8 Best PS5 Puzzle Games (March 2026) Mind-Bending Adventures Tested

I spent the last three months diving deep into PS5’s puzzle game library, and what I discovered surprised me.

After testing over 40 hours of gameplay across different titles, I found that puzzle games on PS5 have evolved far beyond simple brain teasers. They now leverage the console’s DualSense controller, lightning-fast SSD, and stunning graphics to create experiences that weren’t possible before.

The biggest challenge? Finding puzzle games that balance difficulty without frustrating players – a complaint I saw repeatedly in gaming forums.

Our team analyzed 8 standout PS5 puzzle games, ranging from $15.99 to $36.97, each offering unique mechanics and experiences. Whether you want relaxing exploration or intense brain-bending challenges, this guide covers every style and difficulty level.

Our Top 3 PS5 Puzzle Game Picks

Complete PS5 Puzzle Games Comparison

This table compares all 8 PS5 puzzle games we tested, including price, difficulty, and key features.

Use this to quickly identify which games match your preferences and budget.

Detailed PS5 Puzzle Game Reviews

1. Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Pixar-Quality Puzzle Adventure

Kena absolutely floored me with its visual presentation – it genuinely looks like an interactive Pixar movie running on PS5.

The game combines environmental puzzles with action-adventure elements, using your adorable Rot companions to solve challenges and unlock new areas. The DualSense haptic feedback makes every interaction feel tangible, from drawing your bow to commanding the Rot.

What sets Kena apart is how it weaves puzzle-solving into combat and exploration seamlessly. You’ll use the Rot to move objects, create bridges, and cleanse corrupted areas.

The difficulty surprised me – this isn’t just a pretty face. Boss battles require pattern recognition and timing that reminded me of classic PlayStation platformers.

At $36.97, it’s pricier than some alternatives, but the production values justify the cost. The deluxe edition includes bonus content that extends the 8-10 hour main story.

What Users Love: The stunning visuals, engaging combat system, and charming Rot companions that add personality to every scene.

Common Concerns: Some players find it quite difficult at times, and the game length feels short for the price point.

2. The Forgotten City – Best Time-Loop Mystery

The Forgotten City transformed from a Skyrim mod into one of the most compelling puzzle narratives I’ve played in 2026.

You’re trapped in an ancient Roman city where breaking one rule kills everyone, forcing you to restart the time loop. Each loop lets you retain knowledge, gradually unraveling the mystery through conversation, exploration, and clever problem-solving.

The PS5 version takes full advantage of the hardware with near-instant loading between areas. This matters because you’ll be running through the city repeatedly, piecing together clues.

I completed my first playthrough in about 6 hours, but immediately started again to explore different endings. The game respects your intelligence – solutions require actual deduction, not just trial and error.

What impressed me most was the character depth. Each of the 26 NPCs has unique motivations and secrets that interconnect in surprising ways.

What Users Love: The immersive narrative, well-developed characters, unique time-travel concept, and multiple endings providing great replay value.

Common Concerns: Some find it boring, controls can feel janky, and it’s relatively short for the $31.95 price tag.

3. Stray – Most Relaxing Puzzle Experience

Playing as a cat in a post-apocalyptic robot city shouldn’t work this well, but Stray nails it perfectly.

The environmental puzzles revolve around cat abilities – jumping between platforms, knocking things off shelves, and scratching specific surfaces. It sounds simple, but the execution is brilliant.

My 9-year-old nephew watched me play the entire game, completely engrossed. The lack of combat makes it perfect for players who want puzzle games with innovative mechanics without stress.

The robot NPCs you meet speak in symbols, requiring you to read subtitles, but their animations convey emotion beautifully. The cyberpunk aesthetic creates a unique atmosphere that stuck with me long after finishing.

At 4-9 hours depending on exploration, it’s short. But at $22.98, it delivers a memorable experience that’s worth the price.

What Users Love: The charming cat protagonist, beautiful graphics, peaceful gameplay, and immersive atmosphere perfect for all ages.

Common Concerns: Very short gameplay length and limited replay value despite side quests.

4. The Pathless – Best Open-World Puzzles

The Pathless delivers something special – an open-world puzzle game where movement itself becomes the puzzle.

You play as an archer who gains speed by shooting talismans while running. This creates a flow state where you’re constantly aiming, shooting, and navigating simultaneously. The DualSense adaptive triggers add resistance when drawing your bow, making every shot feel impactful.

The world is divided into regions, each corrupted by a cursed spirit. Solving environmental puzzles cleanses obelisks, weakening the boss for an epic showdown.

Boss battles are genuinely intense – being chased through forests while your eagle companion is captured creates real tension. These sequences might run too long for some players, but I found them exhilarating.

At $17.27, it’s exceptional value. The game includes beautiful art cards in the physical edition, and the 10-hour campaign feels perfectly paced.

What Users Love: The experimental gameplay, stunning visuals, emotional story, and excellent use of PS5 controller features.

Common Concerns: Trophy system glitches, overly long boss chase sequences, and sometimes cumbersome navigation.

5. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Best Metroidvania Puzzles

At $15.99, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown offers incredible value for metroidvania fans.

The game returns to 2D but with modern polish. Time manipulation powers create clever puzzles – you’ll freeze water mid-flow to create platforms or rewind destroyed bridges.

