Puzzle gamesare perfect for those who like to get their brain working, whether it’s dealing with tiles or exploring a world filled with different problems to solve. One of the best places to look for games in the genre isXbox Game Passas there are frequently puzzle games that are added to the platform.
In the subscription service, the most prominent puzzle experiences are of the indie variety. However, they are also among the best puzzle games the indie space has to offer. From old-school adventure games to platformers to first-person puzzlers, there are a lot of variants to choose from.
Updated on June 24, 2025, by Mark Sammut:Xbox Game Pass puzzle gamesare not overly common, but they are plentiful enough to keep most people busy for a few months. Two more recommendations have been added to this discussion. Click below to jump to these games.
Donut Countyis a silly but fun puzzle game that can easily be completed in a single session, making it a great option for when someone craves a palate cleanser as a stopgap between heftier projects. Basically, the goal is to use a donut hole to swallow everything within a level, and the challenge comes from finding the ideal position.
Donot Countyis not built on an especially deep gameplay loop, but it offers enough unique situations to remain interesting throughout the short campaign. The game also has a fun aesthetic and a quirky sense of humor, which combine well with the core mechanics.
11Genesis Noir
A Stylish Point And Click Adventure
Point-and-click adventure games have been around since the dawn of PC games, but while the genre isn’t as prevalent as it once was, there are some modern takes on the genre that change things up to provide a truly unique experience.Genesis Noiris a great example of this.
A story about a man looking to rescue his love, this avant-garde take on the point-and-click puzzler has players going through various scenes and interacting with the screen as prompts are being presented to them.Genesis Noirhas aunique art stylethat makes these scenes fit right in with the gameplay.
A Day 1 Xbox Game Pass arrival,Botany Manoris a cute and detailed puzzle game set during the late 19th century. As a botanist who is writing a book on plants, players get to explore an impressive British manor while also solving puzzles relating to the protagonist’s specialty. The brainteasers revolve almost entirely around a seed’s requirements to grow, a decision that leads to a consistent and educational campaign.
For the most part,Botany Manorgrants players free access to its mansion, although they will need to solve a few puzzles to reach certain sections. Moving at a leisurely pace and containing just enough character-driven details to inject context, Balloon Studios' title is among the most relaxingpuzzle games on Game Pass.
When looking for a modernpoint-and-click gamethat is a callback to 1990s classics, look no further thanReturn to Monkey Island, a Devolver Digital-published title that continues the story of the belovedMonkey Islandfranchise from the mind of Ron Gilbert.
The sixth installment in the franchise,Return to Monkey Islandtakes place after the events of the previous titles and picks up with Guybrush Threepwood going back on an adventure to truly find the secret of Monkey Island. Many characters from the franchise make their return, including Elaine Marley and the villainous LeChuck.
It may not seem like the most complex game at first glance, butHuman Fall Flatis a game allabout ragdoll physics. This includes the player’s ability to try to use the left arm and right arm of their character individually to solve specific puzzles as they navigate large, linear levels.
Each level inHuman Fall Flatis filled with various puzzles that involve picking up and interacting with objects that will open up pathways to new areas. There are a handful of levels made by the original developers and many more that have been created thanks to users, some of which have been added to the base game.
There has been a trend in games that includes turning everyday chores into video games, largely to successful results. One of the best examples of this isUnpacking, which is all about setting up items in a room after having moved into a new place.
With an underlying narrative being told through the various objects and places the game takes the player,Unpackingis a game about putting items in the right place based on general context clues. The puzzle aspect comes in assembling a room just right so that there are no items in weird places.
A point-and-click adventure game about navigating the internet is a bit on the nose, but it fits perfectly for the story being told inHypnospace Outlaw. This simulation game tasked players with being an Enforcer, a moderator that makes sure people are following the rules in the Hypnospace.
While players will initially be tasked with minor violations, the story will take players on a journey that will lead to a massive controversy. All the while, players ofHypnospace Outlawwill navigate througha 1990s-inspired webthat features unique user pages, interesting personalities, and a ton of nostalgia for those who lived through the early days of the internet.
In general, a puzzle format that has become a staple in the genre is thefirst-person puzzle game. While there are not a ton of options on Xbox Game Pass, one of the best games on the service to fall in that category is none other thanSuperliminal.
Participating in dream therapy, the player will navigate through various rooms with the ability to pick up objects and resize them based on the player’s visual perspective. However, due to unknown reasons, the player is unable to escape this dream state.Superliminalis filled with various illusions to keep the players guessing as they first observe each area.
Somewhat similar toLemmings,Humanityis a puzzle game about guiding a group of people along a stage and to its exit. The concept is pretty simple on the surface, and the first few levels are fairly easy. The humans will always move forward as a mindless massive horde of flesh, and they need to be directed to avoid plummeting to their demise. To that end, players are given different types of tiles that manipulate the horde’s direction or actions.
While things start fairly straightforward,Humanitygradually and significantly ramps up the difficulty, requiring players to think laterally and holistically to overcome a stage’s puzzle. While not story-driven, this project is the perfect puzzle game to throw on for 30 minutes at a time, allowing you to complete a brain-teaser or two before moving on to something else.
Building on the ideas ofUnravelby adding a second character/player,Unravel Twois a fantastic puzzle-platformer that shines as a representative of both genres. Players control red and blue Yarnies as they make their way through (mostly) outdoor areas, using their unique yarn-based abilities to overcome puzzles and jumps. The game is at its best when played in co-op, but solo players should be able to run through the campaign without too many issues.
Even more so than the first game,Unravel Two’s puzzles are well-implemented and constantly task players to think of new ways to use the characters' limited movesets. While they are challenging enough to require consistent thought, the puzzles are not too difficult in the grand scheme of things, makingUnravel Twoa good pick for younger players.
