The Witness

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 853 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 557 out of 853
  2. Mixed: 148 out of 853
  3. Negative: 148 out of 853

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  1. bearcav
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    The Witness is the Dark Souls of puzzle games and a revival of classic head-scratchers like Myst.

    This game is polarizing - just look at the critic reviews to see that. You either love banging your head against really tough puzzles until you get that awesome feel-good revelation, or you don't. I'm in the former camp, and I'm enjoying this more than I've enjoyed just about any other game    The Witness is the Dark Souls of puzzle games and a revival of classic head-scratchers like Myst.

    This game is polarizing - just look at the critic reviews to see that. You either love banging your head against really tough puzzles until you get that awesome feel-good revelation, or you don't. I'm in the former camp, and I'm enjoying this more than I've enjoyed just about any other game in years. There's zero handholding, constant twists and turns as to how puzzles can be solved, great use of the environment incorporated within the puzzles, amazing visual design, and all of this runs at 60fps the whole way through.

    I can't even begin to describe how gratifying it is to figure out one of the tougher puzzles in this game. If you don't know that feeling, or you just aren't a puzzle fan, don't buy this. For me, it's a 10, but it's strictly your-mileage-may-vary, which is welcome in an age of risk-averse game design that too often coddles the audience. Totally worth it if you're up for a challenge.    … Expand
  2. DarthPadme
    Jan 28, 2016
    10
    After seeing only negative reviews on the front page for this game, I felt I needed to chime in.

    This is a thinking man's game. If you cannot appreciate meticulous detail, subtle hints, painstakingly hidden environmental details, or are not inclined to perfectionism, this game is not for you. Many reviews I've read apparently have a hatred for puzzles, which is 95% of what this game is    After seeing only negative reviews on the front page for this game, I felt I needed to chime in.

    This is a thinking man's game. If you cannot appreciate meticulous detail, subtle hints, painstakingly hidden environmental details, or are not inclined to perfectionism, this game is not for you. Many reviews I've read apparently have a hatred for puzzles, which is 95% of what this game is about. If you are easily frustrated and despise the idea of learning interesting new mechanics, well, why did you think paying $40 for this game was a good idea?

    If you require instant gratification, this isn't the best use of your time and money.

    However, if you're like me, and have a deep appreciation for brain-benders and don't mind being stumped on a dozen different puzzles at once, you need to get this game. There is a perplexing draw to the whole experience - the promise of an overarching puzzle within a puzzle within all of the other puzzles you're solving. It's not just about navigating several hundred mazes. It's about what you learn, what you feel, how you think, and the way you process the sights and sounds of this precisely engineered world. There are times where you will break the fourth wall for yourself and think, "How did they program that?" yet remain in awe of the task you've just completed.

    That's really what I appreciate about this game. I haven't felt this satisfied with a gaming experience since the original Dark Souls. I'm reminded heavily of that game's brutal difficulty when going into it as a brand new experience. This game draws multiple parallels despite being a wholly different genre. In Dark Souls, after defeating a notoriously difficult boss after numerous attempts, the feeling of victory is nearly unrivaled - that is, until you play The Witness, and solve a series of puzzles over the course of an hour that leave you feeling like a genius. It will require plenty of intuiting, and the occasional figurative slamming of your head against a wall, but nothing in this game requires brute force. It is all learned, it all builds upon itself, and it all, majestically, simply, cohesively... works.

    Some of the later puzzles will really test your ability to navigate intimidating labyrinths as you plot every scrupulous step. I was stubborn in my tackling of such puzzles, as I never wrote anything down or made diagrams until much later. Side note, I would recommend writing things down and making some diagrams. Maybe take a picture of your screen. Or don't, like me!

    It doesn't hurt that I'm playing on a 55" 4K TV with a 980 Ti. The attention to detail, regardless of the painterly overtones, is not lost on me. While plain from a distance, up close is where the magic truly shines. The color grading and art direction going from different zones of the island are incredible, evoking a totally different feel within seconds of traversal. Were I not to enjoy the puzzles, this game would still be a joy of a sight to behold.

    This game is this generation's Myst, no doubt about it. Playing this felt like I was touring Jonathan Blow's synapses, and getting a glimpse at how beautiful the human mind can be. Without flattering the developer too much, I think of this game as a genuine gift to gamers worldwide, and its fastidious creation over the last 7 years or so is without a doubt a labor of love.

    So, I have a lot of high praise for this game, but it's not quite perfect. If I were to complain about anything, it would be the lack of exposition, and the really-quite-terrible audio logs: Strewn and hidden about the world are different tiny recorders you can activate, and each one is narrated by a person reading a quote by someone who sounds really full of themselves, and loves hearing themselves speak about things that sound smart but are in fact common knowledge. There are quotes from religious authors, astronauts, Albert Einstein... and they're all grating, and frankly, weird. After I time I stopped activating the logs because they were intrusive and annoying to my experience. I actually hate this aspect of this game, but thankfully it's optional. I didn't find my first one until about an hour or two in, so it was a cool surprise, which rapidly devolved once I realized how utterly lame they were. I'm sure they thought this was a good idea, but in practice, I thought it was pretty awful.

    There hasn't been a single puzzle I haven't enjoyed solving (except for the really easy ones which are not challenging). I don't think you can ask much more of a game that entirely revolves around such, but the developers really did go above and beyond, and made the otherwise mundane into a masterpiece. Bravo.

    9.5/10, but giving it a 10 on Metacritic to balance out the feeble-minded simpletons who lack the intellect to appreciate ingenuity, or otherwise dislike Jonathan Blow for being smart and successful.    … Expand
  3. DeezR
    Jan 26, 2016
    9
    A puzzle game like nothing before, when viewing from trailers it looks like a beautiful world, and some mobile puzzles. What's the connection? But there's a great connection between the puzzles and the island. Biggest puzzle game breakthrough since portal.
  4. Allthat
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    The Witness is a puzzle game that essentially revolves around only one type of puzzle. Although there are variations to it, you’ll basically spend your time going around solving finger maze puzzles. However there is an environmental element to the puzzles where you’ll find solutions in the world around you. That in my opinion is a really clever implementation by Jonathan Blow (the geniusThe Witness is a puzzle game that essentially revolves around only one type of puzzle. Although there are variations to it, you’ll basically spend your time going around solving finger maze puzzles. However there is an environmental element to the puzzles where you’ll find solutions in the world around you. That in my opinion is a really clever implementation by Jonathan Blow (the genius who made Braid). But don’t let finger puzzles put you off... play this game, the world of The Witness is absolutely breathtaking and there is a good story behind all the puzzles even though it is quite subtle.
    In my honest opinion this game is better than The Talos Principle and is on par if not better than the original Myst Games. However my biggest concern is the price, 40 dollars is just too much for an indie game with only one mechanic. The game itself however is an absolute joy and possibly one of the games of the year.    … Expand
  5. JamesHarnold
    Jun 10, 2016
    10
    At first glance this game may appear to be a series of panel puzzles more at home on a mobile game. Buwhen you start loking, properly looking, and asking questions - why is this here? What does it do? Then you dicover a deep and complex network of puzzles both interesting and astounding. The best puzzle game ive ever player, though if you find the need for a meaningful story important thenAt first glance this game may appear to be a series of panel puzzles more at home on a mobile game. Buwhen you start loking, properly looking, and asking questions - why is this here? What does it do? Then you dicover a deep and complex network of puzzles both interesting and astounding. The best puzzle game ive ever player, though if you find the need for a meaningful story important then the profound and rather pretentious ending do leave a bad taste. However I liked the ending in a sense.… Expand
  6. mwright874
    Jun 3, 2016
    9
    Beautiful, thought-provoking, and brilliant while making you feel brilliant as well. I would have loved a little more concrete story-telling (don't expect a beginning/middle/end), but I enjoyed the challenge and loved the immersion. You should at LEAST try this game.
  7. p1menta
    Jun 1, 2019
    8
    incredibly beautiful, incredibly frustrating and difficult. not gonna lie, i had to cheat in some stages, but couldn't stop trying another time.
    btw: watching a guy speedrunning this game is way more frustrating than someone speedrunning dark souls, bloodborne, or sekiro
  8. steveyme
    Aug 11, 2020
    10
    I've been playing video games for 36 years, and this is my favourite so far. What more can I say.
  9. fercaveri
    Mar 30, 2017
    9
    I like this game a lot. The difficult is insane. Many puzzles tooks much minutes, and someones maybe hours. The ambientation is beautiful. A very good indie game
  10. brendo214
    Jun 4, 2019
    8
    The world of The Witness is absolutely beautiful, and the puzzles are satisfying to solve.
  11. TooTroublesome
    Jun 29, 2020
    10
    This is one of the top 5 games of the decade for me. I came away form this game having not used nay guides with a real sense of accomplishment. I have been gaming for almost 30 years and not game on auto-pilot. Even a new puzzle mechanic in most games is solved pretty quickly. This is one of the first games where I have to get a pen and paper out and work things through. Absolutely lovedThis is one of the top 5 games of the decade for me. I came away form this game having not used nay guides with a real sense of accomplishment. I have been gaming for almost 30 years and not game on auto-pilot. Even a new puzzle mechanic in most games is solved pretty quickly. This is one of the first games where I have to get a pen and paper out and work things through. Absolutely loved it. It won't be for everyone, but if you like being challenged by good puzzle design, then its perfect for you.… Expand
  12. Shenandoah
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    This game has put game world design on a new level. Jonathan Blow did a fantastic job to create such a sophisticated puzzle game by intelligent usage of the world and its environment.
  13. danialv4
    Jan 26, 2021
    10
    The best puzzle game I have ever played. Obviously if you don't like this style of games, don't even try it. The Witness will throw at you difficult challenges but gives you all the time and tools to solve them, It feels like you are playing the perfect 'Escape Room'.

    Definitely a hidden gem in the PS4 catalog.
  14. lgndsgn
    Mar 8, 2016
    10
    If you like puzzles, and a good challenge, you will probably like it. If you're not into puzzles, or don't have much patience, the game will most likely grate on you. There isn't a lot of hand-holding. The difficulty really depends on the person playing. I found it just right; challenging at times, but not in a "I need a pen and paper" sort of way. They're not that complex. It's more aboutIf you like puzzles, and a good challenge, you will probably like it. If you're not into puzzles, or don't have much patience, the game will most likely grate on you. There isn't a lot of hand-holding. The difficulty really depends on the person playing. I found it just right; challenging at times, but not in a "I need a pen and paper" sort of way. They're not that complex. It's more about discovery, and getting the trick. The island is split into a few distinct areas (desert, monastery, tree house, etc). From the start, for the most part, you have free reign of the island to access each area, though some areas/puzzles require that you solve other puzzles to explore further. There is a loose order to the areas you must complete on play-through, though it is up to you to figure out. The story (if you could call it that) is rather cryptic. It is pieced together through recordings you find throughout the environment. Again, I have the feeling many people will either love it or hate it. It challenges beliefs on topics like atheism, spirituality and free will. Other than the recordings, the rest is up to you to interpret and piece together. Overall, it's a very intellectual game. I've never played a game quite like it. And I feel it's in a special territory of games that only come along once in a great while.… Expand
  15. StrangeGuy
    May 5, 2016
    10
    The smartest puzzle game I have ever played, and looks amazing. This game requires massive dedication and thought to be enjoyed and completed. Which is why many users probably have such moderate scores because the game demands much with no hand holding. I recommend this to be enjoyed without any online hints strategy guides, take a long break if necessary, I did. Took me many months toThe smartest puzzle game I have ever played, and looks amazing. This game requires massive dedication and thought to be enjoyed and completed. Which is why many users probably have such moderate scores because the game demands much with no hand holding. I recommend this to be enjoyed without any online hints strategy guides, take a long break if necessary, I did. Took me many months to reach the games end.… Expand
  16. NerdyThursday
    May 15, 2016
    10
    This game is not for everyone. I will say that straight out. But if you like a game that will challenge you in a way that games don't anymore, pick this up.

