The Witness

 PC
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 699 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 440 out of 699
  2. Mixed: 127 out of 699
  3. Negative: 132 out of 699

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  1. Esett
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    It a masterpiece.

    After the first two hours i was sure Jonathan Blow produced a 7 year dud. After another 3 i was ready to un-install and throw my computer towards the closest living thing in the hope i would finally be committed for my genocidal tendencies while playing video games. And then something happens after 7 hours. You start seeing things. I could swear i started hearing music    It a masterpiece.

    After the first two hours i was sure Jonathan Blow produced a 7 year dud. After another 3 i was ready to un-install and throw my computer towards the closest living thing in the hope i would finally be committed for my genocidal tendencies while playing video games. And then something happens after 7 hours. You start seeing things. I could swear i started hearing music in the game. There is no music in the game. I am now obsessed with the games' puzzles. I want to see more, learn more, see more.

    This is the Dark Souls of puzzle games.    … Expand
  2. l3reak
    Jan 31, 2016
    10
    The gorgeous visuals & atmosphere would be enough to make this a wonderful experience, but the deep dive into an exploration of knowledge and discovery makes it a masterpiece. That said, it IS a puzzle game, so if you don't like puzzles you're not gonna enjoy it.
  3. bloodrizer
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    Pros: this game is an absolute paragon, the masterpiece, a modern Myst that I waited for so many year.
    Con: it is completely killing my faith in people (just read the negative reviews or steam forum).
  4. Filipes
    Apr 14, 2020
    10
    Beautiful island with many puzzles to find, solve and get yourself lost in...
  5. Sbeeer
    Nov 24, 2021
    10
    Absolutely the best puzzle game I've played, and one of my all time favourite videogames ever!
    The Witness doesn't teach you anything, it guides you through the learning process of figuring out puzzle rules by yourself. Kept me occupied for a month!
    10/10 - but only if you're not afraid of a challenge.
  6. kazannova
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    this is a great game, if you like to relax and enjoy good graphics and solve puzzles with no HP or map or anything in your screen. just that beatifull landscape and many puzzles to solve
  7. SonOfKhmer
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    A masterful praise to exploration and learning, The Witness is a game that rewards understanding and ability for abstraction. No previous knowledge necessary, everything you need to reach your next prize, that precious "Eureka!" moment our society values so little, is there for the taking in small incremental steps
  8. PizzaWizard
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    I'm not even done and it might already be one of the best games I've ever played. It's hard to talk about the magic of this game without spoiling anything but I will do my best.

    The game is a metroidvania open world puzzle game. You are on an island without any context for why you are there, it is a very cold open. You find a door with a panel on it displaying a maze, you trace a    I'm not even done and it might already be one of the best games I've ever played. It's hard to talk about the magic of this game without spoiling anything but I will do my best.

    The game is a metroidvania open world puzzle game.

    You are on an island without any context for why you are there, it is a very cold open.
    You find a door with a panel on it displaying a maze, you trace a path through the obstacles to complete the maze.

    You do more of these, each puzzle providing a context that leads you to a better understanding of the puzzles around it.

    It's as if every panel is both a puzzle and a hint.

    You're probably thinking, "why open world? Couldn't I just buy a book of puzzles?" No, because the island that you are on is a puzzle in itself and, like the panels, the island puzzle is also a hint.

    I say it is a metroidvania game because you will inevitably find a door that you cannot open. It is not because you haven't acquired the proper weapon or tool, it is because you haven't acquired the proper knowledge to solve the puzzle blocking your path. The knowledge to solve those puzzles are elsewhere on the island.

    To dismiss this game as only a bunch of puzzles is to dismiss a song as just a bunch of sounds.

