The Talos Principle

The Talos Principle Deluxe Edition is a must play title on the PlayStation 4

93%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

96% User Score Based on 36,950 reviews

Critic Score 89%Based on 27 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Talos Principle is a philosophical first-person puzzle game. As a sentient AI, you must solve increasingly complex puzzles to unlock the secrets of your own existence. With stunning visuals and a thought-provoking narrative, The Talos Principle offers a unique gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+16

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 36,977 reviews

story6.7k positive mentions

grinding622 negative mentions

The graphics of *The Talos Principle* are stunning and beautifully detailed, holding up well even years after its release.
The gameplay features engaging first-person puzzle mechanics that gradually introduce new challenges, providing a satisfying blend of difficulty and philosophical depth.
The story is a profound exploration of consciousness and existence, effectively intertwining challenging puzzles with thought-provoking themes that resonate emotionally with players.

Some players find the puzzles to be repetitive and lacking in innovation, leading to a grindy experience, especially in the later stages of the game.
The game suffers from performance issues on certain systems, with reports of glitches, bugs, and control problems that can disrupt gameplay.
While the story has its merits, some players criticize it for being overly complex or tedious, with a delivery method that can feel burdensome due to extensive reading.

story
15,428 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The story of "The Talos Principle" is a deeply philosophical exploration of consciousness, existence, and humanity, presented through a mix of text logs, audio recordings, and interactions with AI characters. Players gradually uncover the narrative as they solve puzzles, with many praising the game's ability to intertwine challenging gameplay with thought-provoking themes, although some find the delivery method—primarily through extensive reading—tedious. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, enriching the puzzle-solving experience and prompting players to reflect on profound existential questions.
- “The story is phenomenal; the way you get information slowly drip-fed to you over the course of the game is super well done, and I genuinely cared to get all the secret stars to get the true ending, which is well worth it; it is awesome.”
- “The story/lore was absolutely amazing to read, and the voice acting was on point as well.”
- “The talos principle has an incredibly unique story and themes for a video game.”
- “The background story is philosophical mumbo jumbo typical of westerners who talk too much; pure nonsense.”
- “The story is pretty bare bones and not really that enjoyable.”
- “The story is overbearing pseudo-intellectual blathering.”
gameplay
5,683 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The gameplay of *The Talos Principle* is characterized by its engaging first-person puzzle mechanics, which gradually introduce new tools and challenges, allowing players to explore complex interactions between a limited set of mechanics. While many players appreciate the clever design and philosophical depth, some criticize the repetitiveness of puzzles and the lack of innovative mechanics compared to games like *Portal*. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of challenging puzzles and thought-provoking narrative, making it a compelling experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
- “Every single thing about this game is fantastic, the art style is consistent and nice to look at. The gameplay is very refined first-person puzzle solving, with great unique mechanics that don’t get old even though the game took me roughly thirty hours to beat. They constantly find ways to spice up the puzzles and I never ran into a puzzle that didn’t innovate upon the game’s mechanics in some way.”
- “The gameplay is a first-person puzzler akin to Portal in playstyle with different mechanics. The puzzles do indeed start off quite easily and with few mechanics, but once you're 3 or 4 hours into the game and unlocked all extra mechanics, the difficulty really picks up.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the puzzles are great, and the story is excellent, but the puzzle mechanics often lack inventiveness or challenge. The puzzles steadily climb in difficulty, and press you to learn not only their mechanics but their boundaries.”
- “I think many people found the playback puzzle mechanic frustrating, and I was certainly one of them.”
- “After clearing the six or so temples, the gameplay appears very boring and repetitive.”
- “The constant reuse of the same mechanics, without much variation, can feel tiresome, particularly in worlds B and C, where the difficulty does not significantly increase.”
graphics
4,166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
33%
2%
The graphics of *The Talos Principle* have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and detail, with many players noting that the visuals still hold up well despite the game's 2014 release. The game features stunning environments that blend ancient architecture with modern aesthetics, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews mention minor graphical glitches and a few dated elements, the majority highlight the game's impressive graphical fidelity and extensive customization options, making it visually appealing even on lower-end systems.
- “For a 2014 game, the graphics still hold up.”
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the story kept me on the edge of my seat.”
- “The game is definitely aging, so the environment design and graphics sometimes were a little rough, but it still served the game well and didn't break too much immersion.”
- “While the graphics are aging somewhat poorly, it's cheap these days, and if all you want is some solid puzzles, there's nothing really wrong with that part of the game.”
- “This game gives me insane motion sickness even with 3rd person view, head bob off, motion blur off, mouse sensitivity down, field of view turned up, etc., and the graphics are hard to look at, especially the trees.”
music
3,906 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The music in "The Talos Principle" is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's philosophical themes and puzzle-solving experience. Many players find the soundtrack to be beautiful and relaxing, often describing it as hauntingly serene, though some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and overall enjoyment.