Combat flows beautifully with puzzle-solving. You might wall-run past traps, slide under barriers, then immediately engage enemies. The accessibility options impressed me – you can even skip difficult platforming sections if stuck.

The interconnected world encourages exploration, with secrets hidden behind ability gates. After 20 hours, I’d found about 70% of collectibles, giving completionists plenty to discover.

Some players find the difficulty frustrating even on easy mode, but the checkpoint system is forgiving.

What Users Love: The fluid metroidvania gameplay, responsive controls, excellent value, and challenging but fair difficulty.

Common Concerns: Can be too difficult for casual players, 2D perspective feels limiting, and backtracking becomes repetitive.

6. Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania – Best Party Puzzle Game

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania bundles 300 stages from the series’ best entries, making it the definitive collection.

The core mechanic remains unchanged – tilt the world to roll your monkey-in-a-ball to the goal. Simple concept, devilish execution. Later stages require pixel-perfect precision that’ll test your patience.

Where it shines is multiplayer. The 12 minigames include Monkey Bowling, Soccer, and Golf. My gaming group spent an entire evening just on Monkey Target, laughing at spectacular failures.

The online leaderboards add replay value, especially for speedrunners. Watching replays of top times taught me routes I never would’ve discovered.

At $30.98, you’re getting massive content. Just know that difficulty spikes dramatically – some stages feel “unmenschlich” as one German reviewer noted.

What Users Love: The nostalgic gameplay, variety of content, entertaining minigames, and excellent multiplayer options.

Common Concerns: Extreme difficulty spikes and occasional packaging issues with broken cases.

7. FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch – Best Dieselpunk Adventure

FIST surprised me with its production values – this indie game looks and plays like a AAA title.

You play as a rabbit with a giant mechanical fist in a dieselpunk world where animals fight machines. The Shanghai-influenced architecture creates a unique visual style I haven’t seen elsewhere.

Combat integrates three weapons – fist, drill, and whip – each opening different paths. Puzzles often require switching weapons mid-combo, creating satisfying “aha” moments.

The metroidvania structure works brilliantly. Backtracking reveals new secrets with upgraded abilities, and the interconnected world feels cohesive.

After 7 hours, I was completely hooked. The game respects genre conventions while adding fresh ideas. At $29.99, it’s priced fairly for the quality delivered.

What Users Love: The gorgeous visuals, engaging combat system, well-crafted world design, and impressive production values.

Common Concerns: Can become repetitive and has a steep learning curve for the combat system.

8. Treasures of the Aegean – Hidden Time-Loop Gem

Treasures of the Aegean flew under most radars, but it offers something genuinely different.

Set in ancient Minoan civilization, you’re trapped in a time loop trying to prevent a prophecy. Each loop lasts 15 minutes real-time, forcing quick decisions about which areas to explore.

The hand-drawn art creates a comic book aesthetic that suits the adventure perfectly. Parkour mechanics let you scale massive structures, uncovering clues about the ancient catastrophe.

What hooked me was the knowledge persistence – information gathered in one loop helps solve puzzles in the next. You’re building a mental map of the entire island.

The collector’s edition at $28.99 includes bonus content. While not AAA quality, it delivers a unique experience for players wanting something different.

What Users Love: The innovative time-loop concept, beautiful hand-drawn art, and unique historical setting.

Common Concerns: Limited AAA polish and niche appeal that won’t suit everyone.

How to Choose the Best PS5 Puzzle Game?

Choose based on your preferred difficulty level, playtime expectations, and whether you want pure puzzles or action-hybrid gameplay.

After testing these games extensively, I’ve identified the key factors that matter most.

Consider Your Difficulty Preference

Puzzle games vary wildly in challenge level.

For relaxing experiences, Stray and The Pathless offer manageable difficulty with optional challenges. These games focus on atmosphere and exploration over brain-busting puzzles.

If you want serious mental challenges, Prince of Persia and Super Monkey Ball will test your limits. These require patience and practice to master.

Evaluate Playtime vs. Price

Value differs significantly across titles.

Stray costs $22.98 for 4-9 hours – about $5 per hour of entertainment. Super Monkey Ball offers 300 stages for $30.98, potentially hundreds of hours for completionists.

Consider whether you prefer shorter, polished experiences or longer games with more content. Both approaches have merit depending on your gaming habits.

Check for PS5-Specific Features

Not all ports utilize PS5 capabilities equally.

The Pathless and Kena showcase DualSense haptic feedback brilliantly. You’ll feel raindrops, bow tension, and environmental textures through the controller.

Loading times matter too. The Forgotten City’s instant loads enhance the time-loop gameplay, while older ports might not benefit as much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

After 40+ hours testing these PS5 puzzle games, each offers something unique for different players.

For most players, I recommend starting with Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The $36.97 price delivers exceptional production value, balanced difficulty, and genuine PS5 showcase moments.

Budget-conscious buyers should grab Prince of Persia at $15.99 – it’s the best value with 20+ hours of content.

If you want something different, Stray’s cat adventure or The Forgotten City’s time-loop mystery provide experiences you won’t find elsewhere.

The PS5’s puzzle library has matured beautifully in 2026, offering everything from relaxing escapes to intense mental challenges. These eight games prove puzzle gaming on console has never been better.