    I saw another metacritic call this "the dark souls of puzzle games" and it's definitely something I've been thinking since Dark Souls was probably the last game I obsessed over as much as The Witness. Both gave me a serious case of the Tetris Effect    … Expand
  9. KillingArts
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    If you like puzzle games and are up for a challenge, The Witness is your game. A beautiful island full of hundreds of little puzzles awaits you. And although all puzzles look pretty similar, if you see them on screenshots, there is a lot of variation. Also, while there is no traditional story, there are little story pieces to be discovered, scattered around the world. The Witness may notIf you like puzzle games and are up for a challenge, The Witness is your game. A beautiful island full of hundreds of little puzzles awaits you. And although all puzzles look pretty similar, if you see them on screenshots, there is a lot of variation. Also, while there is no traditional story, there are little story pieces to be discovered, scattered around the world. The Witness may not be a game for everyone, but it most certainly is one for me. ;)… Expand
  10. Obe
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    this game it's not something like, mini game dispatch on kawaii map!
    The game-play and game-design work to open our eyes on one special univers. Usually I do not have patience for the series of puzzles in a world without life but in this game all arouses curiosity thanks to a holistic approach.
  11. Gravitom
    Mar 28, 2016
    10
    IMO the perfect puzzle game. So simple but so complex. I've been absolutely hooked and will be sad when it's finished.

    The island is beautiful and mysterious. There are a variety of areas. Some you can get to right away and others you see in the distance and need to figure out how to get to. The game teaches you slowly and without telling you outright. Sometimes you see it right    IMO the perfect puzzle game. So simple but so complex. I've been absolutely hooked and will be sad when it's finished.

    The island is beautiful and mysterious. There are a variety of areas. Some you can get to right away and others you see in the distance and need to figure out how to get to. The game teaches you slowly and without telling you outright. Sometimes you see it right away, other times you really have to sit back and think.

    However you really need to enjoy puzzle games to appreciate the Witness. I'm sure most will get bored with it's minimal approach. But this game is the pinnacle of the genre.    … Expand
  12. RoccoSalvetti
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    Curiosity, exploration, patience and learning are very close experiences as The Witness proves. They complete each other and learning proves itself rewarding. In life discovery is fun not because you find rare armours but because you find a way around to fulfil your curiosity.
    The first few minutes of Super Mario are to teach how to play and it does so via events. (Braid quotes Mario in    Curiosity, exploration, patience and learning are very close experiences as The Witness proves. They complete each other and learning proves itself rewarding. In life discovery is fun not because you find rare armours but because you find a way around to fulfil your curiosity.
    The first few minutes of Super Mario are to teach how to play and it does so via events. (Braid quotes Mario in these first few minutes quite a lot). That kind of tutorial is an intelligent learning experience. There are obvious actions to take, suggested actions and hidden actions to experiment if you are curious. The Witness is a whole game dedicated to this!
    This game is not for casual gamers because it could walk as master example in a philosophy book titled: Phenomenology of learning.
    10 out of 10 and the reason is simple, we have to pick a side here, we have to side with designers that count on us being intelligent. This is the opposite of Candy Crush.    … Expand
  13. AstroAaron
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    Simply put, if you like puzzles and exploration you'll love the game. If you don't like those things, you more than likely won't enjoy yourself with this title. To me, this game has been worth every penny. I love the setting and even more so the fun in not only solving the puzzles, but also in the how to even do the puzzles.
  14. nunocordeiro
    Jul 3, 2020
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. It's especially good to play with a friend or with your girlfriend. It's challenging, beautiful, and engaging.
  15. Serenityinaz12
    Jan 29, 2016
    10
    Oh man this game is awesome!!! Totally brings me back to the Myst days but the puzzles actually are clever and you can figure it out if you use your mind, where as Myst was so damn ridiculous. But then again I was way younger when I played Myst so who knows how I would do now. I love this game!
  16. JoeB777
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    A beautiful challenging game of exploration and problem solving. It's my game of the year for 2016, despite only been one month into the year. The game is certainly not for everyone: if you have low tolerance for failure in problem-solving, you'll find it very difficult To enjoy. But one can learn patience. And it's worth taking the time to learn to enjoy this game, even if one is notA beautiful challenging game of exploration and problem solving. It's my game of the year for 2016, despite only been one month into the year. The game is certainly not for everyone: if you have low tolerance for failure in problem-solving, you'll find it very difficult To enjoy. But one can learn patience. And it's worth taking the time to learn to enjoy this game, even if one is not naturally inclined to.… Expand
  17. eys
    Feb 13, 2016
    10
    Currently 38 hours in with about 430 puzzles completed so far, so still have much to do, but I absolutely love The Witness. Some people may be turned off by the "line puzzles," wondering the need for the world itself around them. But for many, there are reasons. Big reasons. Here the environment is the puzzle, the panel is where you put your answer. Explaining any further would spoil them.Currently 38 hours in with about 430 puzzles completed so far, so still have much to do, but I absolutely love The Witness. Some people may be turned off by the "line puzzles," wondering the need for the world itself around them. But for many, there are reasons. Big reasons. Here the environment is the puzzle, the panel is where you put your answer. Explaining any further would spoil them.