- “The music is not distracting but, rather, enhances the effect of immersion in the game world.”
- “The soundtrack is gorgeous, it has an interesting philosophical story, an intriguing backstory and at the end, everything slowly comes together and it pays off.”
- “The music is an absolute standout reason to play this game alone, it sells it all.”
- “The music can get a bit intrusive.”
- “I found myself turning the music volume all the way down when I was struggling for a long time with a puzzle, otherwise it would wear a groove in my brain.”
- “I also grew to hate the music as it was sparse and repeated through the entirety of the game.”
atmosphere
1,869 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The atmosphere of "The Talos Principle" is widely praised for its mesmerizing and immersive qualities, combining beautiful visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and a philosophical narrative that encourages deep reflection. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a tranquil yet thought-provoking environment, enhancing the puzzle-solving experience with a sense of exploration and existential inquiry. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating it beyond a typical puzzle game to a profound and engaging experience.
- “The atmosphere of the Talos Principle is mesmerizing in its strangeness.”
- “The sound design also works to create atmosphere: the sounds of nature, echoes, and the light hum of mechanisms create a sense of presence in this mysterious world.”
- “A game as intelligently reflective as it is philosophically educational and self-aware of its intellectual puzzles regarding the mysteries of existence, the atmosphere is amazing, like an ethereal world, especially when you think about being alone and conscious about yourself.”
- “Most of the files are barely relevant to the plot and they "try" to build up the atmosphere of the game but they are not very successful in it.”
- “Also, the puzzles themselves are very detached both from the atmosphere and from the plot progressions.”
- “The ambient sounds don't give the game an atmosphere that fits and I find the looping audio very annoying.”
humor
708 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "The Talos Principle" is notably less prominent than in games like "Portal," with many reviewers highlighting its serious philosophical themes in place of comedic elements. While some players appreciated the subtle humor found in easter eggs and interactions with computer terminals, the overall tone is described as somber and contemplative, focusing more on existential questions than on laughs. Those seeking a lighthearted experience may find the game lacking in humor, but it offers a unique blend of thought-provoking content and occasional witty moments.
- “The humor acts as a delightful counterpoint to the serious themes, like finding a spoonful of sugar to help the philosophical medicine go down.”
- “While it's not without its more contemplative moments, the game's subtle humor and occasional nods to pop culture offer a delightful respite, reminding us that even in the midst of profound questions, laughter is still the best medicine.”
- “The puzzles are absolutely delightful, the philosophy is on-point, and the terminal is rich with funny and thought-provoking content.”
- “It's unfunny, uninteresting, and accommodates very poorly with the rest of the game.”
- “Your only companions are a big booming Judeo-Christian god voice from everywhere, recordings of the simulation designers, and a sarcastic, unfunny computer AI that likes to ask you philosophical questions.”
- “Nevertheless, I can't get into the story; it's boring and not funny.”
grinding
652 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
4%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the puzzles to be tedious, repetitive, and at times frustrating. While some enjoy the challenge and complexity, others feel that the sheer number of puzzles leads to a grindy experience, particularly in the later stages where mechanics become convoluted and require excessive backtracking. Overall, players suggest that while the game has its rewarding moments, it often feels like a chore due to the repetitive nature of the puzzles and the extensive exploration needed to find collectibles.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding required.”
- “I have 15 hours in this game and it's 15 hours of puzzles, not tedious walking sim crap or unskippable cutscenes that bore you to tears, but puzzles!”
- “I found most puzzles easy, tedious, and repetitive, while there was nothing entertaining to reward me in-between.”
- “The game starts out with extremely easy puzzles with limited mechanics and eventually progresses to a convoluted tedious slog of which the solution relies on 30+ steps with many different mechanics at play.”
- “After a couple more hours playing the game it felt like I was just grinding through puzzle after puzzle and found myself just trying to get through them as quickly as possible.”
emotional
548 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "The Talos Principle" is profoundly impactful, with many players reporting deep feelings of sadness, introspection, and connection to its philosophical narrative. The game effectively intertwines challenging puzzles with a thought-provoking story that explores themes of humanity, existence, and morality, often leading players to tears and a sense of emotional fulfillment. Overall, it is celebrated for its ability to evoke strong emotional responses through its storytelling, atmosphere, and character interactions, making it a standout experience in the puzzle genre.
- “Piecing together the narrative is interesting, the philosophical context is not trivialized, and the last audio recording made me feel deeply sad - and a game that makes you feel something is a rare thing.”
- “The story is emotionally powerful and is something that I will never forget.”
- “This deeply touching game is more a contribution to humanity than entertainment.”
- “Really shallow/boring story, but I also wasn't really playing a puzzle game for story anyway.”
- “Boring puzzles, boring story, limited rat-maze-like maps, uninspiring main character, and just forced gameplay.”
- “Too many tedious puzzles and a very boring story.”
optimization
