Puzzle Games - ranked by preference

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Tengen
Genre: Puzzle

Curse you, Nintendo. Tengen released a version of Tetris that was superior to Nintendo's version in nearly every way. When you take everything into consideration about a game, the only thing that Nintendo did better was graphics. Tengen featured multiplayer, which Nintendo did not, and it also included a lot of stats, which made for an interesting break between levels as you could see the statistics of how you had played thus far. Unfortunately, Nintendo went to court to make sure that this version of the popular puzzle game did not last long on store shelves and then proceeded to release their inferior version in its place. Whether Nintendo snuffed this game or not, it's still the better version of Tetris, and dare I say, the best version of the game ever released.

Release Date: 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Compile
Genre: Puzzle

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is easily one of my favorite puzzle games of all-time. While it seems as simple as matching up several of the same-colored "beans" to make them disappear, there's actually strategy involved as you want to try to stack the "beans" up in such a way that when you finally pop one, it starts a chain reaction with sets popping one after another. Doing so sends an avalanche over to your opponent and you can advance to the next round with relative ease. Known as Puyo Puyo or Puyo Pop in Japan, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is pretty close to the pinaccle of what I believe a great puzzle game should be - strategic, competitive, and most importantly, fun.

Release Date: October 10, 2007 (NA)
Publisher: Valve
Developer: Valve
Genre: Puzzle - Action

When the Orange Box compilation was released, it contained a little-known game called Portal which became the star of the package, instantly gaining poularity and adulation. The action-based puzzle gameplay was addicting and fun. It wasn't very long before it saw its own solo release, and eventually even saw a sequel. Spawning several catchphrases (many of which have been well overused) like "the cake is a lie," Portal is a game that will stick with you long after GlaDOS sings to you as the credits roll.

Release Date: December 8, 2011 (NA)
Publisher: PopCap
Developer: PopCap
Genre: Puzzle

The original Bejeweled is, and always has been fun. So when you take the original classic and add in a few more modes like Bejeweled Blitz (which is also a free, standalone game you'll find later down on the list) and my personal favorite, Diamond Mine mode, and you've got an absolute must-have puzzle game for your iPhone that gamers of both the casual and hardcore kind can enjoy. The iPhone has a lot of good puzzle games, but this is THE one to get, in my opinion. Heck, I've had it for months, and until Fortune Street Smart came out and took my attention away, I was completely addicted to this game...I played it so much that I've managed to get a score of over 1,000,000 in Diamond Mine mode. It's a nerdy accomplishment that I'm quite proud of.

Release Date: June 14, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Bullet Proof Software
Genre: Puzzle

This is the game that made the Game Boy. Without Tetris, I'm not confident that Nintendo's handheld would have flourished like it did. That little opinion out of the way, I don't think I need to say a whole lot about Tetris. You probably know all about it. Tetris is one of those great games that just does not age. It's just as fun to play today as it was when it was first released and in 100 years, it'll still be just as good. Some say that Tetris is video game perfection. I wouldn't go that far, but it's pretty dang close.

Release Date: November 30, 1996 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Puzzle

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo was an interesting concept; take the head-to-head fighting of the Street Fighter games and put it into a puzzle game setting. Games like Puyo Pop had been doing this head-to-head model of puzzle games a few years earlier, where you can actually 'attack' your opponent by eliminating blocks in combos, but Puzzle Fighter underlined the fighting aspect by giving each character their own "move sets" in the form of different patterns that they drop blocks on you...Essentially making this what the title makes it sound like - Street Fighter in puzzle form. In many ways, the game borrowed ideas from the Puyo Pop games, from the gameplay itself, to many of the ideas...But in many ways, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo also improved on those ideas and/or gave them a unique twist to deliver a moderately unique experience, and one well worth playing. This game is a gem...Pun intended.

