game!

    Pros.: - Story. Actually interesting to check the story line through the messages. - Enough game depth. Not just puzzles but    Cool game!

    Pros.:
    - Story. Actually interesting to check the story line through the messages.
    - Enough game depth. Not just puzzles but background and variety of decision-making.
    - EASTER EGGS! YEAH!
    - Music. Meditative and nice.
    - Variety of puzzles.

    Cons.:
    - Didn't find anything serious.    … Expand
  6. Jayschwa
    Feb 26, 2015
    9
    This isn't just a game, it's a work of art. The visuals are awe-inspiring, the puzzles are satisfying, and the narrative fragments areThis isn't just a game, it's a work of art. The visuals are awe-inspiring, the puzzles are satisfying, and the narrative fragments are haunting. So many goosebumps.… Expand
  7. edxtan
    May 11, 2023
    8
    The Talos Principle uses its puzzles as part of its story about artificial intelligence, learning, and philosophy. Most of the puzzles areThe Talos Principle uses its puzzles as part of its story about artificial intelligence, learning, and philosophy. Most of the puzzles are fun, but the recording mechanic is terrible.… Expand
  8. bigsilverhotdog
    May 1, 2016
    2
    This was just shockingly terrible. Vacuous, uninspiring, and full of psuedo-philosophical nonsense, there's almost nothing to do here exceptThis was just shockingly terrible. Vacuous, uninspiring, and full of psuedo-philosophical nonsense, there's almost nothing to do here except look at the graphics and solve -extremely- simple puzzles.

    As a mobile game... ehhh, maybe. It sucks and is simple enough, but the graphics are too nice for mobile.

    As a Portal clone... ehhh, also maybe. It feels like a Portal clone, looks like a nicer outdoor version of Portal, and the game seems generally trying to copy the Portal FPS-puzzle-physics-placement formula in order to print money.

    As a benchmark... doubtful. The engine looks nice but doesn't seem to push my rig like other benchmarks already widely available.

    As a good game? Not a chance. Maybe I didn't play it long enough to see something worthwhile, but every single second that I played absolutely sucked. It felt like I was playing a Myst-Portal hybrid made by an untalented, copycat developer. It also crashed my entire rig when I tried to switch resolutions to Surround.

    I regarded Serious Sam as cynically designed, generic, and generally tedious company, and I dislike this for similar reasons. It was on my wishlist based on hype, genre, and screenshots, but it sure isn't now.

    Goodbye trash.    … Expand

See all 146 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PC Game of 2014
43
#43 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
5
#5 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

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