The Witness (2016)

by Nish
written by Nish 6 minutes read

Summary

The Witness: A Masterpiece of Puzzle Design

The Witness is a single-player puzzle game developed by Thekla, Inc. and released in 2016. The game is set on a mysterious island, where the player must explore and solve puzzles in order to uncover the island’s secrets.

The Witness is a unique and challenging puzzle game that has been praised for its beautiful visuals, clever puzzles, and thought-provoking themes. The game has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year awards from multiple publications.

Gameplay

The Witness is a first-person puzzle game in which the player explores a mysterious island. The island is divided into several different areas, each with its own unique set of puzzles. The puzzles are all based on simple concepts, but they can be very challenging to solve.

The player must use their wits and observation skills to solve the puzzles. There are no hints or instructions, so the player must figure out the solutions on their own. This can be frustrating at times, but it is also very rewarding when the player finally solves a puzzle.

Puzzles

The puzzles in The Witness are some of the most clever and well-designed puzzles ever created. The puzzles are all based on simple concepts, but they can be very challenging to solve. The player must use their wits and observation skills to find the solutions.

There are over 500 puzzles in The Witness, and they come in a variety of different types. Some puzzles are simple mazes, while others are more complex logic puzzles. There are also some puzzles that require the player to use the environment to solve them.

Visuals

The Witness is a beautiful game. The island is lush and vibrant, and the puzzles are all visually stunning. The game’s art style is simple and elegant, and it creates a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Themes

The Witness is more than just a puzzle game. The game also explores a number of thought-provoking themes, such as the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the importance of perseverance.

The game’s puzzles are often metaphors for real-world problems. For example, one puzzle requires the player to find a way to cross a river. This puzzle can be seen as a metaphor for the challenges that we face in life.

Conclusion

The Witness is a masterpiece of puzzle design. The game’s beautiful visuals, clever puzzles, and thought-provoking themes make it a must-play for fans of the genre. The Witness is a game that will challenge your mind and leave you feeling satisfied.

Additional Details

  • The Witness was developed by a small team of just five people.
  • The game was in development for over seven years.
  • The game’s soundtrack was composed by Jonathan Blow, the creator of Braid.
  • The Witness has been praised by critics for its beautiful visuals, clever puzzles, and thought-provoking themes.
  • The game has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year awards from multiple publications.

Review Score

9.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Profile photo of Nish

Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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