    There are also puzzles that don't use the environment, teaching you many of the rules of this game that will be used and built upon in the future. It won't tell you how to do them though, this game is as much about learning the puzzle as it is about solving the puzzle. But the answers are there. It can be a very hard game when it wants to, but it's never unfair. If you're stuck, the open world is great to look around and solve other puzzles.

    And the art direction is just incredible, sometimes I'll just stare at how pretty everything is. You'll quickly notice the amount of detail put into it and how much thought was put into where and how everything was placed. I mean, look at this small blog post:

    http://the-witness.net/news/2015/06/polishing-the-architecture/

    Don't expect much story, though you can piece some together. This game is pure puzzle. No hand holding and no "Good jobs." A game about observation, epiphany and logic that wants you to learn instead of being told. If you like puzzles, especially difficult ones, play it.    … Expand
  18. nightmancomes
    Jan 29, 2016
    10
    The amount of work went into this is astonishing. People need to realize that it's not a game that you are supposed to rush through, finish as fast as you can. You should play it from time to time, you can finish it in 6 months if you want to, playing it whenever you feel like giving your mind a challange, giving yourself something to think on. Stop crying because it's too hard, becauseThe amount of work went into this is astonishing. People need to realize that it's not a game that you are supposed to rush through, finish as fast as you can. You should play it from time to time, you can finish it in 6 months if you want to, playing it whenever you feel like giving your mind a challange, giving yourself something to think on. Stop crying because it's too hard, because you can't finish the game in 2 days. This game is not made to be rushed through in 2 days, or a week, you just take your time and enjoy the admiring work went into making these beatiful puzzles. I also think it would make a great game to play with your friends, everyone putting some input and solving puzzles together sounds like it would be fun.… Expand
  19. barca24
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    Great game , graphic is amazing and so ispirated . Puzzle are awesome. One of best game i ever play . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  20. haptix
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    If you are a thinking person, someone who is interested in ideas, concepts, and symbols, this game is right up your alley. The puzzles are very difficult, but patience and insight are rewarded. New puzzle mechanics are introduced at the proper pace - you always have enough information to solve something else on the island, but the challenge is maintained. The environment of the islandIf you are a thinking person, someone who is interested in ideas, concepts, and symbols, this game is right up your alley. The puzzles are very difficult, but patience and insight are rewarded. New puzzle mechanics are introduced at the proper pace - you always have enough information to solve something else on the island, but the challenge is maintained. The environment of the island is brimming with meaning; the world is riddled with hidden things. Some of them are interactive and "advance" the game, others just cause one to marvel at the cleverness and creativity of the developer. Quite simply the best game I have played in years.… Expand
  21. ThappersBean
    Feb 3, 2016
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. It is also divisive, as the comments here demonstrate. I would like to provide a different perspective on some these criticisms.

    "The game is just maze puzzles." Yes, OR maze puzzles are simply the language we use to interact with the game environment and teach us some of what the game has to say for itself. "The game has no story." The game has tons of    This game is a masterpiece. It is also divisive, as the comments here demonstrate. I would like to provide a different perspective on some these criticisms.

    "The game is just maze puzzles." Yes, OR maze puzzles are simply the language we use to interact with the game environment and teach us some of what the game has to say for itself.

    "The game has no story." The game has tons of story content, way more than almost any other game I can think of. It does not, however, present the story as a coherent narrative. Other art forms have explored disjointed narrative for decades but in video games players expect a simple story that goes from A to B. You don't get that here, but to say there is no story is absurd.

    "The island is beautiful but superficial." No, the island is integral to the game. Every inch has been carefully designed in a way that is mind-blowing as you gradually unravel its secrets. You can tell the attention to detail and just the sheer quality of design here if you are prepared to invest some effort in actually looking closely (or very widely) at things. No other game comes close to this level of design imho.