    I see a lot of people saying that the puzzles are dumb and that they are guessing games, but they really aren't. The game teaches you how to do each puzzle slowly...like teaching you a language. And that moment when you solve the    This game is not for everyone. I will say that straight out. But if you like a game that will challenge you in a way that games don't anymore, pick this up.

    I see a lot of people saying that the puzzles are dumb and that they are guessing games, but they really aren't. The game teaches you how to do each puzzle slowly...like teaching you a language. And that moment when you solve the toughest puzzle in an area after 15 minutes carries with it an incredible feeling.

    The graphics are gorgeous. The graphical style reminds me of Zelda Wind Waker, but only in the fact that I'm sure in 5 years, this will not look dated at all.

    The controls are near perfect.

    And the ending will keep you wondering...and got me to come back and search for me clues.

    If you want a challenge, if you want a thinking man's game, get this game. This has been my GOTY since it came out.    … Expand
  17. eys
    Feb 13, 2016
    10
    CURRENTLY 35 HOURS ON PS4, NOT COMPLETED.

    400 puzzles completed so far (PS4), 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    CURRENTLY 35 HOURS ON PS4, NOT COMPLETED.

    400 puzzles completed so far (PS4), 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. Sheep_198
    Jan 28, 2016
    8
    Excellent game design, addicting, leave you think about it all day long, good exercise for brain. Nice colour and findings throughout. PS4 need more of those fun and creative games.
  19. lucasisback
    Mar 18, 2016
    10
    The witness might sound boring when judging by its cover, but hidden within it is pure masterpiece artwork. The Witness makes you think in many ways that inspire awe and bring achievement with every solution. The witness has a very deep and artistic meaning to it that(with all the game play) is explained in such indirect magnificence, that at times, its messages are profoundlyThe witness might sound boring when judging by its cover, but hidden within it is pure masterpiece artwork. The Witness makes you think in many ways that inspire awe and bring achievement with every solution. The witness has a very deep and artistic meaning to it that(with all the game play) is explained in such indirect magnificence, that at times, its messages are profoundly electrifying. In a few instances, it went as far as to make me feel an electric knowledge intensity of the news about a dead loved one. All this combined with master crafted puzzles and scenery give this game a top end 10/10. Not a single flaw, "literally".… Expand
  20. abishai
    Mar 7, 2016
    10
    Having played this game through (platinum trophy) I consider it one of the best games I’ve played in recent years. Not only do I consider it one of the best games I’ve played in recent years, it is one of the only games I’ve ever played which meshed mechanic and story so seamlessly and well.
    The review shows that this is at least a somewhat polarizing game. It is not for everyone, but for    Having played this game through (platinum trophy) I consider it one of the best games I’ve played in recent years. Not only do I consider it one of the best games I’ve played in recent years, it is one of the only games I’ve ever played which meshed mechanic and story so seamlessly and well.
    The review shows that this is at least a somewhat polarizing game. It is not for everyone, but for anyone who wants to play a game like this, it is one of the best. While the user review is a 6.9 I think for once the average is misleading. When you consider whether or not to buy this game you should consider whether or not you think you will like what this game is. If you do, average the positive reviews (a.k.a. buy it immediately). If you do not, average the negative reviews (a.k.a. probably don’t buy it).
    If you want to play a game that has many puzzles, some of which are easy, and some of which may take minutes or hours, and uses that mechanic to talk about something. And to do all of this in a beautiful world – and have a game which you could ‘complete’ in 20-30 hours and still have twice that left to do, this game is for you.    … Expand
  21. Niall79
    Jan 28, 2016
    10
    This will be held up by some as further proof that “Jonathan Blow is pretentious”. Try to ignore that bunch.

    What he’s delivered here, along with his team, is the perfectly integrated puzzle game, where the puzzles tell you something about your surroundings, and your surroundings in turn inform you about the puzzles. The basic mechanic is deceptively simple, and there are such a variety    This will be held up by some as further proof that “Jonathan Blow is pretentious”. Try to ignore that bunch.

    What he’s delivered here, along with his team, is the perfectly integrated puzzle game, where the puzzles tell you something about your surroundings, and your surroundings in turn inform you about the puzzles. The basic mechanic is deceptively simple, and there are such a variety of iterations on the theme it never gets tired.

    The game teaches you how to play through example rather than tutorial. In other words, it shows but never tells. It can be frustrating when you can’t see what it’s trying to teach you, sure, but the sense of accomplishment when you put it all together can be near euphoric.

    His decision to use the words of others rather than his own is a brave one. For me, after working long and hard on some of the trickier puzzles, I was primed for deeper thought, and found the word of these thinkers all the more affecting. For others, no doubt, it will be just the evidence they were looking for that “Jonathon Blow is pretentious”…    … Expand
  22. JadedBuddhist
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    The Witness is fantastic. If you liked braid you'll love The Witness. The reason for the polarizing scores is some people don't like puzzle games. This game is a puzzle gaming masterpiece! Expect to figure things out yourself without hand holding.
  23. Litholis
    Jan 28, 2016
    10
    While its gameplay and aesthetic are (deceptively) simple, the progression path in how a player learns the rules and parameters of gameplay is where the Witness really excels. One of the most rewarding experience I have in video games.
  24. DarylH
    Jan 30, 2016
    9
    The Witness is the very essence of what a puzzle game should be, taken to the next level. The puzzles are an ingenious combination of try-it-yourself tutorials and head scratching brain teasers, and you'll often find yourself scribbling notes and paths or taking screenshots in order to solve puzzles. Whilst I had assumed the primary mechanic of drawing lines would quickly grow tedious, itThe Witness is the very essence of what a puzzle game should be, taken to the next level. The puzzles are an ingenious combination of try-it-yourself tutorials and head scratching brain teasers, and you'll often find yourself scribbling notes and paths or taking screenshots in order to solve puzzles. Whilst I had assumed the primary mechanic of drawing lines would quickly grow tedious, it doesn't. Instead, just like Braid before it, the mechanics built on top of this simple interaction are diverse, creative and use the digital world in a way completely unlike any game before it.

    My criticisms mostly target the island itself. It's beautiful beyond belief. The colours really stand out and make this an inviting place to spend time in, and the environments are diverse and well placed. However, the island often feels cold, and the stiff walking controls and lack of short-ledge dropping can make it cumbersome to move around in if you're quickly working to a destination.

    The genius that made Braid such a masterpiece is clearly evident here, and the team has made a puzzle game that others can only aspire too. If you're looking for the next Portal challenge, this is it and then some.    … Expand
  25. Spidor
    Feb 27, 2016
    9
    A true puzzler's puzzler, The Witness is a gorgeous and ambitious game. If you like cracking clever puzzles and feeling like you're the smartest person alive, have a go. The puzzles may SEEM samey from video reviews, but man oh man - they really maxed out on having the smartest, most intricate puzzles around, without ever escaping into the realms games of yore used to, where solutions wereA true puzzler's puzzler, The Witness is a gorgeous and ambitious game. If you like cracking clever puzzles and feeling like you're the smartest person alive, have a go. The puzzles may SEEM samey from video reviews, but man oh man - they really maxed out on having the smartest, most intricate puzzles around, without ever escaping into the realms games of yore used to, where solutions were completely unfeasible without shelling for a guide. Even the toughest this game has to offer is within the realms of reason for a good, patient gamer.

    The downsides of this games are somewhat moot - the plot is rubbish and pretentious, where the rich vivid world could have accommodated something much more significant. The focus on grandiose and a-morphic concepts is, pardon me, **** instead of focusing on the game's world and charm. The sound puzzles are pretty awful, though doable. If you're good at these types of puzzles you'd be done much faster than what reviews claim; I found it fairly short at around ~20 hours to beat everything. The Challenge included (a final area of extreme difficulty puzzles).

    And one last word of caution Avoid walkthrus AT ALL COSTS - it will demolish your sense of achievement, and there's nothing better than cracking the entirety of The Witness on your own.    … Expand
  26. shinhito
    Apr 13, 2016
    10
    This is a game unlike any other out there. Original and thought provoking ideas beyond the usual limitations of the medium. Combining the best elements from literature, philosophy, meditation, this game teaches how to look for answers both to the puzzles presented and teaches you how to search, and explores the nature of curiosity. To those that say this game only consists of repetitiveThis is a game unlike any other out there. Original and thought provoking ideas beyond the usual limitations of the medium. Combining the best elements from literature, philosophy, meditation, this game teaches how to look for answers both to the puzzles presented and teaches you how to search, and explores the nature of curiosity. To those that say this game only consists of repetitive puzzles of a singular type, that immediately tells me they barely scratched the surface of this game. Come to this game with an open mind and patience and it will fill your mind with wonder and awe. This is a rare gem of a game and deserves all the praise given to it. Amazing.… Expand
  27. Praseidimio666
    Apr 13, 2016
    9
    The Witness is not a dumb, predictable game, that's why dumb people just don't get it.
    If you are looking for a breath of fresh air this game will give you a bridge between static, visual logic puzzles and a 3-dimension adventure game, with enough ideas and twists to make your brain cells exhausted and all of your insight, deductive, observing skills squeezed to the maximum - with a    The Witness is not a dumb, predictable game, that's why dumb people just don't get it.
    If you are looking for a breath of fresh air this game will give you a bridge between static, visual logic puzzles and a 3-dimension adventure game, with enough ideas and twists to make your brain cells exhausted and all of your insight, deductive, observing skills squeezed to the maximum - with a consequent wave of rewarding and satisfaction once you succeed in solving the misteries. Add an unique aesthetic approach, realistic but filtered through digital naivete and you'll get a game so well crafted and deeply thought that's the gaming equivalent of an art movie    … Expand
  28. SirAngry
    Apr 15, 2016
    9
    I haven't played a good puzzle game in years, so I was really looking forward to the Witness. Jonathan Blow and co. didn't let me down. The Witness is wonderfully frustrating at times, and a very calm gaming experience. Not everything needs to be about saving the world by blowing stuff up. Sometimes finding ways to trace lines around intricate grids to solve puzzles. It's a beautifullyI haven't played a good puzzle game in years, so I was really looking forward to the Witness. Jonathan Blow and co. didn't let me down. The Witness is wonderfully frustrating at times, and a very calm gaming experience. Not everything needs to be about saving the world by blowing stuff up. Sometimes finding ways to trace lines around intricate grids to solve puzzles. It's a beautifully simplistic idea, that leads to some wickedly devious puzzles. Really worth playing.… Expand
  29. tronhound
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    I feel like it's difficult to say much about this game without spoiling the experience, but I will say that it is simply one of the most finely crafted games ever made. The island and the puzzles are a joy to explore, it's clear that the development was driven by a person with a deep love for gaming and an extraordinary vision, which was executed flawlessly.

    The gameplay is entirely    I feel like it's difficult to say much about this game without spoiling the experience, but I will say that it is simply one of the most finely crafted games ever made. The island and the puzzles are a joy to explore, it's clear that the development was driven by a person with a deep love for gaming and an extraordinary vision, which was executed flawlessly.

    The gameplay is entirely based around line puzzles and unravelling the mysteries of the island, if you don't like puzzle games that's fine - the game is not for you. But if you do like solving puzzles, this game is unlike anything else and an excellent example of the kind of challenge and narrative that can only be delivered through a video game.

    The Witness is an instant classic.    … Expand
  30. MNecromancer
    Jan 31, 2016
    10
    This is the best designed puzzle game I've ever played. There's no nonsense in this game, just a very complete experience.

    For me, the best puzzles can't involve rote memorization or having to backtrack to a different area to get a key or something. The best ones just give you all of the tools you need and then you need to stare at it for a few minutes to work it out. If a game's really    This is the best designed puzzle game I've ever played. There's no nonsense in this game, just a very complete experience.

    For me, the best puzzles can't involve rote memorization or having to backtrack to a different area to get a key or something. The best ones just give you all of the tools you need and then you need to stare at it for a few minutes to work it out. If a game's really good, I might even pull out a notebook to work on a serious business puzzle. That's the type of puzzle that The Witness offers.