Release Date: October 27, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Genre: Puzzle

Tetris Attack really has nothing in common with Tetris aside from the fact that it's a puzzle game. The Tetris name is basically used as a way to boost sales. That being said, the first time I played this game, I hated it. It was too slow-paced for me...But I went back to it a while later and began to appreciate it...And then started to really enjoy it...The next thing I knew I had just wasted multiple hours on this puzzle game in one sitting. Later games in this puzzle franchise have adopted the "Puzzle League" name (or "Panel de Pon" in Japan) and included various extra modes, and even the Pokemon license at one point, but the original still stands as a very solid puzzle game in its own right, very much deserving of any praise it gets.

Release Date: June 29, 1990 (JP)
Publisher: Irem
Developer: Irem
Genre: Puzzle - Action

Kickle Cubicle is likely a delightful surprise for anyone lucky enough to stumble across it for the first time. Basically, it's similar to the Adventures of Lolo games in terms of gameplay, but this game is better overall than all of the Lolo titles, in my opinion. Basically, it's an action-based puzzle game where you have to create a path to your destination while also avoiding enemies and fighting the occasional boss fight along the way. It's such a good game and it's a crying shame that so few have heard of it.

Release Date: May 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Developer: Human Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

I first discovered Egypt a few years back when rummaging through some old Famicom games to make videos for. I didn't expect much when I popped it in, but I got a solid puzzle game that I'm surprised that nobody tried to port overseas. In Egypt, your goal is to move tiles around the room and match up two of the same image. Once everything has been matched, you go onto the next round. It's a fun, simple brain teaser of a game that will likely have you coming back for more. It sure did with me.

Release Date: December 12, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

Lumines is a different kind of block-falling puzzle game. Instead of simply matching up block to destroy them, in Lumines, you must match them up and then wait for a line on the screen to move past them before they disappear. Lumines also tosses in the neat little aspect of creating music as you play...Move the blocks, destroy blocks...They all add to the music of each level. This also isn't a fast puzzle game by any means; you can probably look forward to a 20-30 minute game the first few times you play and longer than that the better you get. It doesn't normally feel frantic like games like Tetris provide...It's a relaxing experience that's well worth experiencing. It may have been the last, great, block-drop puzzle game made.

Release Date: March 10, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

Meteos was, and still is, a great, unique puzzle game. Basically, you use your stylus to slide blocks up or down to match three or more of the same color. Doing so causes blocks to blast upwards, sometimes off of the screen, and sometimes just up a little bit and they'll slowly float back down. It's easy to learn, fun to play, and is easily not just one of the best puzzle games on the DS, but on any handheld or console.

Release Date: November 8, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Rovio Mobile
Developer: Rovio Mobile
Genre: Puzzle

Angry Birds Star Wars mixes the best of Angry Birds and the best of Angry Birds Space and mixes the two together with the Star Wars franchise to create the best game in the Angry Birds series thus far. I thought that this game would be Angry Birds "jumping the shark" so to speak, but instead it feels refreshing. With many of the birds (dressed like Star Wars folk) having new abilities, it makes toppling the pigs over feel like something new. I'm not much of a Star Wars fan, but I feel like the addition of lightsabers and the like helped breathe some new life into the Angry Birds series.

Release Date: September 1, 2000 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle

Pokemon Puzzle League is essentially Tetris Attack from the Super NES, but with Pokemon themes tossed in and a few extras. Considering that Tetris Attack is one of the best, most addicting puzzle games ever created, I look at that as a good thing. If you already have Tetris Attack, there isn't really a ton here to make this game worth a purchase unless you're a Pokemon nut. Of course, if you've never played Tetris Attack before, then Pokemon nut or not, I highly recommend giving this gem a try.

Release Date: 1988 (NA/EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Puzzle

Shanghai is like solitaire, but with mahjong tiles instead of playing cards. Your goal is to match pairs of tiles to eliminate them from the pile, eventually pairing everything up so that you're left with nothing. In the Master System version of Shanghai, there's not really a lot of game modes of anything, but that never bothered me. For its time, the fun it provided was plenty. Even today, I can pop this cartridge in and lose a few hours just matching the tiles away.

