Puzzle Agent

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Created with indie comic artist Graham Annable's unique narrative and visual sensibilities, delivered with the distinctive Telltale storytelling style, Puzzle Agent is sure to challenge, thrill and engage in more ways than you can shake a cryptogram at!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,138 reviews

story318 positive mentions

replayability9 negative mentions

Charming art style and humor that adds to the quirky atmosphere.
Engaging story with a mix of mystery and comedy, reminiscent of Twin Peaks.
Variety of puzzles that, while mostly easy, provide a fun challenge and are well-integrated into the narrative.

Extremely short gameplay, taking only about 3-4 hours to complete.
Some puzzles have vague instructions, leading to confusion and frustration.
The game ends abruptly on a cliffhanger, requiring the purchase of the sequel for resolution.

story
691 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Puzzle Agent" is characterized by its quirky, engaging narrative that blends elements of dark humor and mystery, reminiscent of shows like "Twin Peaks" and "Fargo." Players follow FBI agent Nelson Tethers as he navigates a bizarre investigation filled with eccentric characters and supernatural undertones, although many reviews note that the story ends abruptly, leaving significant plot threads unresolved and encouraging players to purchase the sequel for closure. Overall, the narrative is praised for its charm and humor, effectively intertwining with the puzzle-solving gameplay, despite some criticism regarding its linearity and lack of depth.
- “The story is charming and amusing.”
- “The twists and turns of the story are intriguing, and keep you hooked.”
- “Puzzle Agent is an adorable little puzzler with solid voice acting, a hilarious plot and cast of characters, and well designed, if often easy, puzzles.”
- “The story is not presented well.”
- “The story itself was alright, albeit a little unsatisfying.”
- “The story builds up really well to the mystery of the town of Scoggins and I was enjoying the atmosphere and characters the game had to offer and then suddenly the credits were rolling at what felt like the middle of the story.”
humor
177 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Puzzle Agent" is widely praised for its quirky, offbeat charm, blending dark comedy with lighthearted moments that enhance the game's whimsical narrative. Players appreciate the clever dialogue, unique characters, and the balance of humor with eerie elements, making for an entertaining experience that keeps them engaged throughout the puzzles. Overall, the game's humor is described as both funny and engaging, appealing to a broad audience while maintaining a distinctive style reminiscent of cult classics like "Twin Peaks."
- “Puzzle Agent is a whimsical point-and-click adventure that offers a unique mix of mystery, humor, and challenging puzzles.”
- “The humor in the game is excellent and made me laugh more than a few times; the puzzles were very entertaining and many of them towards the end were complex (but not too complex to not enjoy them).”
- “This is a comedic gem with tons of different puzzles, which masterfully balances eerie mysteries with absurdly funny moments.”
graphics
167 mentions
42 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Puzzle Agent" are characterized by a charming hand-drawn art style that evokes a quirky, cartoonish aesthetic reminiscent of newspaper comics. While many players appreciate the unique visuals and atmospheric design, some have noted issues with graphical glitches and inconsistencies that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the art style is seen as a significant strength of the game, contributing to its engaging narrative and quirky humor.
- “The art style is funky and interesting, and there are certainly amusing aspects to the game.”
- “Puzzle agent is a short little adventure game with great art style (props to Grickle) and great atmosphere (Fargo meets Twin Peaks).”
- “The graphics are stylish and everything looks clean, and the voice acting is well done.”
- “The graphics and sound are very modest.”
- “It actually makes a lot of puzzles harder because you can't tell what's a graphics hiccup and what's a single pixel that's out of place and preventing you from solving the puzzle.”
- “The graphics of the game could’ve fit well with its charming story and lore, but often it was pixelated and blurry instead of looking hand-drawn like intended.”
gameplay
79 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is heavily inspired by the Professor Layton series, featuring a mix of point-and-click adventure and puzzle-solving mechanics that are both charming and accessible. While the puzzles vary in difficulty and can sometimes feel repetitive or poorly explained, they serve as a means to advance the quirky narrative set in a mysterious Midwestern town. Overall, the game offers a short but entertaining experience, appealing to fans of light-hearted puzzle games, though it may lack depth and replay value.
- “The gameplay is a lot like the Professor Layton series, so if you like that, you should really enjoy the puzzles in this one.”
- “With a gameplay really similar to that of the Professor Layton series, and with a more than obvious influence from Twin Peaks, Puzzle Agent offers a short (around 3 hours), interesting and entertaining adventure accessible for anyone, even beginners with no experience in puzzle or logic games.”
- “The main gameplay is divided into two parts: you have your normal point-and-click adventure gameplay where you talk to locals and learn more to uncover the mystery, and the puzzles where you will be tasked with solving something for someone or just to get past something.”
- “The gameplay is extremely similar to the Layton games.”
- “The gameplay itself is actually pretty boring and entirely unchallenging.”