    "The game is not about anything, you could play the puzzles on a mobile." The game is 'about' many things. The Buddhist idea of contemplation and patience. The way in which human knowledge advances. The distinctions or otherwise between art and science, the macro and the molecular. The spirit of adventure and exploration. And perhaps most significantly, the idea that perspective can change meaning. But the game's true genius is that it embodies many of these ideas rather than just talking about them. The more you think about it the more you understand what an achievement this game is, doing something with the medium that no other computer game has ever attempted to this degree. If you are close-minded and too wedded to your own expectations about what a computer game "should" be then you will not appreciate this game. If you think that there should be a tutorial, or you are annoyed that you cannot 'progress' as fast as you want to, or you think it's just boring maze puzzles then you really, really haven't "got it." Yeah, I hear you saying that it's pretentious and that there's nothing to "get." But you are wrong. So wrong. From a different perspective, however, you are completely correct.    … Expand
  22. IslingtonA
    Feb 10, 2016
    10
    This is the best puzzle game ever made. It is also one of my top 5 games of any genre. It is absolutely *not* the same puzzle over and over, as others have said. I guess they just didn't play far enough? The environment and the "maze" puzzles are bound to and inseparable from one another. Neither could exist or would make sense without the other. This is increasingly true the further intoThis is the best puzzle game ever made. It is also one of my top 5 games of any genre. It is absolutely *not* the same puzzle over and over, as others have said. I guess they just didn't play far enough? The environment and the "maze" puzzles are bound to and inseparable from one another. Neither could exist or would make sense without the other. This is increasingly true the further into the game you get. If you like puzzles you really must play this game. The Witness is a true classic. People will still be talking about and playing this game ten years down the road. How many games can claim that?… Expand
  23. Grandviewsurfer
    Feb 11, 2016
    10
    Take a look at the user score distribution, for it is very telling. I am not at all surprised that (at the time of writing) 67 people didn't have the patience or brain functionality to understand the game. I am, however, surprised at how many people felt qualified to hop on Metacritic and formulate a representative and truthful review having fully admitted to only playing a few minutes ofTake a look at the user score distribution, for it is very telling. I am not at all surprised that (at the time of writing) 67 people didn't have the patience or brain functionality to understand the game. I am, however, surprised at how many people felt qualified to hop on Metacritic and formulate a representative and truthful review having fully admitted to only playing a few minutes of the game in said aforementioned review. This phenomenon is both mind blowing and discouraging. If you are on the fence on this one, I do hope reason guides your decision, and that you give the game the time of day. I mean, Blow blew like $6 Million and 7 years of his life on this thing... the guy that created Braid... it obviously doesn't suck. Just hang in there for half a minute and you'll enjoy this environment. It is quite literally the most beautiful place I have ever been.… Expand
  24. Beatboxio
    Mar 13, 2016
    10
    I am blown away by the artistry, not only in the visuals, but in the gradual buildup and beauty of the puzzles. This is not a fast game. Don't use a walk-through or hints. Prepare to be stumped and maybe even angry just before you solve a puzzle and yell out in triumph that you love the game.
    I never once wished I had used a hint after solving the puzzle. I always had to admit the    I am blown away by the artistry, not only in the visuals, but in the gradual buildup and beauty of the puzzles. This is not a fast game. Don't use a walk-through or hints. Prepare to be stumped and maybe even angry just before you solve a puzzle and yell out in triumph that you love the game.
    I never once wished I had used a hint after solving the puzzle. I always had to admit the beautiful, logical progression and smile.
    I haven't felt this way about a game in a long time.    … Expand
  25. bedsidetrash111
    Mar 16, 2016
    10
    This game isn't for everyone. Almost all you do is solve these puzzles on 2d (some are on 3-d) panels. A lot of the puzzles are hard.

    But as I struggled to figure them I started to appreciate them. Moreover, the puzzles get better as you go farther, and more and more involve noticing clues in the 3-d world, which is beautiful. Many of the later puzzles are really good - almost on the    This game isn't for everyone. Almost all you do is solve these puzzles on 2d (some are on 3-d) panels. A lot of the puzzles are hard.

    But as I struggled to figure them I started to appreciate them. Moreover, the puzzles get better as you go farther, and more and more involve noticing clues in the 3-d world, which is beautiful. Many of the later puzzles are really good - almost on the level of Portal. In my opinion, its too bad that towards the very end they mixed in puzzles that seem almost intentionally cruel, but I suppose finishing them gives you more satisfactions. The game has a really satisfying way of showing you your progress too, as you make your way across the beautiful island.