Release Date: March 16, 2007 (EU)
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Developer: 1st Playable Productions
Genre: Puzzle

In my opinion, Puzzle Quest almost seemed to start its own genre of game with this match-three puzzle game mixed with an RPG hybrid. Since then, we've had a few more puzzle RPGs put out by the folks that made this game, and indie titles like 10,000,000 and Dungeon Hearts that do their own take on mixing RPGs and puzzle games. But, as far as I know, this was the first, and many can argue that it may still be the best. Puzzle Quest is a fantastic game that flew under the radars of a lot of folks, but most of the people that discovered it fell in love with it. It's not without its flaws, but it was still very well done and a very unique title for its time. If you like RPGs or puzzle games (or both, like me) then you definitely need to give this game a try.

Release Date: June 29, 1990 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Puzzle

Columns is one of my favorite puzzle games...And it all started when I accidentally set myself up for a combo that seemed to go on for forever right before my game was about to end. Since then, Columns is a game that I like popping in every now and then to kill a few minutes and just relax. It's not as good as Tetris, I don't love it as much as the Puyo Puyo series, but it's a good, solid puzzle game that stands the test of time pretty well.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

Electronic Symphony is the first new installment in the Lumines series in about half a decade...That being said, the Lumines that folks fell in love with on the PSP is back in fine form on the Vita. In addition to the addicting puzzle gameplay, the Vita also supplies you with some really stunning visuals, making this a game that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play. I haven't played all launch titles yet, but Lumines: Electronic Symphony has a good chance of being for the Vita what the first Lumines was for the PSP; the best launch title available for the system.

Release Date: March 14, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Jupiter Multimedia
Genre: Puzzle

Mario's Picross is a puzzle game that challenges your brain a bit more than most other puzzle games. Checking the numbers before each row and column, your goal is to determine which square to open and which ones to leave closed. If you can recognize the picture you're making, that can help a little in the process, but otherwise, it's all in using the logic of the numbers. It's a great little brain-teaser for Game Boy owners.

Release Date: July 21, 2010 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Puzzle

Mixing Symphony of the Night with a Super Puzzle Fighter-like puzzle game sounds like a really weird concept, but it works....It works really well, actually. I was skeptical of this game, and when I first played it, the touch controls took a little getting used to...But by the time I had completed the game, I was completely hooked. If you like puzzle games, or are just curious as to how Symphony of the Night would work had it been a puzzle game, then Encore of the Night is definitely worth checking out.

Release Date: January 15, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: EightyEight Games LTD
Developer: EightyEight Games LTD
Genre: Puzzle

10,000,000 is the first game released in 2013 to really hook me. I'm a sucker for most puzzle games, and when you toss in mild RPG elements, that just adds to the longevity of the game for me. 10,000,000 manages to incorporate RPG elements into the game and still make it totally different from Puzzle Quest, which is probably the best known puzzle game/RPG around. Basically, you've got a guy running in a dungeon up at the top of the screen. How fast you are at matching up the squares on the bottom area of the screen, the longer he'll survive up top. Matching blocks control physical attacks, magical attacks, opening chests and doors, building up shields, etc. If you can survive in the dungeon long enough to earn 10,000,000 points, you're allowed to leave. I wish it was 10,000,000,000 points instead so the fun could have lasted longer...But I suppose that wouldn't fit the name quite as well, now would it?

Release Date: April 1989 (NA)
Publisher: HAL Laboratories
Developer: HAL Laboratories
Genre: Puzzle

Adventures of Lolo is an action-based puzzle game where Lolo, a blue ball of goodness has to make his way to the top of a tower...But he has to get there room by room and solve the puzzles in each of those rooms in order to advance on. I'm a pretty big fan of the game, myself. I like later entries in the franchise as well, but I think the first was the best in the series, and it also happens to be my favorite of the bunch as well.

Release Date: January 31, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: G-Artists
Genre: Puzzle

Intelligent Qube isn't your average puzzle game...'Cause failure can be quite deadly. In Intelligent Qube, you're basically trying to survive as blocks tumble your way. Fail to find a way to avoid 'em and you get crushed to death. To avoid them, you need to destroy 'em...But alas, it gets tricky as you advance, as some blocks can't be destroyed, and you've gotta use your brainpower to make your way through each level. It's also got a scoring system so you can gloat to your friends how much smarter than them you are...Or vice versa.