    If there's a puzzle you can't figure out, try exploring a bit more, you'll get it eventually. I just beat it and the only times I got stuck were because I had made some random assumption about how a puzzle worked. The only ones I didn't like were the tone puzzles because I can't hear tones worth a damn.    … Expand
  31. badducky
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    My experience playing the witness:

    First 3 hours: Ok I'm solving puzzles on an island, nothing special. All of these puzzles are solved on an touchscreens by drawing a line through a maze. Isn't this going to be repetitive? And why did it have to be on an island? Beautiful graphics though. After 8 hours: Some of the puzzles are becoming more and more interesting... Still don't    My experience playing the witness:

    First 3 hours:
    Ok I'm solving puzzles on an island, nothing special. All of these puzzles are solved on an touchscreens by drawing a line through a maze. Isn't this going to be repetitive? And why did it have to be on an island? Beautiful graphics though.

    After 8 hours:
    Some of the puzzles are becoming more and more interesting... Still don't really get why there is so much high praise for this game...

    After about 12 hours (for me):
    Holy ####! Did that just happen???? How ... how did they program this?? I can't believe I did not see this!! This island is not just eye candy, it's much much more than that!!!

    So, if you like solving puzzles (hard puzzles, get a pen and paper because you will have to take notes), if you can be patient and if you have the willpower to try to do this on your own, you are in for something special...    … Expand
  32. claytastic
    Feb 8, 2016
    9
    So far I've put about 10 hours into The Witness. That's right. I've put 10 hours into a game primarily about solving mazes. And you know what? I have no shame in saying that. Because that's not why this game is amazing. The beautiful art-style, the near endless exploration, the satisfaction you get from solving one of it's many complicated enigmas. Those qualities are what make this gameSo far I've put about 10 hours into The Witness. That's right. I've put 10 hours into a game primarily about solving mazes. And you know what? I have no shame in saying that. Because that's not why this game is amazing. The beautiful art-style, the near endless exploration, the satisfaction you get from solving one of it's many complicated enigmas. Those qualities are what make this game amazing. While I won't deny I got tired of the same mechanic over and over again, it felt right. I feel that if The Witness was some action adventure game or first person shooter, that would ruin it. Coming from Johnathan Blow, the guy who made Braid, I know he wouldn't do something like that. The Witness, in a way, feels like Braid (and a Johnathan Blow game). You're dropped into a random setting where you have no idea whats going on or how your character got here, but something about it feels right. That all sounds weird, but if you saw it from my perspective, you'd know what I'm talking about.
    The Witness is one of the freshest experiences I've seen in years. It's a simple concept which then turns into the difficulty of say Dark Souls. This is an experience unlike any other which I still would've bought, even if it was more that it's $40 asking price. 9/10.    … Expand
  33. zac249
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    Absolutely brilliant game, intriguing puzzles, beautiful landscapes and just an overall blast to play, the Witness was is easily one of the best games I have played in a long time. It exceeded my expectations and I couldn't be happier. I only wish I could go back in time and not cheat on the puzzles on which I did as solving difficult puzzles by myself was extremely satisfying. TheAbsolutely brilliant game, intriguing puzzles, beautiful landscapes and just an overall blast to play, the Witness was is easily one of the best games I have played in a long time. It exceeded my expectations and I couldn't be happier. I only wish I could go back in time and not cheat on the puzzles on which I did as solving difficult puzzles by myself was extremely satisfying. The "certain" challenge at the end of the game was also extremely fun and satisfying to beat. It was a great game and has plenty of replay value. 10/10 would play again.… Expand
  34. 6thDr
    Mar 4, 2016
    10
    What a great game, excellent puzzle game with brain bending puzzelze. If you had told me i would spend hours staring at colored shapes with a white line, whike talking to my self . That must go here and that matches that on my sparkling nww ps4 i would say your crazy . Well i am and your not. A genius game that evolves as you walk the island . It teaches you in subtle ways how to play.What a great game, excellent puzzle game with brain bending puzzelze. If you had told me i would spend hours staring at colored shapes with a white line, whike talking to my self . That must go here and that matches that on my sparkling nww ps4 i would say your crazy . Well i am and your not. A genius game that evolves as you walk the island . It teaches you in subtle ways how to play.

    Well done    … Expand
  35. Kadasma
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    For the casual observer: "Oh this is just a stupid puzzle game wtf is even the point of the open world, don't understand the puzzles, how is it connected to the world? this game sucks 0/10"
    For the mindful and intellectual observer, this game combines art with logic rarely seen in video games. Let me iterate the game's art aspects, the island was designed to offer various viewpoints which    For the casual observer: "Oh this is just a stupid puzzle game wtf is even the point of the open world, don't understand the puzzles, how is it connected to the world? this game sucks 0/10"
    For the mindful and intellectual observer, this game combines art with logic rarely seen in video games. Let me iterate the game's art aspects, the island was designed to offer various viewpoints which could serve as standalone paintings, the environment and architecture is just so beautifully rendered. It serves as a peaceful backdrop for its challenging puzzles. For every puzzle you couldn't solve, you'll always be greeted by a beautiful. The Witness respects your intelligence and time.    … Expand
  36. yloquen
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    An amazing game, not meant for everyone, but its target audience will devour it. Stranded on a picturesque island, you must solve puzzles via a deceptively simple interface. It’s true The Witness consist only of maze puzzles - in the same sense in which languages consist only of words - if you’re willing to learn the words of the language the game slowly teaches you, the satisfaction whenAn amazing game, not meant for everyone, but its target audience will devour it. Stranded on a picturesque island, you must solve puzzles via a deceptively simple interface. It’s true The Witness consist only of maze puzzles - in the same sense in which languages consist only of words - if you’re willing to learn the words of the language the game slowly teaches you, the satisfaction when you uncover its intricacies can be immense. The puzzles are roughly divided in two types - those whose solution is derived from abstract logical rules and those which require observation of the environment. Sometimes both combine in a very elegant way.

    As for the difficulty - I found that a good strategy was not to give up too easily but also not to try too hard - if you get stuck - change the area - there’s plenty to choose from and you don’t need to solve all the zones to get to the endgame.

    In an interview , the developer said that the theme of the game was epiphany and I think that he has achieved his goal - I doubt it has competition when it comes to the "Eureka!" moments, and I'm not talking only about discovering the solution to a particular problem - I'm talking about moments when your whole perspective shifts.

    Some of the flaws I found - I think the game would have benefited from a dedicated story as opposed to the sparse audio logs with an eclectic selection of quotations located randomly around the island. There were some puzzles particularly towards the end that were visually nauseating. These minor flaws do not detract from the singular experience of The Witness - if you have an inkling you might like it - I advise you to try it.    … Expand
  37. davedrummer88
    Jan 29, 2016
    9
    Whereas I preordered "Everyone's Gone to The Rapture" and was utterly disappointed, I waited, read reviews and bought "The Witness" and am enthralled. It is, to cite another user review, divisive, but it is a masterclass in simple ideas culminating in an experience as "art." My simplest sell on the game is the gorgeous, supposedly superficial (and gorgeous) world is integral to itsWhereas I preordered "Everyone's Gone to The Rapture" and was utterly disappointed, I waited, read reviews and bought "The Witness" and am enthralled. It is, to cite another user review, divisive, but it is a masterclass in simple ideas culminating in an experience as "art." My simplest sell on the game is the gorgeous, supposedly superficial (and gorgeous) world is integral to its experience: to use perspective to find clues in its environs, and to use its great expanse of freedom as a buffer to frustration. Can't solve that tough puzzle? Wander to another. Its mechanics will percolate into your subconcious while you try your hand at another. While "Portal" makes you feel clever for signposting the solution, "Witness" proves your own smarts because you earned it. Keep a smartphone camera and paper & pen handy!… Expand
  38. WeekBoxDone900p
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    The Witness is a breath of fresh air, it's a beautiful work of art. this is a open-world puzzle adventure game with a very mysterious story. this game runs at 1080p 60fps on the PS4 and it has about 30+ hours of gameplay only $39.99 on the PSN Store.
  39. justwoe
    Jan 28, 2016
    10
    What a wonderful game. The mapping of "real" world - the island - to the puzzles is hugely satisfying every time. The Witness treats learning, gaining knowledge, and mapping it to make sense of the world around you as it's basic material. It gets to the core of learning like no other game. Very much recommended (but obviously I'm into this sort of thing).
  40. obstropolos
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    The Witness is a stunningly beautiful and deviously difficult game. I was afraid that I had hyped myself up far too much after playing his excellent puzzle-platformer, Braid, which was his claim-to-fame in the world of indie games. However, I'm thrilled to say that The Witness does not disappoint!
    Beware of reviewers who say that the game mechanic is completely the same throughout the    The Witness is a stunningly beautiful and deviously difficult game. I was afraid that I had hyped myself up far too much after playing his excellent puzzle-platformer, Braid, which was his claim-to-fame in the world of indie games. However, I'm thrilled to say that The Witness does not disappoint!
    Beware of reviewers who say that the game mechanic is completely the same throughout the entire game. They most likely have not explored enough to reach the more interesting parts of the island. The Witness becomes even more intriguing as you start interacting more and more with your environment. I really love the idea that "the only key is knowledge": although this means you'll spend a lot of time sitting in front of panels, thinking, "I wonder what that does," the reward once you finally have all the knowledge necessary to solve it is unbeatable.
    To be fair, though, it is a rather heady game. Don't expect any hand holding, and expect to be frustrated.    … Expand
  41. MeanMF
    Mar 9, 2016
    10
    Masterpiece of a puzzle game. Beautiful world and creative, evolving puzzles that can really challenge you. And an open, optional endgame that rewards exploration. If you don't like puzzles you won't like this game, but if you do it's a must-play.
  42. GreenMachineG
    Jan 31, 2016
    9
    Amazing game! Puzzles galore, if you aren't patient or determined I would not advise playing, but this game is so deep and complex that you can't stop playing. Beyond a masterpiece! So many secrets!

    10/10
  43. Amambay
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    Polarizing -- Divisive. That's what The Witness is. Much like Myst, its spiritual predecessor, The Witness is a game that you'll either love or hate, and either way you wouldn't be wrong. You see it in the reviews, almost entirely positive or negative.

    With regard to production values, The Witness was put together by a perfectionist, who spent the last seven years with a small team of    Polarizing -- Divisive. That's what The Witness is. Much like Myst, its spiritual predecessor, The Witness is a game that you'll either love or hate, and either way you wouldn't be wrong. You see it in the reviews, almost entirely positive or negative.

    With regard to production values, The Witness was put together by a perfectionist, who spent the last seven years with a small team of artists and programmers making sure the game was exactly as he wanted it. Still, what you think of the graphics and technical aspects of the game will also depend on your opinion of the game overall.

    As you likely already know, The Witness is a game about solving puzzles, set on a vibrantly colored and mysterious island, void of any characters other than the player, the puzzles, and the island itself. The puzzles are all variations on the same format of finding the correct way to solve a maze, and by successfully doing so opening up new areas, opening doors, and activating contraptions.

    The Witness reminds me very much of 1993's Myst. A deserted island, a lone character solving puzzles, mysteries to be discovered and solved with no explanation or introduction. If you loved Myst, you'll love The Witness. If you hated Myst, then, well, you know what you'll think of The Witness.

    If you're the type of person who enjoys quietly solving puzzles to solve mysteries, The Witness is a game for you. If you demand action, a story with a wide cast of characters, a vast open world to adventure, then The Witness is probably not for you.