- “Once you get into a puzzle, gameplay is halted until you complete it, which is annoying, and on top of that, it is oftentimes a stretch in relating the puzzle to the actual game in the first place (making them seem pointless).”
atmosphere
71 mentions
61 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of eerie, quirky, and mysterious elements, often drawing comparisons to works like "Twin Peaks" and "Fargo." Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design and art style in creating an engaging and immersive experience, although some note inconsistencies in tone and pacing. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and puzzle-solving aspects of the game.
- “The atmosphere manages to be both playful and terrifying (seriously)!”
- “The art direction and the voice acting go perfectly together, creating a delightful atmosphere, which combined with the captivating story will, most probably, leave you wanting some more.”
- “Brilliant atmosphere, and story, it's a great mix of Twin Peaks, Fargo, Delta Green, and The Wicker Man.”
- “There's little time for the atmosphere and mood to set in.”
- “The tone is also weirdly inconsistent, like it can't decide if its atmosphere should be one of comedy, horror, or an off-putting mystery like Layton.”
- “Amazingly, the atmosphere and story are let down by puzzles that are either something you would find at McDonald's or are literally impossible without guesswork.”
music
52 mentions
54 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a haunting and atmospheric experience, enhancing the overall storytelling and gameplay. While some players noted that the tracks may not be particularly memorable, they effectively contribute to the game's unsettling tone and quirky charm. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, complementing the unique art style and narrative.
- “The music is also really good; the intro theme as Nelson rides into town on his snowmobile gave me actual chills.”
- “All of this is heightened by the incredible soundtrack, which is a mixture of jazz, dissonance, and ambiance.”
- “Puzzle Agent has a beautiful pastel art style, a haunting soundtrack, and a bizarre story that is very reminiscent of Twin Peaks.”
- “The music is nothing to write home about, but it sets the tone well.”
- “The soundtrack is actually what sticks out most to me; it's almost Silent Hill-esque, making the Puzzle Agent experience all the more surreal and disturbing.”
- “This atmosphere of unsettling madness to Puzzle Agent is reinforced by the soundtrack.”
replayability
27 mentions
19 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits very low replayability, with many users noting that once completed, there is little incentive to play again due to static puzzles and a lack of decision points. While some players mention the enjoyment of the story and characters, the consensus is that the game is primarily a one-time experience, with minimal opportunities for revisiting or improving scores.
- “There's also the replayability value of trying to get a perfect score.”
- “It has quite a bit of replay value, as I feel as if most people may miss a few things the first playthrough.”
- “However, it has replay value.”
- “Very low replayability value.”
- “Replayability is sadly nonexistent, with static puzzles and no decision points to reconsider.”
- “Charming little adventure game with nice visuals, quirky story, haunting music and zero replayability.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is inconsistent, with users reporting various graphical glitches and bugs, particularly on Mac systems. While some players did not experience significant issues, others found the game unplayable due to these problems, especially on Windows 11. Overall, the stability detracts from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “There were a couple of puzzles where I felt they were buggy.”
- “I see on forums a lot of Mac users are reporting this game is buggy.”
- “Great...a game that looks like fun until the graphical glitches on Mac prevent you from playing.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the engaging story and character development that deepens their emotional involvement, others feel let down by the abrupt ending and the overall puzzle experience. Comparisons to higher-quality games highlight a desire for a more satisfying narrative resolution, suggesting that while the game has its merits, it may not fully meet players' emotional expectations.
- “The story is absolute genius; the more you play, the more emotionally involved you get with the characters, right up to the abrupt, yet timely end.”
- “That might be that it made me feel like a bit of an idiot at points, but that is more of a personal flaw, not one that reflects how amazing Puzzle Agent is.”
- “Some of them made me feel smart.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the inability to fast scroll through text, which can make plot segments feel laborious. While some appreciate the reduction of traditional grinding elements in favor of puzzles, others still feel that the overall experience remains burdensome.
- “You can't fast scroll through text - you have to choose between reading it the slow way or skipping it entirely - which makes the plot segments as tedious as the grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I really expected to like and enjoy this game based on other reviews, but I found it frustrating and tedious.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is closely tied to the unique art and world design influenced by Graham Annable, enhancing the overall narrative and player engagement.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game has received a perfect score of 10/10 for optimization, indicating exceptional performance and efficiency across various systems. Players report smooth gameplay with minimal technical issues, contributing to an overall positive experience.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
- “The performance is top-notch, with no noticeable lag or frame drops, making for an immersive experience.”