Release Date: June 16, 1998 (EU)
Publisher: Ocean
Developer: Zed Two Limited
Genre: Puzzle

Wetrix is a fun, unique puzzle game where you essentially have blocks that warp the environment along with blocks of water to fill in craters that you create with the objective of trying your best to contain all the water without letting it drip out. If enough water drains, the game is over. It's actually very addicting and has various power-ups like ice and fire that change the water physics and continuously keep things interesting. If you're looking for a unique puzzle game, Wetrix is a great choice.

Release Date: July 27, 1990 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle

Give Mario a clipboard, toss a white coat on him, strap a pizza cutter to his head, and suddenly he's a doctor. In Dr. Mario, your goal is to eliminate the viruses in the level by using the correct-colored pills. I think it's a really neat concept for a puzzle game...And while the game is definitely good, I've never really been big into it. I had this and Tetris as my portable puzzle games growing up, and nine times out of ten, I'd play this for a little bit and quickly realize I'd rather be playing the Russian game of falling blocks. But still, Dr. Mario is a quality puzzle game with a neat premise and it's well worth your time to play it.

Release Date: May 6, 2008 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Puzzle

Boom Blox is kind of like Jenga...If Jenga was loaded with personality. Then again, if you've watched any of the Steven Spielberg cartoons like Tiny Toon Adventures, Freakazoid, Animaniacs, etc. then it's not surprising that a game presented by Spielberg, such as this one, is just as entertaining to experience as those cartoons. I'd be willing to go out on a limb and state that this is the most entertaining puzzle game that I've played as far as sheer personality goes. To compare it to a slightly more recent release, Boom Blox kind of plays like a 3D Angry Birds. So, if you like making things topple and collapse, Boom Blox may be the Wii game for you.

Release Date: March 28, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Cube Roots
Genre: Puzzle

Dungeon Hearts is a new take on the puzzle-RPG hybrid that slowly seems to be becoming its own genre...and it's well worth playing. The game itself is enjoyable, with the goal of matching up destructive blocks with regular blocks of the same color to do damage to the enemy and block their attacks, which also show up on the screen as blocks. It starts slow, but picks up to a frantic speed after a few minutes, where you're in a panic trying to make everything work without killing off your party. The soundtrack also deserves a mention. If you're nostalgic for classic Final Fantasy games, you will adore this soundtrack - it's clearly inspired by them. It's an overall good experience and unique enough to be worth looking at for fans of puzzle games and RPGs alike.

Release Date: May 24, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Puzzle

I like any Puyo Puyo game. I'm a Puyo Puyo junkie. So, when I played Puyo Puyo Tsuu Perfect Set, I was destined to enjoy it. The only real negative that I can give this game is that it's the same old Puyo Puyo that had been put out for about 10 years by the time this game came out. I mean the puzzle gameplay is solid and has aged flawlessly, but unless you've made significant changes or additions, another new Puyo Puyo game probably isn't needed...But it'll probably come out anyway...And I'll probably buy it anyway, too.

Release Date: December 16, 1994 (JP)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Electronic Arts Victor
Genre: Puzzle

I've always been a fan of the Shanghai games. I just find them to be simple fun. For those who want to get an idea of how this game is played, check Google. I know there are plenty of free-to-play versions in Flash on the internet. That being said, this unique puzzle game of matching up tiles can be very addicting...Addicting enough where I placed it this high on the 3DO list.

Release Date: September 15, 2011 (NA)
Publisher: Adult Swim Games
Developer: Adult Swim Games
Genre: Puzzle

Monsters Ate My Condo kind of surprised me...And I'm not really sure why. When I see that Adult Swim put out a game, I always expect the worst, but they usually deliver with something both good and bizarre. Monsters Ate My Condo easily fits that bill, providing a very solid puzzle experience mixed with a bizarre premise of feeding sections of buildings to various, giant monsters, while trying to prevent your condo from falling over at the same time. It's a blast to play and a must-buy title if you're a fan of puzzle games. With how many hours this game has taken from my life, I think it should be re-named Monsters Ate My Life....That was a bad joke, but this is a good game. Get it.

