Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than by playing some puzzle video games? Puzzle games are a great genre to play around Halloween since they get your brain working to solve challenges, just like figuring out a maze in a haunted house.
Here are some of the best Halloween-themed puzzle video games coming out in 2023 that gamers should check out:
Key Points
- Puzzle games like The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me add horror elements to challenging puzzles.
- Escape room games like Mystery Castle: The Mirror’s Secret require solving puzzles to escape haunted locations.
- Adventure games like GhostDetector combine object hunts with supernatural mysteries.
- Hidden object puzzle games like Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow contain spooky stories and brain teasers.
- Tile-matching puzzle games like Spooky Solitaire incorporate Halloween theming and card game mechanics.
- Physics puzzle games like Creepy Tale add scare factors to problems involving gravity, momentum, and more.
Dark and Sinister Puzzles in The Dark Pictures Anthology
One of the most anticipated horror puzzle games coming in 2023 is The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me from Bandai Namco. This is the fourth installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology interactive drama survival horror series.
The game revolves around a film crew that gets trapped in a killer’s murder castle replica hotel. Players must guide the characters through the creepy hotel and solve challenging environmental puzzles to try and escape. Expect plenty of jump scares and terrifying moments.
Previous Dark Pictures Anthology games have received praise for their immersive stories and puzzle-solving gameplay. The Devil in Me seems set to deliver more of the same dark and sinister puzzles when it launches in 2023.
Escape Rooms with a Supernatural Twist
Escape room video games have surged in popularity recently, and 2023 will bring even more great options for gamers. Mystery Castle: The Mirror’s Secret from Hypnotic Owl is an indie escape room game with a magical twist.
Players awake in a mysterious castle and must investigate their surroundings to find clues, keys, and other objects that will allow them to solve puzzles and open new paths. The gothic castle is filled with ghosts and secrets that players must face on their quest to escape the mirror world.
The key draw of The Mirror’s Secret is the huge variety of logic, visual, spatial, physics, and word puzzles woven throughout the escape room levels. With over 100 puzzles to solve, this game should satisfy any puzzle fanatic. And the creepy story will get them into the Halloween spirit.
Dark Tales and Puzzles in Hidden Object Games
Big Fish Games is known for putting out new hidden object puzzle adventure games on a frequent basis. In 2023, one of their upcoming titles is Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow, the 17th game in the Dark Parables series.
Like previous installments, Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow will tell a dark fairy tale story while having players search scenes to find lists of hidden objects. The game will feature a variety of minigames and puzzles as well, including riddles, silver coin puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and more.
The Dark Parables games strike a perfect balance between eerie stories and compelling puzzles. For gamers seeking Halloween games, the Dark Parables combination of horror and brain teasers makes it an excellent choice to check out in 2023.
Matching Puzzles with a Frightful Theme
Puzzle games centered around matching tiles or cards can also get into the Halloween spirit. A great example releasing in 2023 is Spooky Solitaire from Silver Creek Entertainment.
This solitaire game incorporates Halloween theming by having players match cards on a backdrop of haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns. The gameplay involves clearing cards by stacking them in sequential order, with power-ups like pumpkins that remove all cards of one suit.
Spooky Solitaire puts a fresh twist on classic solitaire while keeping the rules simple to understand. With its inclusion of Halloween graphics and music, it’s a nice casual game option for days and nights around October 31st. The relaxing card matching gameplay gets extra fun when paired with the spooky theme.
Tricks and Traps in Physics Puzzlers
Finally, physics-based puzzle games can also incorporate scares and surprises for a fun Halloween gaming experience. Creepy Tale from No Gravity Games is one new physics puzzler to check out in 2023.
The game takes place in a creepy house where players must guide a flame through a series of trap-filled rooms. Each room has a different physics element, like ropes, gravity fields, elevators, balance beams, fans, and more. Players must analyze the room mechanics and use physics principles to navigate the dangers and help the flame reach the exit.
With a muted color palette and unsettling soundtrack, Creepy Tale nails the Halloween vibe. The physics puzzles start simple but build up to brain-busting challenges. Physics puzzle lovers will enjoy the problem-solving gameplay accented by the frightful style and story.
FAQ
What types of puzzles are in Halloween video games?
Halloween video games feature a wide variety of puzzles, including hidden object puzzles, physics puzzles, tile-matching puzzles, escape room puzzles, adventure game puzzles, and more. Games incorporate puzzles as a core part of their gameplay along with spooky themes and stories.
Are Halloween puzzle games appropriate for kids?
Many Halloween puzzle games are family-friendly and appropriate for kids and teens. However, some games that include horror elements and scary stories are geared more towards mature audiences. Checking a game’s ESRB rating is a good way to gauge if a game is kid-appropriate. Casual hidden object and puzzle games tend to be safe for all ages.
Do I need to play previous games in a series to enjoy a sequel?
For the most part, each entry in a Halloween puzzle game series works as a standalone experience. You can normally jump into a sequel without needing to play previous games. However, in some cases playing earlier games can provide useful backstory and let you appreciate cameo appearances and references. But most series are created so new players can follow along.
Can I play Halloween puzzle games on my phone or tablet?
Yes, many Halloween-themed puzzle games are available on mobile devices like iOS and Android phones and tablets. Mobile puzzle games provide quick gameplay sessions through apps. Popular mobile puzzle genres include match-3, hidden object, physics puzzles, and more. Mobile games are a convenient way to get your Halloween gaming fix on the go.
What are some kid-friendly Halloween puzzle game options?
Good Halloween puzzle game choices for kids include hidden object games like Chickie Witchie House and physics puzzle games like Tricky Pumpkin. Tile-matching games like Spooky Solitaire work well too. The Big Fish hidden object games labeled “E” for Everyone make great family-friendly options. Focusing on ESRB ratings helps identify age-appropriate games.
Conclusion
Halloween puzzle video games provide the perfect blend of creepy theming and engaging gameplay. As the scary season approaches, gamers have lots of great options in 2023 like The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, Mystery Castle: The Mirror’s Secret, GhostDetector, Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow, Spooky Solitaire, and Creepy Tale. These games include hidden object hunts, escape room puzzles, match-3 and solitaire puzzles, physics puzzles, and more. With fun puzzles and frightful style, Halloween video games are a great way to celebrate the holiday.
