Types of puzzles
Logic puzzles, physics puzzles, escape rooms, metroidvanias with locked paths and puzzles inside adventure games: how the genres differ and what each asks of the player.
puzzles in video games: a reference guide
Puzzles in video games: how they work and how to solve them
Video Stb is a calm, no-nonsense guide for anyone who loves puzzles in games or is stuck on one right now. We look at puzzle genres, recurring mechanics and ways to find the answer on your own, without seeing the solution before you need it.
A good puzzle always plays fair: everything you need to solve it is already in front of you. You just have to notice it.
Where to start
If you're stuck
The hint ladder: how to get moving again with one small step while keeping the joy of working it out yourself.
Keys, doors and locks (in Russian)
Why games love locked passages so much, how the key-and-door pairing works, and how an in-game combination lock differs from a simple barrier.
Puzzles for the whole family
How to choose a puzzle for a child, what to look for in age ratings, and which formats work well when two or three people share the screen.
Guide sections
- Genres
Puzzle genres, from logic and physics puzzles to escape rooms and metroidvanias, and how to pick the one for you.
- Guides
How to solve puzzles without spoilers: the hint ladder, getting past a dead end, playing as a pair. Plus our article catalogue.
- Mechanics
Recurring puzzle mechanics: order of actions, symmetry, cause and effect, and working with time.
- New
How puzzle games get new levels, daily challenges and seasonal events, and how to keep track of them.
- How to judge
Criteria for judging a puzzle yourself: fair rules, the hint system, accessibility and pacing.
- Questions
Short answers on how to approach puzzles, how to play with kids and how this guide can help.
- Glossary
A puzzle fan's dictionary: how puzzles are built, hints and progress, genres and formats.
Five steps to crack a puzzle you're stuck on
Reread the task
Go back to the objective, the writing on the wall or what a character said. The answer is often hidden in a single word you skimmed past the first time.
Write down what you know
List on paper the items, switches and rules you have found so far. A five-line list often shows you which element you haven't used yet.
Look around
Walk through the whole room or level: check the corners, turn the camera, hover over small details. Designers love leaving clues in patterns, colours and sounds.
Change your approach
If the same move fails for the third time in a row, try the opposite: start from the end, reverse the order of the pieces, slow down instead of rushing.
Take a first-level hint
Built-in help or our guide will only point you in a direction: where to look, not what to do. A small nudge like that keeps the satisfaction of solving it yourself.
About this guide in brief
Is this a video site?
No. Video Stb is a text-based reference guide to puzzles. We don't host clips, collect other people's recordings or publish streams.
Where can I watch a walkthrough?
We don't publish ready-made solutions, and that's a deliberate choice. We explain how to reach the answer yourself with step-by-step hints, so the puzzle doesn't lose its point.
Do you have cheats?
No. We don't distribute cheats, cracked versions of games or programs that change how they work. In a puzzle, that kind of shortcut also takes away the best part: the moment it clicks.
Can you tell me which game to buy?
We don't give buying advice and we don't sell games. Instead, we explain the criteria (how fair the rules are, whether there are hints, whether the game suits a child) so you can choose for yourself.
About the project
Video Stb is an independent reference guide to puzzles in video games; this is its English version. We write for people trying a puzzle game for the first time, for parents choosing puzzles for their kids, and for experienced players curious about why some puzzles delight and others frustrate.
This domain used to belong to a lock installation company; later its addresses were taken over by spam pages and advertising. The current guide has nothing to do with either the company or the spam and does not use their material.
We don't compile rankings, give scores or post download links. Our aim is to explain principles that will help you with any puzzle.
Read next
- Genres
Puzzle genres, from logic and physics puzzles to escape rooms and metroidvanias, and how to pick the one for you.
- Guides
How to solve puzzles without spoilers: the hint ladder, getting past a dead end, playing as a pair. Plus our article catalogue.
- Mechanics
Recurring puzzle mechanics: order of actions, symmetry, cause and effect, and working with time.
- Questions
Short answers on how to approach puzzles, how to play with kids and how this guide can help.
Sources and references
- Developer guides and in-game help
- PEGI
- ESRB
- Russian Federal Law No. 436-FZ on protecting children from harmful information
We describe the general principles of puzzles. Hints, levels and settings work differently in each game and may change after updates, so check the in-game help and the developer for exact details.