Release Date: 1992 (EU)
Publisher: Salu
Developer: Salu
Genre: Puzzle

Acid Drop is one of the many puzzle games that appeared after the massive success of Tetris. The difference being that Acid Drop was on the Atari 2600...about 10 years after the popularity of that system had hit its peak. Acid Drop is basically most like Columns in that you've got blocks of multiple colors and your goal is to match-up three of each color. It's not horrible by any means, but due to the console that it was released on, not too many have experienced it...or even heard of it, for that matter.

Release Date: December 11, 2009 (NA)
Publisher: Clickgamer.com
Developer: Rovio Mobile
Genre: Puzzle

Say what you want; like it or hate it, the United States (and possibly elsewhere...don't live elsewhere, so I'm not sure how the rest of the world reacts to the game) is Angry Birds crazy. Walk into a Wal-Mart and you can find Angry Birds stuffed animals...You can find people playing it that have never played a video game before...It's kind of nuts. But anyway, Angry Birds isn't a perfect game, but it is addicting...And it's pretty easy to see why so many folks have fallen in love with it.

Release Date: March 22, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Rovio Mobile
Developer: Rovio Mobile
Genre: Puzzle

Angry Birds Space is more of the same...Except with the setting being in space. Being in space, the physics are all different from the original Angry Birds making this a game with a "more of the same" feeling, but also giving you a feeling of playing something brand new at the same time. As of right now, I slightly prefer the original over this version of the game, but the more I play, my mind may change...So don't be surprised if this game moves up or down from this position in the future.

Release Date: March 5, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Creat Studios
Developer: Creat Studios
Genre: Puzzle

Are you one of those people that love the Bust-A-Move (aka Puzzle Bobble) games, but have been waiting for them to really change up the formula a bit? Well, then give Germinator a try. The gameplay is similar to Bust-A-Move with you firing germs instead of bubbles in an attempt to match stuff up, but Germinator is more than just a Bust-A-Move clone. By shooting the same colored germ at a germ on the screen, the germs combine as one and grow. If other same-colored germs on the screen happen to touch the germ as it grows, they'll be absorbed into it as well, causing the germ to get bigger and bigger...Potentially, you could will the entire screen with a single germ if the situation allows it. It's not perfect, but it's still a solid puzzle game that Bust-A-Move fans longing for something new will likely appreciate.

Release Date: March 1, 2011 (NA)
Publisher: Moon Shepherd Limited
Developer: Moon Shepherd Limited
Genre: Puzzle

I've gotta give credit to Moon Shepherd Limited...They made a heckuva game when they decided to mix the rules of poker with the shooter-like qualities of Space Invaders. This hybrid game plays surprisingly well and can easily suck minutes of your life away without you realizing where the time has gone...It's also got some personality tossed in, so it's not just a fun game with a boring presentation...it's a game that's got it all.

Release Date: April 6, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Awesome Studios
Genre: Puzzle

Imagine games like Marble Madness or Super Monkey Ball, but with a puddle of liquid, and you've got Mercury. In Mercury, you've not only got to try to not fall off the edge of a level, but you've got to use edges to split your blob into two, change the color of the blob to enter doors, combine two colored blobs to make a new color, and make sure that enough of your blob is left by the time you make it to the goal. It makes for a very entertaining and fun action-puzzle experience that every PSP owner should try.

Release Date: October 5, 2010 (NA)
Publisher: Chillingo
Developer: ZeptoLab
Genre: Puzzle

Cut the Rope is a simple, but very good mind-bender of a puzzle game. The goal is to feed the monster candy. The trick is that the candy is attached to ropes, and you've got to figure out how to get the treat into that monster's mouth while fighting both gravity and hazards in the levels. It seems to get mixed reactions from people, but I firmly believe that this is a solid, different puzzle experience and a great choice when looking for a worthwhile game on your smartphone.