    Don't get The Witness hoping to find something that isn't there. The Witness wasn't made to appeal to everyone and sell in huge numbers. It was made for the kind of people who enjoy what I've described. If you don't like Heavy Metal, don't buy a Heavy Metal album... if you don't like Hip Hop, don't buy some Hip Hop... and if you don't like quiet puzzle solving, don't play The Witness.    … Expand
  44. Dionysus_Jones
    Feb 11, 2016
    9
    All of these "the game gets boring after a couple hours" reviews are hilarious -- and a little bit sad to be honest. Anyone that feels this way is likely going to miss out on the excellent "second layer" of the game, and undoubtedly some of the best puzzle mechanics & level design that we'll see in this console generation. Nothing is on this island by accident... and once you realizeAll of these "the game gets boring after a couple hours" reviews are hilarious -- and a little bit sad to be honest. Anyone that feels this way is likely going to miss out on the excellent "second layer" of the game, and undoubtedly some of the best puzzle mechanics & level design that we'll see in this console generation. Nothing is on this island by accident... and once you realize that (and you will), this game will consume your free time & occupy your every thought -- whether awake or asleep.… Expand
  45. JoeB777
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    This gave me not be for everyone. But if you like puzzles, or think you might like puzzles, and appreciate innovative and intricate game design. And want to try something that is truly different from what you've done before, then take a look. To speak for myself: it's my game of the year.
  46. Patrickstul
    Jan 30, 2016
    9
    Yes, the game is not for everyone. Yes, the game makes you think. Yes, sometimes you start to get angry. But the structure itself is a breakthrough in the world of computer games. That is how it is conceived in terms of the logic of forcing developers to make the slope. Thank you for 40 hours. This island still holds a lot of secrets.
  47. tobr
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    The Witness is a multilayered game, with a lot more gameplay than meets the eye. The difficulty varies from puzzle to puzzle - from the trivial to the wicked. The maze puzzle panels might seem off-putting at first glance, but they are a kind of vehicle for the gameplay. Many of them can barely even be called "puzzles", because their purpose is not exactly to be hard to solve.

    This is a    The Witness is a multilayered game, with a lot more gameplay than meets the eye. The difficulty varies from puzzle to puzzle - from the trivial to the wicked. The maze puzzle panels might seem off-putting at first glance, but they are a kind of vehicle for the gameplay. Many of them can barely even be called "puzzles", because their purpose is not exactly to be hard to solve.

    This is a game that rewards patience, curiosity and observation, and not with glittering candy, but with thoughts and ideas.    … Expand
  48. 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
  49. keefkeef
    Jan 26, 2016
    9
    This is the game I've been waiting for. After a year of open world RPG's, collectathons, and futuristic FPS games, along comes something a little more subtle, a little more cryptic, and a lot more satisfying. The Witness starts you off with little plot, perhaps no plot depending on your perspective, and immediately allows you to delve into its beautiful world. You solve puzzles, simpleThis is the game I've been waiting for. After a year of open world RPG's, collectathons, and futuristic FPS games, along comes something a little more subtle, a little more cryptic, and a lot more satisfying. The Witness starts you off with little plot, perhaps no plot depending on your perspective, and immediately allows you to delve into its beautiful world. You solve puzzles, simple at first, to further explore the island and your purpose on it. It builds slowly, but soon enough you will encounter more and more daunting puzzles. When you solve them, I imagine you will take a deep breath and feel a wave of satisfaction...then move on to the next. This is the game. Sounds simple and it is. Don't be fooled! This isn't another ps plus indie game, no no, it has all the markings of a AAA game. Beautiful world, incredible level design, challenging puzzles, and a length that rivals any RPG on the market today...if you're willing to take the dive. And all for 40 bucks. Can't recommend this enough, it is a breathe of fresh air and something truly special.… Expand
  50. Agarwel
    Jan 26, 2016
    9
    Great puzzle game. One that can proudly stant next to other big classics like Portal or Talos Principle.

    But The Witness is working little bit different. This game is about exploration of the world and its mechanics. Basically you are thrown into the world and you dont know anything about it. Or about the puzzles and how are you supposed to solve them. you muset explore the game and    Great puzzle game. One that can proudly stant next to other big classics like Portal or Talos Principle.

    But The Witness is working little bit different. This game is about exploration of the world and its mechanics. Basically you are thrown into the world and you dont know anything about it. Or about the puzzles and how are you supposed to solve them. you muset explore the game and find your way. This is something that can easily frutrate some players, if they dont understand this. Because at the beggining of the game you will encounter many puzzles that you have absolutelly no idea how to solve. This is on purpose and you are not ment to spent five hours trying every possibel solution by random trial and error. You are supposed to move forward (the game is open world, so you dont get stuck on a single puzzle) and by solving other puzzles, you will start to understand some new rules. Then, when you return to old unsolvable puzzle, you will know exactly what to do. In this way it really reminded me agme Antichamber.
    Basically every rule is introduced to you by very simple puzzle. And then with series of puzzles with slowly increasing difficulty. These sets of puzzles will make you understand some specific rule. But not every game mechanics is introduced in the tutorial area. But some crazy puzzles (mixing several rules in devilish ways) are near the begiining. If you encounter them, dont throw the game aawy, just continue.

    What really surprised me is variability of the puzzles. If you have seen the trailers and screenshots you may have a idea there is one type of puzzle. But this is not exactly true. There is one interface to solve the puzzles (you need to draw a line in a maze). But the rules and methods how to find the correct shape are constantly changing or introducing new elements. (please note that it is not just about introducing new elements and making the puzzles more and more complicated. Some areas are dedicated to completely new type of puzzles, completelly throw away everything you know and focus on some puzzle type unique only for that area)

    The game contains puzzles of all difficulties. Each area starts with some simple ones (showing you what to expects) and ends with really difficult ones, that usually requires you thinking out of the box. And to bring out the paper and pen. If you combine this with open world nature of this game (if you get stuck somewhere, you can move somewhere alse), this game should bring enough content to anybody regardless of their skill. Even if you will be able to solve just the easier puzzles, you can spent really lot of time inside the game before running out of solvable puzzles.

    The length of the game also seems great and above average. On one hand the game is small. You can explore the whole Island (except some locked areas) in few minutes at the very beggining of the game. But I dont think this is a bad thing. You will be running there and back again all the time (returing to previously unsolved puzzles and areas). And small size of the Island means, there is no annyoing backtracking. It just means the game is packed with content and there is something to do on every step you take. You can imagine the open world game where they deleted every "filler" empty area.
    But considering how many areas I solved, and how many I just visited on my trip around island and long long I spend inside the game I estimate this game will take you longer than 25 (probably over 30) hours to finish. And that is not bad at all.

    So from me, the game is really recoomened if you like puzzle games. It is designed to make you feel really stupid ("I have no idea what to do in this puzzle") and then make you feel really smart when you understand the puzzle some time later. Especially because it does not tell you directly what is expected. But it will give you enough small hint for you to understand yourself.    … Expand
  51. Dreizehn
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    This game is an amazing experience that worth playing for every fan of mystery games and puzzle games. The difficulty is well handle, al the puzzle are interesting and never repetitive and the ambiance and charisma of the world (the island) is incredible well created. This game is a master piece and a piece of art.
  52. 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
  53. BigPoppaFitz
    May 10, 2016
    8
    The Witness would have easily scored a 10/10 for me had it not been for the ending. Lackluster does not begin to describe it (no matter how sensical some people feel it may be). The Witness was captivating, pulling you in immediately and slowly dragging you further and further down the rabbit hole after activating each laser. It was almost a religious experience. The story builds andThe Witness would have easily scored a 10/10 for me had it not been for the ending. Lackluster does not begin to describe it (no matter how sensical some people feel it may be). The Witness was captivating, pulling you in immediately and slowly dragging you further and further down the rabbit hole after activating each laser. It was almost a religious experience. The story builds and builds to a point where you believe you're about to completely transcend this immersive and beautiful world and then BAM! It ends. It ends and I'm sitting there, in front of my tv. The only words that come to mind are "What?". I've never gone so quickly from joy to anger in my entire life. I felt (and feel) cheated. I'm not quite sure what or how I was exactly expecting it to end but it was definitely not like that. I don't know what else to say. The end almost ruined the entire journey. My review would have been even more harsh had I not let a month go by before writing it. It is still an experience that everyone needs to check out but just don't get yourself too excited as you see things start to unfold.… Expand
  54. rez
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    The Witness is a masterpiece, though it's not for everyone. If you enjoy games which reward exploration and experimentation, there's a lot to love here - but even then, the game asks a deal of patience of its audience. You will often come across puzzles which you are ill-equipped to solve. The brilliance in the design is that all of the puzzles are entirely solvable with the mechanicsThe Witness is a masterpiece, though it's not for everyone. If you enjoy games which reward exploration and experimentation, there's a lot to love here - but even then, the game asks a deal of patience of its audience. You will often come across puzzles which you are ill-equipped to solve. The brilliance in the design is that all of the puzzles are entirely solvable with the mechanics available to players from the start of the game; the only real limit on the player is their knowledge of the rules. There are no explicit tutorials, but the knowledge is available to be discovered across the game's beautiful island setting.

    If that sounds a bit vague it's only because I want to respect readers in the same way that the game respects its players, allowing them to explore and discover for themselves the many secrets of the island.

    As you might expect in a game from the designer who brought us Braid, the narrative is very much open to interpretation. This is a game wherein nothing is explicit, and if you require that external drive you may feel rather lost. It helps a great deal to to come into this game with a willingness to think, to be confused, and to keep exploring all the same.

    It's worth noting that colourblind and/or hearing impaired players may have difficulty with some of the game's puzzles, as they rely on an array of sensory clues. I encourage those affected to do more research before diving in.

    It took me about 25 hours to reach the end of the game, completing a fair deal of the optional puzzles along the way - though I suspect the remaining ones could easily take another 5-10 hours to get through, if not longer.

    I abstained from turning to the internet for advice the entire way through, and I strongly recommend that other players do the same. The game tells you everything you need to know if only you persevere - and the sense of achievement that comes from overcoming these challenges alone is great. Trust the game; it is fair, and it does want you to succeed.

    All in all this is one of the most impressively designed games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. There is sharp intent behind every aspect of its construction - to a level that often feels absurd - and the result is an incredibly unique and fulfilling experience.    … Expand
  55. MisterBirdy
    Feb 21, 2016
    8
    Slightly down graded my score after finishing the game. The puzzles and the complexity were first rate. They and the stunning use of color in the landscape deserve the highest praise. Indeed the entire game deserves the highest praise for providing a game that takes patience, thought and dedication to complete. It is rare that a game is willing to offer a challenge other than a test ofSlightly down graded my score after finishing the game. The puzzles and the complexity were first rate. They and the stunning use of color in the landscape deserve the highest praise. Indeed the entire game deserves the highest praise for providing a game that takes patience, thought and dedication to complete. It is rare that a game is willing to offer a challenge other than a test of motor skills. Most games reward pattern memorization over pattern recognition and I congratulate the creators on such a fine puzzle. That said I am left empty on completion. No overarching sense of purpose for the puzzles and a fairly flat cheerful ambiance deprived the game of a drama that has made other puzzle games more enjoyable with frankly inferior puzzles. This isn't a condemnation. If you enjoy puzzles and the reward of thinking through some fairly difficult ones this game offers a nice balance of needing to remain aware of the environment, think laterally but also requiring a player to dig in and actually work out the solutions. If you are more given to word puzzles and cryptography than to shape, color and pattern puzzles then this might not be the game for you. The same for the more casual puzzler. If you aren't willing to get out your colored pencils and graph paper you could have a very hard time with this game.… Expand
  56. Jackrov
    Feb 10, 2016
    9
    The Witness is a very well designed puzzle game. The game design, the art and the engine have all been very polished. It makes for quite a unique and engrossing experience. Out of the 10ish sets of puzzles you can encounter, I found a couple less inspired than the others, but another couple stood out for their cleverness.
    I found the best part to be figuring out the rules of the puzzles,    The Witness is a very well designed puzzle game. The game design, the art and the engine have all been very polished. It makes for quite a unique and engrossing experience. Out of the 10ish sets of puzzles you can encounter, I found a couple less inspired than the others, but another couple stood out for their cleverness.
    I found the best part to be figuring out the rules of the puzzles, a required step for solving them cause the rules are not told trough text, but via a series of little initial puzzles that open each series in a clever way.
    I can't speak about the finale resolution (if any) of the mistery of the island, because I want to complete every puzzle before moving through the final gate. I am getting strong vibes from the immobility, the bright colors that permeate everything, the frozen time and the statues, all of which reminds me of the "Invention of Morel" by Alfonso Bioy Casares. If the final resolution is half as riveting as the one found in that novel, I'll change my score from 9 to 10.    … Expand
  57. teflonminne
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    I've had my mind blown to shatters more times than i can count playing through this absolute, undeniable MASTERPIECE that is The Witness. This is THE best game i've ever played, and i've been a heavy gamer since -89. The staggering amount of love and attention to detail that is present is simply... amazing. I'm at a loss for words, and i get more and more sad that i'm getting closer andI've had my mind blown to shatters more times than i can count playing through this absolute, undeniable MASTERPIECE that is The Witness. This is THE best game i've ever played, and i've been a heavy gamer since -89. The staggering amount of love and attention to detail that is present is simply... amazing. I'm at a loss for words, and i get more and more sad that i'm getting closer and closer to finishing everything that is known to exist within the game.