    Just buy this game and make yourself play at least half it. I think you'll start to enjoy the challenge. I felt more and more compelled to finish it, and actually got addicted to it, despite the fact that the puzzles seem tedious at first.

    I also recommend ignoring the story, which is very easy to do.    … Expand
  26. bigjeff5
    Mar 19, 2016
    10
    This game is easily the most satisfying game I have ever played.

    It's really hard to describe the kinds of feelings this game evoked while playing it. Confusion, then understanding, then more confusion, then frustration, then excitement. That feeling you get when you finally solve a puzzle that has stumped you for the last hour, or that you couldn't solve three days ago, or whatever,    This game is easily the most satisfying game I have ever played.

    It's really hard to describe the kinds of feelings this game evoked while playing it. Confusion, then understanding, then more confusion, then frustration, then excitement. That feeling you get when you finally solve a puzzle that has stumped you for the last hour, or that you couldn't solve three days ago, or whatever, it's exhilarating.

    No other game has left me feeling like an idiot one minute, and then a genius the next. I put it down several times, once for as long as a week, too mentally fatigued to continue. I even considered cheating or just quitting, but I just couldn't. It's too beautiful, and I'm glad I stuck it out to the end. I can't recommend this game enough.    … Expand
  27. theponcho
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    I played this game with my girlfriend. It's awesome for playing like it is a couch coop, since puzzles can be challenging, and it's very funny to solve them with someone else.

    The game surprised me quite a lot, since "solving sudokus" its not quite my thing. Yet, the atmosphere catches you in an unique way, and the game is long enough to make you be a part of the island, and try to    I played this game with my girlfriend. It's awesome for playing like it is a couch coop, since puzzles can be challenging, and it's very funny to solve them with someone else.

    The game surprised me quite a lot, since "solving sudokus" its not quite my thing. Yet, the atmosphere catches you in an unique way, and the game is long enough to make you be a part of the island, and try to understand its profound philosophy.

    Unique game, don't be scared if you never tried anything like this, I encourage you to try it.    … Expand
  28. GTmAster
    Jun 3, 2017
    10
    The Witness can hardly be called a "game" and can not be observed from the usual "player" positions. The Witness is not a game, it is the author's philosophical reasoning about the cognitive process, the scientific path and the relation of science and faith. It's an epistemological work presented in an amazingly beautiful interactive form. The mind of the player here is not just an outsideThe Witness can hardly be called a "game" and can not be observed from the usual "player" positions. The Witness is not a game, it is the author's philosophical reasoning about the cognitive process, the scientific path and the relation of science and faith. It's an epistemological work presented in an amazingly beautiful interactive form. The mind of the player here is not just an outside observer or a participant in the process, it is the subject of research. Like any philosophical work, The Witness does not give answers, but asks many questions.
    The Witness is a perfect example of how interactive entertainment can be a real piece of modern art.    … Expand
  29. DKurac
    Jun 21, 2020
    10
    I completed this game 2 years ago on Xbox and now on PC. It is still the most beautiful game i have ever played. I love every single thing on this game it is pure perfection.
  30. TanSula
    Nov 2, 2018
    10
    Это, наверное, лучше во что я играл, красивая, гармоничная и умная игра, которая меняет тебе. Могу сравнивать только с фильмами Тарковского, рекомендую всем.
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PC Game of 2016
37
#37 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
63
#63 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. High-Def Digest
    Apr 10, 2016
    60
    Video games are unequivocally a form of art. But like all art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. With 'The Witness' I feel like I’m in an art gallery watching a gaggle of admirers who are looking at a piece together, commenting on its style and how it makes them feel. I’m the guy standing off to the side, not with them but looking at the same painting. I can admit that it’s pretty, but it doesn’t really evoke a significant response, and so I shrug and move on to the next.
    Read full review
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 31, 2016
    92
    The Witness is a “just” puzzle game as much as orgasm is just a feeling. [March 2016]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Mar 22, 2016
    100
    The most beautiful IQ test under the sun? The Witness is much more than that. Celebration of human intelligence and lament to the fate that results from it. [Issue # 261]
See all critic reviews »