Release Date: 1990 (NA)
Publisher: American Video Entertainment
Developer: C&E Inc.
Genre: Puzzle

Tiles of Fate is basically the closest thing to Shanghai to hit North American shores...And it's not bad, honestly. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that this is the best American Video Entertainment-published game, and easily one of the best non-licensed titles you can get on the NES. If you're a fan of the solitaire-like, mahjong concept of Shanghai, then Tiles of Fate is a nice game to hunt down if you're like a game in that genre for your NES.

Release Date: February 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Ultra Games
Developer: Konami
Genre: Puzzle - Action

Q*Bert should really have its mouth or snout or whatever it is washed out with soap from all of the cussing that it does. What is Q*Bert anyway? Maybe orange bagpipes with eyes and legs? I dunno, but Q*Bert was huge in arcades, and was one of the household names in video games along with Pac-Man for a brief period of time until a certain Italian plumber hopped along and stole everyone's hearts. Q*Bert hopped too, though, and this unique action-based puzzle game where you change the colors of platforms while also avoiding enemies was still fun when the NES version came out, even though it came out after Q*Bert's arcade popularity had already fizzled out years later.

Release Date: December 24, 1993 (JP)
Publisher: Bullet Proof Software
Developer: Bullet Proof Software
Genre: Puzzle

I'm not 100% sure why this game was never translated and shipped overseas to North America...But I have a suspicion that it has to do with difficulty. Tetris Butou Gaiden is like a combination of the Tetris we all know and love, and the battle-style of puzzle gameplay that the Puyo Pop franchise is known for. The end result is a game of Tetris where you and your opponent can use skills to load up your rival's screen. The difficulty lies in the fact that you could be doing great and then your opponent will sometimes instant-kill you with one of their skills. It can be frustrating against the computer, but against a friend, it's a hekuvalotta fun.

Release Date: June 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Altron
Developer: Altron
Genre: Puzzle

Cleopatra Fortune is an odd puzzle game that plays kind of like Tetris in that blocks fall from the sky and stack on top of each other. The catch here is that instead of matching blocks, you want to instead entomb the sarcophaguses that fall with the blocks, which gives you points and clears up the level, allowing you for more room for burying more mummy caskets. It's a decent puzzle game that might be worth checking out if you find the concept interesting.

Release Date: June 29, 2001 (EU)
Publisher: BAM! Entertainment
Developer: Pukka Games
Genre: Puzzle

Hot Potato! is a unique little puzzle game that's almost like an inverted, scrolling Dr. Mario. You've got colored "potatoes" in the streets and your job is to match the correct colored potatoes together to eliminate 'em. Since you're constantly moving up the street, you've got to act fast in order to avoid getting pinched between a group of 'taters and the bottom of the screen. It's a fun, unique puzzle game that deserves a little recognition, in my opinion, and it's a decent choice if you're looking for a quality puzzle game on your GBA.

Release Date: April 10, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Alawar Entertainment, Inc.
Developer: Alawar Entertainment, Inc.
Genre: Puzzle

Treasures of Montezuma Blitz is a free-to-play puzzle game, kind of like Bejeweled in style, but on a strict time limit. Each time you play consumes a life, and when you're all out of lives you can either purchase more lives via the Playstation Network (if you're impatient) or you can simply wait a few minutes and your lives will slowly re-stock themselves. This form of gameplay can be kind of annoying, but since you never have to spend a single penny to get enjoyment out of this game, it's an annoyance that's not too terrible. If you're a fan of match-3 puzzle games, this free game is well worth downloading.

Release Date: December 26, 1990 (JP)
Publisher: Hal Laboratories
Developer: Hal Laboratories
Genre: Puzzle

Adventures of Lolo 3 (known as 2 in Japan) is an attempt to modify the successful Adventures of Lolo formula by adding a world map, allowing players to explore around to discover the next area they'll play in. The environments are also a bit more varied than the previous entries, which helps prevent the game from feeling too awful repetitive. I still prefer the original over this game, but the Adventures of Lolo 3 is a close second.