    I cannot find one single tiny thing wrong or bad with it, not a one. This is a unique, singular experience that i wished i could experience again, and again.

    I would even venture so far as to say that this game has made my life better just by me playing it, listening to all audio logs, experiencing this multitude of awakenings when i reveal a new pattern, learn a new rule, figure out a new puzzle just to find another treasure trove of complexity inside. And throughout the experience i'm constantly reminded in various subtle forms to take it slow, be patient, appreciate the journey more than the goal, which is exactly what i hold most dear after all of this..

    Some has expressed a disliking of the end (even the "secret" end), i on the other hand found it to be EXACTLY what it should have been. The goal was never the ending, if you stared at the goal the entire time you missed the whole thing. If you failed to experience the now, each moment, you actually missed out.

    I tip my hat in deepest thanks to Jonathan and the rest of the team at Thekla. Thank you for this amazing journey. 10/10.    … Expand
  58. broyds
    Feb 3, 2016
    10
    I cannot believe the amount of bad reviews this game is getting from user reviews on this site. Personally it is a well deserved 10/10. Don't let the bad reviewers put you off this game, they are idiots plain and simple. Rant over lets start this review!

    From the moment I stepped out of the opening cave and saw the island for the first time, my jaw dropped, the colour palette and    I cannot believe the amount of bad reviews this game is getting from user reviews on this site. Personally it is a well deserved 10/10. Don't let the bad reviewers put you off this game, they are idiots plain and simple. Rant over lets start this review!

    From the moment I stepped out of the opening cave and saw the island for the first time, my jaw dropped, the colour palette and setting is absolutely gorgeous and this stays true throughout the entirety of the game.

    As for the most important part, the puzzles, they had me hooked from the very beginning, the vast majority of the puzzles are mazes and require you to start at a certain point and end at a certain point, but the mechanics are always changing the further you get into the game, so the puzzles always feel different and exciting.

    This game is not for those who get frustrated easily, it is challenging and on several occasions I felt totally stumped as to what on earth I had to do. But sometimes the best solution is to leave the puzzle behind and come back to it at a later date, I usually found that by doing this the solution came to me a bit easier when I came back to it. The feeling of absolute elation you feel after solving a puzzle that has been causing you a lot of difficulty is absolutely immense and on quite a few occasions felt just as rewarding as beating the difficult bosses on Bloodborne!

    This is by far the best puzzle game I have ever played. I literally can't stop thinking about it and when I leave the game, I instantly want to start playing it again. If your into puzzle games and don't mind getting frustrated at it's difficulty you should definitely pick this game up!    … Expand
  59. extremeprey
    Feb 1, 2016
    8
    THI- The Witness

    When I first heard of this game I was generally excited. It was meant to be a sort of spiritual successor to Myst however in the end it didn’t really come off as that but rather a sort of fan boy waving his no. 1 foam hand at Myst’s general direction. Whilst it manages to pull a few brownie points here and there it still suffers from trying to be something that it’s    THI- The Witness

    When I first heard of this game I was generally excited. It was meant to be a sort of spiritual successor to Myst however in the end it didn’t really come off as that but rather a sort of fan boy waving his no. 1 foam hand at Myst’s general direction. Whilst it manages to pull a few brownie points here and there it still suffers from trying to be something that it’s not.
    The Witness takes place on a mysterious island with various sections you can go over to and explore. Sound familiar? Well here’s the problem: whereas Myst had the advantage and amazing idea of making each section the puzzles The Witness falls flat on its arse and cracks the ground. All of the puzzles consist of line mazes on monitors scattered about the place and the only variation between each section are the environments and the symbols used in the puzzles. You see depending on the symbols shown in the mazes the rules of the maze change e.g. if there’s a tetris like block then you have to go around the block in the shape of the tetris image on it. After solving the first 12 you begin to wonder what over exciting puzzles there are on the island and stat exploring to find some only to be brought with the unfortunate car crash that is reality. All the puzzles are the same. The map is fairly large and beautiful to look at but it doesn’t make up for the lack of other types of puzzles making the game more comparable towards the talos principle. The main objective is to complete seven major areas in order to unlock the area’s beacon. With this the beacons’ rays point towards a central mountain which you climb up to reveal a small box with seven locks on it. So your objective is to complete required amount of puzzles to unlock the final area of the game which fair enough is better safe than sorry territory.
    One of the things I was looking forward to most is the finding out this game’s story as Myst had quite an inventive one which you have to read up on or look at things with more detail in order to theorise what could have happened to the island’s inhabitants. The Witness does gain some points by giving you bonus puzzles you can complete in order to find a puzzle solution. You can take these solutions to a windmill in the game and underneath it there are a series of vaults. Each vault has a video and in order to get in you must apply the solution to a puzzle acting as a lock. The reason why I like these videos is because they don’t actually give you lore but rather suggestions on how to see the island. Using the first video as an example it tells you task questions and not theorise until you are sure about your answer. As far as I can tell all of the inhabitants haven’t left but rather were turned to stone. Why? No idea but I would think that it would have something to do with the windmill due to several statues across the island seem to be facing it. I haven’t finished the bonus puzzles yet but this idea that the truth is in there has enticed me to continue playing.
    With lots of hours put into the game I can say that it’s meant to played in sessions rather than in one go which to be honest goes against my code for this sort of game. You see I expected to be captivated by the game and whilst the graphics alone do this it doesn’t take long for boredom to kick in. I got pissed at a few puzzles for not introducing the rules in a simple manor but rather throwing one at you and seeing how long it takes for you to look up the puzzle rule online.
    Overall I was disappointed but not unhappy with the game. Let’s just say it underperformed.    … Expand
  60. plotlesviolence
    Feb 13, 2016
    8
    OVERALL = 2
    A puzzle game
    PRESENTATION = 8 There's no story or plot, which is fine, since they would only intrude on the gameplay (other reviewers have said there is a plot and I don't know what they're talking about, unless they mean it's the story of a guy solving puzzles). Graphics are gorgeous, with overlapping low-textured shapes that makes everything look painted. No physics    OVERALL = 2
    A puzzle game

    PRESENTATION = 8
    There's no story or plot, which is fine, since they would only intrude on the gameplay (other reviewers have said there is a plot and I don't know what they're talking about, unless they mean it's the story of a guy solving puzzles). Graphics are gorgeous, with overlapping low-textured shapes that makes everything look painted. No physics to speak of, no music.

    GAMEPLAY/MECHANICS = 8
    All puzzles are solved by drawing a line from a starting circle to its corresponding finish line. You can press a button to start drawing anywhere in the game world, which is necessary because many of the hidden puzzles aren't on the obvious puzzle panels. The trick to each puzzle is that your line must obey certain rules, like separating certain shapes on the panel, etc. Typically the challenge is figuring out what the rules are. Often the hint that drives the solution is found in the game world, or you need to be standing at a certain angle to align shapes properly, which is why you can walk around the world (and why only showing you puzzle panels wouldn't have worked).

    DESIGN = 6
    The game is open-world, which is a massive mistake. Often times you will encounter puzzles in the wrong order. In the right order, you get smaller puzzle panels that make it easy to guess what the rule is for a certain type of puzzle, and then the panels gradually get more complex. In the wrong order, you get puzzle panels that combine several rule types you have not encountered yet (especially the central town area, which you get to early on), or puzzle panels so large it becomes impossible to guess what the rule is by trial and error.
    Worse, it is not obvious when a puzzle panel is enforced-ly inaccessible to you. Most puzzle panels have a glowing cable that lights up to let you know that the next panel in sequence is available, but many don't. Sometimes there's a white barrier hinting that you cannot complete the panel, but sometimes there are absolutely no visual clues. So I've spent several hours, combined, trying over and over to complete puzzles before giving up, not knowing if my failure was because I couldn't figure out the rule or if the panel itself was incomplete until another nearby panel was solved. That's a significant design flaw, and better worldbuilding might have cut out 5 out of the 15 hours it took me to beat it.
    That said, I appreciated its singular vision. The Witness never takes detours into minigames with other half-baked mechanics. It is a rarity, a genuine puzzle game that has you use your brain rather than complete fetch quests, and I enjoyed it.    … Expand
  61. datoneguy246
    May 15, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a very inventive and interesting puzzle game. The game prides itself in being able to innovate on the same basic mechanic in so many interesting ways. Sadly, there are some puzzles that are just too obtuse and awkward to solve. To give you an example, there's a series of puzzles where you have to stand at just the right specific spot so that the glare of the sun shines on the puzzle, showing the solution. This isn't a puzzle. It doesn't require critical thinking, just aimless experimentation. The Witness has way too many puzzles like this that bring it down.

    Of course, there are so many other incredibly designed puzzles and environments that make up for those mistakes. It isn't a game for everyone, but I enjoyed it.    … Expand
  62. Bellicose
    May 31, 2021
    10
    If you like puzzle games, this is a masterpiece.

    It may not be fun to watch (for example, like Portal sometimes is), but for the person engaged with it...wow. So much of the fun takes place inside the person playing it. Which -- I mean, I get that sounds obvious, but... I would get up Sunday mornings, make myself some tea, and stare at a grid for an hour, and I LOVED it. For my    If you like puzzle games, this is a masterpiece.

    It may not be fun to watch (for example, like Portal sometimes is), but for the person engaged with it...wow. So much of the fun takes place inside the person playing it. Which -- I mean, I get that sounds obvious, but...

    I would get up Sunday mornings, make myself some tea, and stare at a grid for an hour, and I LOVED it.

    For my money, best puzzle game ever made. I wish I could erase my memory and play it again.    … Expand
  63. mrnice
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    The Witness goes for a completely different type of game, almost invents a genre: discovering game mechanics. The inclusion of a great hidden challenge level at the end of the game lifts this game from 'great' to 'classic' status. It's a remarkably pretty game as well, playing it feels almost like going on vacation.
  64. DrownedDrone
    Jun 8, 2019
    8
    This is a very nice open-world puzzle game, and probably the toughest one I've manage to stick with till completion, which is, I guess, the best thing you can say about a puzzle-game.

    The game has no text, and no instructions, you have this simple mechanic to interact with the world, which is filled with many puzzles you can try solving at any time. The actual rules of the puzzles are    This is a very nice open-world puzzle game, and probably the toughest one I've manage to stick with till completion, which is, I guess, the best thing you can say about a puzzle-game.

    The game has no text, and no instructions, you have this simple mechanic to interact with the world, which is filled with many puzzles you can try solving at any time. The actual rules of the puzzles are never explained, making some puzzles impossible to solve at start. That's a very neat trick that give the game a "open world" feeling, as you explore the map not only to checklist more puzzles, but also in hope to be rewarded with simple puzzle that will give you tips about how the rules of the puzzles work. Kinda like RPG but instead of monsters to get puzzles and instead of XP you get puzzles and instead of items you also get puzzles.

