Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With Puzzle Games Now?

C. THI NGUYEN: I n games, for once in your life, you know exactly what you’re doing and you know exactly that you can do it. And then you have just the right amount of ability to do it. It’s a feeling of concentrated, crystallized action. For me, solving puzzles, or balancing over in a rock climb, or seeing a trap ahead in chess, this is ecstasy. A... See more

T: Every multiplayer game has the concept of guilds, groups, collectives. Players know how to find others who can either complement or elevate their skills or social standing. We definitely see religion-like behaviors in games — like how fan fiction is written around a certain IP. In comparison, the craft in storytelling and world-building in crypt... See more