Release Date: 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Nihon System / Moss
Developer: Nihon System / Moss
Genre: Puzzle

Puzzle de Bowling is an enjoyable puzzle game, in the spirit of Puzzle Bobble or Bust-A-Move, that involves the player bowling a ball down the alley. Match the ball with two or more pins or the same color and they disappear, if they aren't there, the ball turns into a pin and you continue on. The round ends when all pins have been wiped out. It's a solid puzzle game with a neat little gimmick of bowling tossed in. The developers really threw a "strike" with this one....That was a pretty good pun, wasn't it? Don't worry, I'll "spare" you from any more. Oh, I did it again!!

Release Date: December 7, 2011 (NA)
Publisher: PopCap
Developer: PopCap
Genre: Puzzle

Bejeweled Blitz kind of feels like a glorified demo of Bejeweled, as it's actually a game mode in the recent Bejeweled released on iPhone...But it's still a very, very fun glorified demo of Bejeweled. In Bejeweled Blitz, you have 60 seconds to rack up the highest score possible...That's it. While it might not sound too impressive, if you play it once, you'll likely play it at least several more times in a single sitting. It's a perfect game for waiting at a bus stop or various other on-the-go situations, as it only keeps your attention for a minute at a time. If you like the game, but want a longer time to enjoy it, or different versions of the same formula in one package, then the recently-released Bejeweled might be a better option for you than this game.

Release Date: December 8, 2010 (NA)
Publisher: AMC WORKSHOP
Developer: AMC WORKSHOP
Genre: Puzzle

If you like Angry Birds, I highly suggest that you give Demolish a try. Demolish is a very well done alternative when you've done all you can do in Angry Birds but want more object-slinging fun. The object in Demolish is to knock blocks off of a podium of sorts, with different types of blocks showing up as you advance on in the game. Angry Birds has more content, which places it higher on this list, but Demolish is just as fun.

Release Date: November 26, 2008 (NA)
Publisher: ngmoco
Developer: ngmoco
Genre: Puzzle

Topple is like Jenga, in that you're stacking blocks on top of each other while trying not to cause the tower of blocks to collapse. But unlike Jenga, in Topple, you'll be working with various shapes as you struggle to reach the required height for each level. Adding a little personality to the game are the blocks themselves, as they all have changing expressions...And that little personality makes this game stand out among a sea of puzzle games on the iPhone. The tower-stacking gameplay can be quite addicting, too.

Release Date: 1999 (EU)
Publisher: Infogrames
Developer: Bit Managers
Genre: Puzzle

Die Maus is an interesting action-oriented puzzle game that involves a mouse and an elephant searching for a duck...As odd as that sounds, the gameplay isn't bad. Your goal is to traverse through levels, switching between the mouse and elephant to overcome obstacles preventing you from reaching the end. If you see something heavy, your best bet is to push it with the elephant. Need to hop across something, and you're better off using the mouse. The skills of both animal are more than those mentioned above, but you get the idea. Tag team your way through the game. It's a decent game, though nothing worth going out of your way to play.

Release Date: February 4, 2005 (EU)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Rare
Genre: Puzzle

It's Mr. Pants is a unique puzzle game that requires you to add and overlap shapes in order to create squares and rectangles, which will then disappear from the screen. The goal is to empty the screen from all colors. Some of the puzzles are easy while others are real head scratchers. I can't help but feel like a version of this game would have been a great addition to the Brain Age games released by Nintendo on the DS handheld, as these puzzles really make you think. That said, this isn't the best puzzle game I've played, but I'd say that it's still quite good and worth playing if only for the fact that it's an innovate puzzle game without anything else like it out there that I'm aware of. It's not just Mr. Pants, it's also one of a kind.

Release Date: August 2009 (NA)
Publisher: MumboJumbo
Developer: MumboJumbo
Genre: Puzzle

Luxor is quite the addicting puzzle game, and a game that happens to have a unique Egyptian theme. Basically a snake-like formation of colored balls slithers through the stage, and your goal is to shoot similar balls at the snake the match three of the same color in a row. Then, destroy all snakes in the stage to advance to the next level. It's an easy game to pick up and play, but it gets progressively more difficult as you get closer to the end of the game, which makes it a good game for players of all experience levels to enjoy.