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. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. brendo214
    Jun 4, 2019
    8
    The world of The Witness is absolutely beautiful, and the puzzles are satisfying to solve.
  25. 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
  26. 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.
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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
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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]
See all critic reviews »