    The game is lacking any story, which make the game name a bit misleading as I was expecting some crime to be the witness of. I guess it is a different kind of witness. There are some audio logs, most of which contain the same spiritual nonesense you usually hear from people drunk or high on drugs. You can't turn it off once it plays so watch out. None of those I found contain puzzle tips so don't risk playing them just because you are desperate.

    This game will test you your brain, and will require many abilities, like:
    Cold analytical logic, short/long term memory, understanding of complex rules, environment awareness, and not getting strokes of epilepsy (in the end game).    … Expand
  65. Kansler
    Jul 25, 2017
    9
    Jonathan Blow has produced another fascinating game that is ALMOST a masterpiece of game design. However, I think it is just a little bit too frustrating to deserve that coveted title in game history. However, make no mistake, it will be remembered for years to come for all that it does well - since it has gone from "Zero to One" (to quote Peter Thiel's book) - created a market for itselfJonathan Blow has produced another fascinating game that is ALMOST a masterpiece of game design. However, I think it is just a little bit too frustrating to deserve that coveted title in game history. However, make no mistake, it will be remembered for years to come for all that it does well - since it has gone from "Zero to One" (to quote Peter Thiel's book) - created a market for itself - just like only a visionary product can, by simply side-stepping all competition through radical innovation.

    But first, let's look at the only other points of comparison that I can think of. 1) Braid. Blow's previous game shares many design similarities, but it is a fundamentally different sort of game. 2) The Myst series. The only other puzzle game series that relies on player exploration, patience and mystery. 3) The Talos Principle. The "other" contemporary philosophical puzzle game. To sum it all up, I would say that The Talos Principle is more fun to play, but less mind-blowing overall. In general, I adore both The Witness and the Talos Principle, and I would recommend players to play through them both.

    So what does it do well? First, it avoids clichés and creates new ways to think about games - and reality itself. It challenges the player to rethink his own attitude towards challenges and puzzle solving. Those patient and curious players who don't throw the controller down at the first inconvenience, will find something special here. The game will start to invade their sleep. Their whole perceptual apparatus will be taken to places where no other game can take them.

    Secondly, the puzzles themselves are masterfully done and the player is given all the evidence to solve them. It's a fair game. From the simply line puzzles of the beginning to the brain-melting finale, there are a lot of puzzles to solve. Their simplicity might turn some people off, but it also means that the player is forced to really integrate the mechanics into his gut reactions and innermost being. There is sufficient variety and progression in complexity to keep things interesting all the way to the end.

    Thirdly, the game is absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. I played it on PS4 Pro, and the 1440p HDR output made the world come to life. The world is teeming with detail, style and colour, with innumerable little hidden secrets, nooks and crannies that make the world breathe, even without any fauna to populate it. The game world is a single, interconnected tapestry - a home away from home.

    But yes, then there are downsides. Unfortunately, the game is brutally hard and unforgiving by design. The game demands a lot from the player and gives very little positive feedback. It rewards you very slowly, sometimes not at all. This is meant to teach the player a lesson. But it can be a harsh lesson. And not everything can be excused on the basis of a spiritual exercise in patience.

    The Witness has all the aspects of a cult game. This game is definitely not for everybody. It has already found a niche fan base that really loves it, because they have fallen in love with its harsh, brutal, unforgiving challenges that are embedded in its (paradoxically) soothing, meditative world.

    For those lucky and crazy ones who persevere through its strict discipline (and/or design shortcomings), real beauties await. Two cliches can sum it all up: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the destination is in the journey.    … Expand
  66. brockcheese
    Oct 12, 2017
    9
    This was an incredible game and defeating the special challenge at the end was completely worth it. Great for any puzzle lovers and really made me think outside of the game.
  67. CurlyJefferson
    Jul 14, 2017
    10
    An intricate puzzle game filled to the brim with challenges both obvious and, at first, nearly inscrutable. The Witness certainly feels like the result of over seven years of hard work; never have I played a game with a world crafted with such painstaking attention to every detail of its world. The puzzles are hard, and become even harder, but with increased difficulty comes increasedAn intricate puzzle game filled to the brim with challenges both obvious and, at first, nearly inscrutable. The Witness certainly feels like the result of over seven years of hard work; never have I played a game with a world crafted with such painstaking attention to every detail of its world. The puzzles are hard, and become even harder, but with increased difficulty comes increased satisfaction after the player solves a particularly challenging series. This game has such a classical approach to design that feels older than it is, and if there were a "video game museum" I imagine that The Witness would sit comfortably at the end of the hall, establishing itself as a hallmark in game design. It is a game not solely, but primarily centered on revelation and discovery. The Witness was my favorite game of 2016.… Expand
  68. HaloFever
    Jan 3, 2017
    10
    Brilliant. Wonderful. Best puzzle game I have ever played.

    The puzzles are the heart of this game and they are put together nicely. Each new puzzle type has a few tutorial puzzles. No in game hints. No verbal or written instructions. The developer has to teach you how to do the puzzles through the puzzles themselves, and they did wonderful work. Everytime I find a seemingly impossible    Brilliant. Wonderful. Best puzzle game I have ever played.

    The puzzles are the heart of this game and they are put together nicely. Each new puzzle type has a few tutorial puzzles. No in game hints. No verbal or written instructions. The developer has to teach you how to do the puzzles through the puzzles themselves, and they did wonderful work. Everytime I find a seemingly impossible puzzle, I then find a new tutorial section and have another epiphany. Even better, nothing requires existing knowledge. My kids were figuring out puzzles with me, and indeed much better at finding environmental clues that my boring old brain would ignore. The beauty of this game is that the tasks build up your competency, so that by the end you feel like a genius and not a frustrated idiot. Best of all, the setting is sublime. Every section of the game is a gorgeous piece of art. Explorers rejoice!

    The funny thing, I'm not much of a puzzle gamer. I even skipped Myst. I am very glad I didn't skip The Witness.    … Expand
  69. adamlandos93
    Aug 6, 2021
    10
    A game that teaches you how to intuit, be creative and develop critical thinking. It's also a game that teaches you that it's okay to not know something. I find these teachings to be invaluable.

    The Witness contains some very basic mechanics, but the way you use those mechanics can get imaginative, tricky and downright complex in all the best ways. Almost all of the puzzles are quite    A game that teaches you how to intuit, be creative and develop critical thinking. It's also a game that teaches you that it's okay to not know something. I find these teachings to be invaluable.

    The Witness contains some very basic mechanics, but the way you use those mechanics can get imaginative, tricky and downright complex in all the best ways. Almost all of the puzzles are quite intelligent too. The underlying narrative, although not the main focus, is pretty intriguing with some extremely interesting philosophical points that make you want to explore more of the mysterious and undeniably beautiful and varied island.

    The exploration aspect of the island is of equally high quality. You constantly find puzzles that you simply can't figure out how to solve or ones that contain unrecognizable symbols. The game teaches you that it's OK to walk away and try it later, once you have more clues as to what the symbols mean. But the most important thing that's happening here is that through different puzzles, you can build intuition that will help with different kinds of puzzles.

    Hence, figuring out what to do with some difficult or alien puzzles also has to do with building up your intuition. This aspect of problem solving is usually reserved for high-level non-gaming stuff, such as college-level courses and it's a delight to find that the gradual building of problem-solving intuition is a major factor in a game. Most games are all about building short-term intuition (which is not as related to critical thinking as long-term intuition) and/or smarts.

    It also teaches different ways thinking, since a good amount of the puzzles require out-of-the-box and abstract thinking. Sometimes it's not about piecing clues together to reach a unique logical conclusion (although this is a part of it too); it's also about developing different ways of thinking so that you can use educated guesses and then test those against newer and more difficult puzzles and then refining the initial guess. It almost sounds like the scientific process behind research!

    It's an intelligent but difficult game. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded. And even if you don't complete it (it's huge), you'll still have experienced one of the most original and creative pieces of art that gaming has to offer. Truly eccentric.    … Expand
  70. ShaMana
    Mar 22, 2020
    9
    I was incredibly surprised by the discrepancy between user and critic score. I got the game for the critic score if I have to be honest. At the beginning the game felt stale and odd. Starts extremely slow but expands very well. It's beautiful and very clever. As for the low user score there is only one reason that can be described with two words: Pen and Paper
  71. inopinatus
    Dec 2, 2021
    9
    If you like a peerless challenge, The Witness will knock your puzzle socks off, offering a steady progression from the immediately obvious, through moments of frustration & revelation, all the way to the mind-bending and apparently impossible final test, making the a-ha moments all the more satisfying. All presented in a compact but pretty world with a unique art style and a diffuseIf you like a peerless challenge, The Witness will knock your puzzle socks off, offering a steady progression from the immediately obvious, through moments of frustration & revelation, all the way to the mind-bending and apparently impossible final test, making the a-ha moments all the more satisfying. All presented in a compact but pretty world with a unique art style and a diffuse narrative that's revealed gradually, obliquely, and impressionistically as you climb up the difficulty ladder.

    Even reliving my playthrough to write this review, five years later, is a moment of very happy memories.    … Expand
  72. Giggity
    Apr 1, 2019
    9
    Discovering how to solve the puzzles by myself gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment. First time I discovered one of the secrets I was entranced by the sheer idea of what it meant to the game, it's like the game doubled its size instantaneously.

    I recommend for everyone who enjoys puzzles and thinking outside the box. I'm not giving it a 10 because I think that 100%ing could    Discovering how to solve the puzzles by myself gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment. First time I discovered one of the secrets I was entranced by the sheer idea of what it meant to the game, it's like the game doubled its size instantaneously.

    I recommend for everyone who enjoys puzzles and thinking outside the box.

    I'm not giving it a 10 because I think that 100%ing could have been more rewarding, or at all
    (maybe it is and no one found out yet)    … Expand
  73. vashkor
    Apr 1, 2020
    9
    The game is something else. i cannot recommend it for everyone, but it's the most mind blowing piece of "design" that i have ever encountered. And it can leave you in awe yet confused.

    Solving the puzzle panels is a part of it. Hard they often be, i actually solved them just fine. You can beat em all, get a plat, call it a day. But there's so much more in the island that really had me    The game is something else. i cannot recommend it for everyone, but it's the most mind blowing piece of "design" that i have ever encountered. And it can leave you in awe yet confused.

    Solving the puzzle panels is a part of it. Hard they often be, i actually solved them just fine. You can beat em all, get a plat, call it a day. But there's so much more in the island that really had me thinking "holy **** Literally everything, large and small, is part of a hidden puzzle, or an Easter egg, or a meaningful view if seen from the right perspective.

    The abstraction is odd but i was pretty wowed in the sense of 3d design - it really is a masterpiece of an art. But it also left me guessing why so much hidden content that needed the entire fan community to piece together.

    It may not be your cup of tea, but i am really glad i played it. i am all in for this kind of ambitious passion projects that pushes the boundaries of what a video game can be.    … Expand
  74. Bumblebugbee
    Jul 29, 2016
    10
    The Witness has been on my radar ever since the announcement of the PlayStation 4. Right away the bold and colorful world grabbed my attention. The crazy thing, this entire world is based purely around solving puzzles. It was quite a bold idea, especially making such a extreme departure from the Jonathan's Blow last game Braid. The development cycle was long but well worth theThe Witness has been on my radar ever since the announcement of the PlayStation 4. Right away the bold and colorful world grabbed my attention. The crazy thing, this entire world is based purely around solving puzzles. It was quite a bold idea, especially making such a extreme departure from the Jonathan's Blow last game Braid. The development cycle was long but well worth the wonderfully polished game that was the result. Built upon a beautiful island, The Witness is a very challenging and rewarding puzzle game that will simulate your brain for hours on end.

    The concept seems simple enough. Scattered around this island is hundreds of panels. All these panels having a starting point and an ending point. Its your job to draw a line to connect the two ends. The challenge is each section of puzzles will throw different obstacles at you. Just to give couple examples; this could include separating blocks of different colors, matching up sets of circles, to making specific shapes as you draw your line. When you enter a new area you'll usually find a sets of five side by side panels that function as tutorials. This game will never tell you what to do, it instead relies one you to be smart enough to progress.