385 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The optimization of "The Talos Principle" has received mixed feedback from users. While many praise its extensive customization options and smooth performance across a range of hardware, some report significant performance issues, particularly on older systems or specific configurations. Overall, the game is generally considered well-optimized, with a solid performance on both high-end and low-end PCs, though a few users experienced stuttering and other inconsistencies.
- “The performance is buttery smooth, with no frametime inconsistencies, traversal stutters or game breaking bugs and glitches.”
- “The game looks great and runs great, and amazing optimization ensures even lower end PCs can handle the game.”
- “Graphics and optimization are amazing, even on my laptop’s modest GTX 1050 I rarely dropped below 60fps on high settings.”
- “Beyond disappointed right now and completely lost as to why the performance is so terrible for a game that came out 10 years ago.”
- “The game appears poorly optimized and runs like the flaming fires of hell on my machine, no matter what settings I used, so be aware of heat issues.”
- “It isn't optimized whatsoever and make sure to stay clear of this.”
replayability
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
64%
10%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it offers multiple endings and hidden secrets, the overall experience can diminish once puzzle solutions are memorized. Some reviewers highlight the enjoyment of revisiting the game after a break to rediscover challenges, while others feel that the inherent nature of puzzle games limits long-term replay value. Overall, it seems that the game has decent replayability, particularly for those who appreciate exploring different narrative paths and achievements.
- “The freedom to choose your path and the consequences that follow contribute to the replayability of The Talos Principle, inviting players to revisit the game to discover hidden secrets and alternate endings.”
- “If you end up enjoying the game even half as much as I did, you'll surely find it very replayable and will have no problem putting in the hours to 100% it, going through all the endings.”
- “The game has a lot of replayability due to the bonus items and extra story you can get, not to mention the easter eggs.”
- “The downside is the replayability; I most likely will not replay the game, but am considering scooping up the DLC.”
- “If the gameplay wasn’t so boring it could’ve scored higher but because of its low replay value (in my opinion) I’m giving this game a 7.5.”
- “I wanted to do 100% achievements but this game won't let you do that for some achievements unless you replay the whole story again which is not really interesting; the replay value of this game is none.”
stability
210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
81%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including visual and audio issues, freezing, and control problems. While some players appreciate the intentional glitches as part of the immersive experience, others find them frustrating and detrimental to the overall enjoyment. However, a notable number of users also mention smooth performance on various hardware, indicating that experiences may vary significantly depending on individual setups.
- “The game looks great and runs great, and amazing optimization ensures even lower-end PCs can handle the game.”
- “Great puzzles, great narrative, runs great even on older systems.”
- “Runs great on any hardware and support for 21:9 monitors right out of the box!”
- “It requires excessive waiting, and when glitches occur due to the ghost intersecting with some map object, you’re forced to repeat the process, leading to even more downtime.”
- “Controls are completely broken and there are severe graphical glitches from the start.”
- “Nothing but crashes and freezes while playing this game, and the way they set full-screen mode prevents multi-tasking, so if the game freezes, the only way to recover is to hard-reset the computer.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
While the game is praised for its quality and artistic vision, some users express concerns about the developers' monetization strategies, perceiving them as somewhat cash-grabby. This sentiment reflects a broader frustration with the prevalence of microtransactions in the gaming industry, contrasting the game's integrity with typical cash-driven models. Overall, players encourage supporting such games to promote a shift away from exploitative monetization practices.
- “One thing I will say is that even though the game is amazing, I will note the devs seem a little cash grabby.”
- “In today’s world of microtransactions, games releasing before they’re finished, glitch-ridden open world engines, and games that overall fail to live up to their artistic vision, sometimes there will come a game that’s so perfect that it’s hard to believe it even got made.”
- “Support this kind of game so that we may show the digital overlords that not everything needs to be a lifeless looter shooter with microtransactions.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
Character development in the game is described as subtle yet chilling, with a constant sense of being observed, particularly through the enigmatic character of elohim, whose desperation grows over time. Players appreciate the rich worldbuilding and immersive storytelling, enhanced by audio logs and text artifacts that deepen the emotional experience. Overall, while the narrative unfolds slowly, the compelling character development significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment and depth.
- “While the actual 'story', per se, is rather slow, the worldbuilding, character development, immersion, and ultimately enjoyment I got out of the game is out of the scope of a ten-point scale, and really beyond words.”
- “The character development, although subtle, is chilling and ever present as if you are being constantly watched, studied by Elohim, whose character is driven by enigma and curiosity as well as his mundane, repetitive voice which grows progressively desperate.”
- “But the story—the character development through audio logs, the slow revelation of the story through classical literature and other text artifacts, the QR codes, the interactions with the terminals—made it even richer.”
- “As it stands, the player gets a taste of chilling mystery, but a full helping of character development.”

89%Critics’ scoreBased on 29 critic reviews

Buy The Talos Principle

22h Median play time

26h Average play time

16h Main story

29h Completionist

10-32h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 218 analyzed playthroughs

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