Should puzzle games always let you skip levels?

Should puzzle games always let you skip levels?

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for puzzle games, I find immense joy in the satisfaction of solving a well-designed puzzle. The rules are clear, and the challenge keeps my mind engaged and focused. But let’s be real, there are times when even the most dedicated among us can get stumped on a particularly vexing puzzle. In those moments, I appreciate games that offer flexibility in the form of level skips.


As a gamer, I find great joy in unraveling puzzles myself. After learning the game’s mechanics, I encounter obstacles that put my understanding to the test. The sense of predictability that comes with it brings a calming feeling. Every time I solve a puzzle and hear the satisfying click or sound effect, my brain releases a burst of serotonin – a little reward I’ve grown fond of. However, when I get stuck on a particularly challenging puzzle, I appreciate games that let me bypass it and keep progressing.

Many puzzle games progressively increase in difficulty and complexity as you advance, utilizing earlier puzzles to help you learn strategies for upcoming challenges. However, some puzzle games, such as the tranquil yet challenging “A Little to the Left,” prioritize relaxation over frustration. In this game, players are given the freedom to bypass levels that prove too difficult or unpleasant, making the concept of “difficulty” in a game like “A Little to the Left” more subjective and open to individual interpretation.

Should puzzle games always let you skip levels?

As a long-time gamer and someone who values the experience of exploring new games, I’ve come to appreciate the unique challenge that certain titles present, particularly those with complex puzzles like the Seeing Stars DLC in the game “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” This content, released in June, has left me in awe with its intricacy and versatility. The new puzzles offer numerous potential solutions – at times, up to five or more for a single puzzle!

For avid gamers such as myself, level skips are a valuable and welcomed addition due to the vast number of games currently at my disposal. With hundreds of puzzle games waiting to be explored, getting stuck on a particularly challenging level might lead me to put that game aside and pick up another from my collection instead.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of gaming since I was a young boy, I firmly believe that gamers are intrinsically driven to complete every level and overcome challenges within a game. While it may seem irrelevant to me whether other players choose to skip levels, my personal experience has taught me that the desire to finish a game is deeply rooted in our love for the experience itself.

Should puzzle games always let you skip levels?

In the role-playing puzzle game Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Game, set for release on Thursday, players are given the option to bypass levels. However, this isn’t an effortless process. To advance past a level, you must first reach the exit gate, which can sometimes be quite a challenge in itself. I’ve managed to skip a level just once in my playthrough, and I felt both elated and disappointed – elated for escaping a puzzle that had stumped me for hours, but disappointed for not being able to solve the next one swiftly.

In puzzle games nowadays, it’s noticeable that level skipping is gaining popularity. I appreciate this development as it recognizes the varying abilities and preferences in our cognitive skills.

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2024-07-26 16:18

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