    This game is deceptively straight forward. There is so much more to this game then just walking from one panel to the next. There are a series of well hidden bonus puzzles tied to the mysterious black monoliths scattered around the island. One of my favorite things I found was the movie theater. The theater itself isn't too difficult to open but you'll need to have truly mastered the various puzzle elements to find the movies. A boat is available to take you around the island and may help you notice things you may not have seen before.

    The amazing artwork combined with the island setting really sets the mood for this game. You really start to feel like your on a luxurious island retreat. Pillows and couches can be found lying about inferring that the challenge of these puzzles my make one self tired over time. Various ledges and buildings will give you breath taking views of the island. It amazing to see this huge island you've spent hours exploring and conquering seem so shrunken from up high. Those who crave exploration will want to explore every nook and cranny of this world for its abound with secrets.

    I you like to challenge yourself and test your intellect you need to play this game! The puzzles are numerous and the different sections of the game are superbly designed. In each area they'll start you off with fairly straight forward puzzles and slowly add more complexity. By the time you get to the end of a section you'll be amazed at the crazy things you've able to accomplish. If the puzzles weren't rewarding enough every secret you find will bring a burst of joy and excitement. The incredibly high ceiling of challenge with no written or spoken tips means that this game isn't for everybody but those who can keep their cool will find a wonderful sense of accomplishment playing through this game.    … Expand
  75. gaming_mantra
    Jul 28, 2016
    10
    Normally I hate giving games a perfect review but I feel it is deserved in a few cases.This is a game about learning about the world of the game and is presented in a way where everything can be done at your own pace.
    I've found many people trying to play this game and getting frustrated in the difficulty of some of the puzzles (which can get very, very difficult for some of them). The    Normally I hate giving games a perfect review but I feel it is deserved in a few cases.This is a game about learning about the world of the game and is presented in a way where everything can be done at your own pace.
    I've found many people trying to play this game and getting frustrated in the difficulty of some of the puzzles (which can get very, very difficult for some of them). The key to this game is in its open world nature, after the first "tutorial area" almost everything in the game is open to the player which means if ever you hit a wall in an area you have multiple other options to explore. The best part about this is that solving puzzles in other areas, though completely different concepts, will typically aid in getting the mindset to solve the block.
    This concept is the heart of The Witness, everything is connected and because of it everything you do helps you figure out its world. For anyone who is curious about discovering the rules of the game world this game will reward them in spades. There are moments of pure discovery and one of them is personally my favourite discovery in any game.
    One last note of this game is its length which, for majority of players, will be a minimum of 20 to upwards of over 100 hours. During this you are consistently presented with completely new concepts, extremely varied environments and a fantastic almost all-ambient soundtrack. To have all of this in a puzzle game that is only about drawing lines is a feat I still cannot completely believe.
    In short: If you're curious about the world, love discovering things independently or are just a fan of puzzle games this is a must buy!
    PS. There is so much more to this game then just the puzzles, if anyone is interested check out my let's play that talks about the lore of the island, and the symbolism in the areas. I'd only recommend seeing it after fully completing the game! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2U6_gulUGA&list=PLBOc-3LM5tSAHuC3Sm-F76Icnuo1hul87    … Expand
  76. Vicost
    Sep 28, 2016
    10
    Jonathan Blow is a genius. This game is perfect, i don't usually play puzzle games but this game is brilliant. I did the normal ending without any tutorials and i loved it. Another cool thing about it is that it looks very good, you can take a screen-shot of whatever you want and it will be an amazing wallpaper for your computer or your phone.
  77. Lewis-Angelo
    Dec 17, 2019
    8
    finalizado The Witness con 488+13 puzzles completados, hasta los créditos son coleccionables escondidos

    el diseño de niveles es una auténtica maravilla, todo pensado hasta el milímetro Los puzzles que me gustan caen solos, los de dar vueltas y ensayo error es mejor usar guía para no perder el tiempo Me pregunto si de los que lo analizaron alguno conseguiría pasárselo XD Los    finalizado The Witness con 488+13 puzzles completados, hasta los créditos son coleccionables escondidos

    el diseño de niveles es una auténtica maravilla, todo pensado hasta el milímetro

    Los puzzles que me gustan caen solos, los de dar vueltas y ensayo error es mejor usar guía para no perder el tiempo
    Me pregunto si de los que lo analizaron alguno conseguiría pasárselo XD

    Los puzzles que te hacen sentir como lo estúpido que eres son los mejores    … Expand
  78. 9to10Gaming
    Mar 10, 2019
    10
    Easily the best puzzle game I’ve ever played. It needs some getting used to but it’s an masterpiece nobody should miss
  79. Angel_Sigh
    Sep 29, 2017
    10
    If ever there was a game that is not for everyone, this is it, I can tell you that straight away. This is not twitch gaming, this is not twitch puzzling either, like Tetris. It is utterly unique, but its appeal will be pretty niche. The best way to determine whether you'll enjoy this game is to ask yourself if you've ever enjoyed a cryptic crossword puzzle- now I know most people will sayIf ever there was a game that is not for everyone, this is it, I can tell you that straight away. This is not twitch gaming, this is not twitch puzzling either, like Tetris. It is utterly unique, but its appeal will be pretty niche. The best way to determine whether you'll enjoy this game is to ask yourself if you've ever enjoyed a cryptic crossword puzzle- now I know most people will say 'no' to that, but a follow up question is this: assuming you spent time to learn the rules behind cryptic crosswords, so that it was just about the puzzle rather than knowing the different linguistic tricks the crossword setters use, can you _then_ imagine yourself enjoying cryptic crosswords? Because The Witness is analogous(in a nevertheless very inexact way) to a vastly more expansive version of a cryptic crossword, only without all the background knowledge that's required of you, and shorn of the need to use words.
    Basically, if you can think outside the box, if you can think laterally, then you'll be able to do at least a quarter to a third of the puzzles in this game without too much difficulty. The rest of the game is made up of more difficult puzzles, which are solvable given time, and a smaller subset of puzzles that are extremely tricky, obtuse, will take serious mental effort, but are perfectly logical nonetheless.

    I'd describe The Witness as the ultimate puzzle videogame. Its puzzles always come down to the same thing - you guide a cursor through a maze. No time limit(so far anyway - I haven't done every single puzzle in the game), no real fail state, you can reverse your path through the maze at any time. This sounds almost insultingly simple, and seems like a small palette with which to paint a whole game, but from this single seed an extraordinarily ambitious, breathtakingly inventive variety of puzzle-types bloom. There are puzzles based on symmetry, there are puzzles based on audio cues, there are puzzles based on casting shadows on the surrounding environment...I won't go on; discovering the relationship these simple grids have with the locale is much of the game's appeal, and there are sections which seem entirely obtuse until you notice some little ancillary environmental detail that explains your route through the maze. The island itself serves as a way to break down the barriers that arise when you're stuck on a particular puzzle - if you can't see your way past one of the tougher mazes then you can wander off to explore some less well-trodden part, with a shallower difficulty gradient.
    The island is thematically inconsistent, with different kinds of natural and architectural environments rubbing up against one another in a slightly unhinged fashion. Throughout, there are human friezes, actual(?) figures caught in various mildly intriguing situations: look down the sides of a mountain and a woman is looking up at you, cresting the final cliff-face with a child strapped to her back. Other scenes add up to the sense that some kind of apocalyptic denouement is taking over the island and its former inhabitants(if that's what they are). It has the presumably intentional feel of a Pompeii without the volcano, and the people are even cast in a similarly grey, ashen material. This meta-narrative is, as I say, only mildly intriguing. There is no sense that putting the work in would result in any kind of moment of epiphany, where the past events are suddenly made clear in satisfyingly cohesive fashion. It's just too chaotic and disordered for that. The placement of figures, and their freeze-framed actions, add up to an impressionistic whole - it's a feeling rather than a narrative throughline that you're left with. To be frank, I'm not even sure what that feeling is. The island certainly has some of the situational absurdity of 'Lost', but it's best to think of it as more of a gigantic art installation. If that has, as I suspect, made a few of you throw up in your mouths a bit, I must emphasise that the environment is an easy joy to explore, and it is often very, very beautiful. Every square foot of the island is made to suit the puzzles, rather than the puzzles made to suit the island. As long as you bear that in mind you won't go in expecting something that's not there.

    In the end the most difficult part of this review is trying to describe what sets this apart from other puzzle games - I freely admit I'm not a puzzle game fan. I never liked Myst, or Monkey Island, etc. But something about the sheer inventiveness of this game's approach, the startling elegance of the solutions, the easy pace with which you can approach it all, drew me in. I bought this on deal, a year after its release, without expectations, and it has startled, fascinated and delighted me at almost every step. Anyone who hasn't come away from this review certain that it isn't for them should take a punt and try it.    … Expand
  80. destinyfan1
    Apr 22, 2018
    8
    A great looking puzzel game ,that is pretty difficult ,and really took me some while to get past areas,and sometimes that does become annoying,with the ending being really hard
    The island you are on is really varieted ,and when you are stuck on a puzzel, take a time and enjoy the view!
    Overall i enjoyed it ,but sometimes the game was just a struggle and were a relief when i finished    A great looking puzzel game ,that is pretty difficult ,and really took me some while to get past areas,and sometimes that does become annoying,with the ending being really hard
    The island you are on is really varieted ,and when you are stuck on a puzzel, take a time and enjoy the view!
    Overall i enjoyed it ,but sometimes the game was just a struggle and were a relief when i finished them,little bit overrated sometimes ,but also underrated    … Expand
  81. BarkingDoggy
    May 1, 2017
    10
    I loved the Witness. I activated all 11 lasers and did "the extra challenge" that I won't spoil. The multiple layers to this outstanding puzzle game really gives it the depth it needs. Not only are you thinking logically on how to tackle the masterfully designed puzzles and recalling the many mechanics you use to solve the puzzles, you are also thinking philosophically on the audio tapesI loved the Witness. I activated all 11 lasers and did "the extra challenge" that I won't spoil. The multiple layers to this outstanding puzzle game really gives it the depth it needs. Not only are you thinking logically on how to tackle the masterfully designed puzzles and recalling the many mechanics you use to solve the puzzles, you are also thinking philosophically on the audio tapes and short films the game gives you to chew on. The island is also beautiful, holding many cleverly hidden secrets and complementing the puzzle plates fairly well. There are many biomes to explore and solve puzzles in, and this game definitely has tons of content if you wish to 100% it. An amazing challenge that will truly test the extent of your mind.… Expand
  82. Viperstrike1193
    Apr 27, 2021
    9
    This game is beautiful and a must play if you enjoy puzzles and brain teasers. It does get very hard and some of the puzzle types are hard to understand with just in world clues. I had to start cheating eventually but I did finish the cheat proof “challenge” at the end. The philosophical stuff was a bit beyond me but this is a lovely way to kill 30 minutes to an hour if that’s all you haveThis game is beautiful and a must play if you enjoy puzzles and brain teasers. It does get very hard and some of the puzzle types are hard to understand with just in world clues. I had to start cheating eventually but I did finish the cheat proof “challenge” at the end. The philosophical stuff was a bit beyond me but this is a lovely way to kill 30 minutes to an hour if that’s all you have or just want a break from a more intense game.… Expand
  83. TantFuriosa
    Jan 5, 2018
    10
    What if you create a game that is all about Easter eggs? This is not, I repeat: this is NOT a game that could be a mobile game. There are hidden depths here that you probably won't find before you've invested some time. I get super sad reading reviews - be they good or bad - by people who never discovered what The Witness really offers. I've read reviews by professional reviewers who hadWhat if you create a game that is all about Easter eggs? This is not, I repeat: this is NOT a game that could be a mobile game. There are hidden depths here that you probably won't find before you've invested some time. I get super sad reading reviews - be they good or bad - by people who never discovered what The Witness really offers. I've read reviews by professional reviewers who had to run through the game and missed these hidden gems that are the things that make people so wild for this game. The Witness is the smartest game I've ever played, and the reason has little to do with puzzles.… Expand
  84. igan_deco
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    The Witness is a hard game. Or maybe I'm dumber than I give myself credit for, which is probably truer. Jonathan Blow's creation is a game that will teach you a new code, a language of sorts, and will trust you with the burden of solving an enigma across a desert island. It never holds your hand, but instead expects you to learn its mechanics through cleverly designed puzzles, or 'panels'.The Witness is a hard game. Or maybe I'm dumber than I give myself credit for, which is probably truer. Jonathan Blow's creation is a game that will teach you a new code, a language of sorts, and will trust you with the burden of solving an enigma across a desert island. It never holds your hand, but instead expects you to learn its mechanics through cleverly designed puzzles, or 'panels'. These panels, which are scattered across the land, almost always bring something new to the table, and each time you think you've cracked the code, they'l stump you, so there's always an incentive to keep going. The island is littered with secrets and references and little details. I lost count of how many 'wow!' moments I had during my gameplay. The Witness is not just a game, it's a masterclass in game and environment design and an experience like any other in gaming platforms.… Expand
  85. SaturnReviews
    Mar 11, 2019
    8
    The game is well-made and offers many types of puzzles, making it one of the top games of its genre. There are hundreds of smart puzzles to complete and some of them are quite difficult, hence it takes much time to fully complete the game. Not to mention how relaxing the surroundings and colors are, which is ideal for such games. Generally, it’s a must-have game, especially for puzzleThe game is well-made and offers many types of puzzles, making it one of the top games of its genre. There are hundreds of smart puzzles to complete and some of them are quite difficult, hence it takes much time to fully complete the game. Not to mention how relaxing the surroundings and colors are, which is ideal for such games. Generally, it’s a must-have game, especially for puzzle lovers like me.… Expand
  86. thatdanner
    Apr 1, 2019
    8
    Not a huge fan of puzzle games, but I was immediately addicted to this one because of how interesting and captivating it was. Every section of puzzles was different and unique. It's very easy to get all the achievements if you try really hard. The worlds and art style are stunning despite being an indie game. The ending levels are more confusing than unique, so that makes it lose someNot a huge fan of puzzle games, but I was immediately addicted to this one because of how interesting and captivating it was. Every section of puzzles was different and unique. It's very easy to get all the achievements if you try really hard. The worlds and art style are stunning despite being an indie game. The ending levels are more confusing than unique, so that makes it lose some points for me. It becomes no longer fun but just frustrating with dumb mechanics by the last couple levels. But for the most part, it's a great game and definitely comes with a steep learning curve.… Expand
  87. ClinOton
    Jan 6, 2021
    10
    Masterpiece! # 1 The Witness, # 2 The Talos Principle/Road to Gehenna, # 3 Portal 2. Creme de la Creme! I can respect the scores of those whom this game is not intended for. I believe personally this is close to the perfect game and yet I am not sure I can recommend this game to most people. Most of the people I know I believe they would hate this game or become quickly bored withMasterpiece! # 1 The Witness, # 2 The Talos Principle/Road to Gehenna, # 3 Portal 2. Creme de la Creme! I can respect the scores of those whom this game is not intended for. I believe personally this is close to the perfect game and yet I am not sure I can recommend this game to most people. Most of the people I know I believe they would hate this game or become quickly bored with everything this game is. If you are of the demographic the Witness is intended for I can’t recommend it more enthusiastically. Not sure how to identify that demographic? Portal 2 is a much easier recommendation when it comes to the masses. If you haven’t played the Witness and the game looks like something you might like stop reading reviews and play it...too much information going in will spoil some of the fun. Best puzzle game ever and yet not sure I can recommend it? Weird.… Expand
  88. cduke0504
    Apr 19, 2020
    10
    Trust me when I say that you don't have to be smart to enjoy this game. This is because while the puzzles ARE pretty difficult, there are rarely any stakes to failing the puzzles. In some cases, failing a puzzles means that you are moved to the previous puzzles in that set, but this is pretty rare. Not only that, but the design of the world here is truly something to behold. TheTrust me when I say that you don't have to be smart to enjoy this game. This is because while the puzzles ARE pretty difficult, there are rarely any stakes to failing the puzzles. In some cases, failing a puzzles means that you are moved to the previous puzzles in that set, but this is pretty rare. Not only that, but the design of the world here is truly something to behold. The atmosphere, lack of direction, and lack of NPCs makes the journey of this game truly a personal one. The pace at which you play this game is entirely up to you. The game is hard, yes, but it's also patient. If you can't finish the puzzle in the tree house, you could give it a break and walk to the town or the keep and chip away at the puzzles there. There were times where I would be content to just walk around the world without any intention of making progress. I was in a pretty bad place when I was playing this game (I only got it because it was one of the free games of the month), but when my world was full of confusion and panic, this game gave me a quiet reflection that I really needed. It's not for everyone, but it's still worth giving a shot.… Expand
  89. yanikz
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    The Witness takes an exceptional approach to game design by completely throwing the player in cold water. Learning all the mechanics on your own is incredibly rewarding and every discovery feels meaningful in the greater context.

    I highly recommend to finish the game without any guides. If you get stuck, take your time. Every corner of the island can lead to a new epiphany. The    The Witness takes an exceptional approach to game design by completely throwing the player in cold water. Learning all the mechanics on your own is incredibly rewarding and every discovery feels meaningful in the greater context.

    I highly recommend to finish the game without any guides. If you get stuck, take your time. Every corner of the island can lead to a new epiphany. The impending sense of accomplishment only grows with the number of failed attempts.

    Subtle sounds, vivid colors, smart map design and great puzzle variety are only a few things that richen this experience even more.

    10/10    … Expand
  90. yertre
    Feb 15, 2021
    8
    This is NOT a game for everyone. The solutions for some of puzzles can feel insane to do without looking them up, but almost every puzzle has meticulous detail, subtle hints, and cleverly hidden environmental details. Almost every puzzle feels satisfying to solve, and many left me feeling "how did they program that?"

    That being said, I do feel that making all the puzzles grid based    This is NOT a game for everyone. The solutions for some of puzzles can feel insane to do without looking them up, but almost every puzzle has meticulous detail, subtle hints, and cleverly hidden environmental details. Almost every puzzle feels satisfying to solve, and many left me feeling "how did they program that?"

    That being said, I do feel that making all the puzzles grid based limits the game's potential a bit. The amount of reused/filler puzzles isn't insignificant either, which is disappointing for a 40$ game (more on that in a bit).

    The game has NO respect for the player's time. A simple raft takes 2 minutes to reach its destination.
    This is annoying to me because the game claims to respect player's intelligence and time in the description, when it does no such thing.

    I think The Witness is pretty good game, but costs 20$ too much. The game isn't too long, and it reuses so many puzzles that it simply does nothing to earn the 40$ price tag. If you've enjoyed games like Riven, Myst, Outer Wilds and the lot, I recommend waiting for a good deal, and grabbing it then.    … Expand
  91. bohuggabee
    Apr 5, 2021
    10
    i've played through the witness twice now. not knowing of the secret ending or hidden cave. people rarely put this much effort in to games anymore. you don't expect this many easter eggs.... sure, if you can't handle critical thinking, variable analysis, and creating algorithms, you might not be able to solve every puzzle, and may not even beat the game. especially for thei've played through the witness twice now. not knowing of the secret ending or hidden cave. people rarely put this much effort in to games anymore. you don't expect this many easter eggs.... sure, if you can't handle critical thinking, variable analysis, and creating algorithms, you might not be able to solve every puzzle, and may not even beat the game. especially for the colorblind.. but there are plenty of old games i never got to beat. not ashamed to admit, that i'd get tired of a puzzle after a while, forgetting a rule or feeling like i gave it my best, looking up a solution. sometimes concluding a puzzle as impossible because i forget a rule, though i ran every possibility and concluded the only solutions, only to find out, i forgot one silly rule... the second play through i only used a cheat on 4 puzzles, solving majority by myself, completing the game in around 20 hours. but you spend a lot of time getting lost and just exploring, enjoying, and being surprised. after 5 years, its still one of the best experiences i've had. pushing my brain to new levels of understanding, rethinking my own choices, and self doubt to find solutions to these puzzles i'd never think naturally like. its clearly well cared for by someone who really wanted to make a game that separates itself from the same old cut up and dlc sales tactic. majority of people probably can't get the most out of it... which is a dangerous idea, that you aren't catering to the majority of simple people out their. its genuinely a game for an intellect... plain and simple. however, the more you adapt, and push yourself, the more satisfying it is to solve things you never thought you could. separating you from the pack of quitters. its not a game for an epic ending. its a game to grow with. so when you quit, you know what sort you are. when you do get to finish it. you feel qualified to understand the others that did as well. a group of people who enjoy puzzles and analysis. algorithms, variables. if you can beat this game quickly, you most likely have an eidetic vision and memory of some kind. though, i've found myself having to write out a few solutions cause there were too many possibilities to all hold in my head. making it something you know you care about because you are willing to go that extra step. simply put. a great game, not for everyone. but don't be afraid to cheat so you can get to the next level and enjoy creative artistry used in it... you'll never have an excuse to truly get stuck.… Expand
  92. WashedPotatoes
    Jul 21, 2022
    10
    beautiful world design, phenomenal game design. finding areas you don't know how to solve, finding the tutorial areas, and going back to solve the original puzzle is extremely satisfying. getting every laser to unlock the mountain, and then finding THE CHALLENGE. a phenomenal puzzle game, offers a challenge but not insanely difficult (besides a few puzzles: **** the sound puzzle on thebeautiful world design, phenomenal game design. finding areas you don't know how to solve, finding the tutorial areas, and going back to solve the original puzzle is extremely satisfying. getting every laser to unlock the mountain, and then finding THE CHALLENGE. a phenomenal puzzle game, offers a challenge but not insanely difficult (besides a few puzzles: **** the sound puzzle on the shipwreck) and i don't think there is a better one in existence… Expand
  93. DannyCuomo
    Aug 2, 2021
    10
    It's just fantastic, it's how difficult a game should be, I had a great time with all these crazy puzzles, and even when I finished the game there were still too many secrets to discover, I fell in love with this game.
  94. noanony
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Jogo lindo, vai te quebrar muito a cabeça até que você entenda como funcionam os puzzles, mas viu, cada puzzle criativo...recomendo.
  95. ReviewsAreBS
    Feb 24, 2023
    9
    The puzzles are excellent and a little (but not unreasonably) tough. I strongly recommend against using a guide, atleast for the ‘main’ and ‘side’ content.

    There are some optional (and easily overlooked) bonus puzzles. These are obviously distinct from the main/side puzzles. You will get a few of them on your own or by accident, but 100% completion is very unlikely. Frankly there’s not    The puzzles are excellent and a little (but not unreasonably) tough. I strongly recommend against using a guide, atleast for the ‘main’ and ‘side’ content.

    There are some optional (and easily overlooked) bonus puzzles. These are obviously distinct from the main/side puzzles. You will get a few of them on your own or by accident, but 100% completion is very unlikely. Frankly there’s not much thinking involved in these bonus puzzles and there is no reward for completing them. So I recommend (for your own sanity) that you ignore them altogether.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PS4 Game of 2016
24
#24 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
23
#23 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 82
  3. Negative: 2 out of 82
  1. GameSpew
    Apr 15, 2016
    80
    The sound from completing a panel is extremely satisfying, and I’ve followed it with a victory dance more times than I’d like to admit.
    Read full review
  2. IGN Denmark
    Apr 6, 2016
    85
    Built immensely smartly, the puzzle elements are both captivating and creepily addictive.
    Read full review
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 31, 2016
    90
    A best-in-class puzzler that in no way caters to the lowest common denominator. Punishingly difficult. Extremely rewarding. [April 2016, p68]
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