Puzzle Dating:
Introduction:
Puzzle video games constitute a vast genre within the gaming realm, prioritizing intricate problem-solving. These games encompass a range of puzzle types that assess and refine problem-solving abilities, including logic, pattern recognition, sequence resolution, spatial understanding, and word completion. Many puzzle games incorporate a real-time dynamic, demanding swift decision-making, as seen in classics like Tetris (1985) and Lemmings (1991).
The roots of puzzle video games trace back to historical brain teasers and puzzles. Traditional thinking games such as Hangman and Bulls and Cows (commercialized as Mastermind), along with the mathematical strategy game Nim, were prime candidates for computer adaptations.
Universal Entertainment's Space Panic, launched in arcades in 1980, serves as a precursor to puzzle-platform games like Lode Runner (1983), Door Door (1983), and Doki Doki Penguin Land (1985).
Blockbuster, developed by Alan Griesemer and Stephen Bradshaw (Atari 8-bit, 1981), translates the Rubik's Cube puzzle into a digital format. Snark Hunt (Atari 8-bit, 1982) offers a single-player experience rooted in logical deduction, akin to the 1970s Black Box board game.
Modern puzzle games
Aspects of Konami's tile-sliding Loco-Motion (1982) later found their way into LucasArts' Pipe Mania (1989).
Boulder Dash (1984) challenges players to collect diamonds while strategically navigating falling rocks.
Chain Shot! (1985) introduces the concept of removing groups of tiles of the same color, causing the remaining tiles to fill the gaps. Uncle Henry's Nuclear Waste Dump (1986) involves dropping colored shapes, aiming to prevent tiles of the same color from touching.
Tetris (1985) stands out for revolutionizing and popularizing the puzzle game genre. Designed by Soviet game developer Alexey Pajitnov for the Electronika 60, Tetris draws inspiration from the traditional Pentominos puzzle where players arrange blocks into lines without gaps. The game's reach extended to MS-DOS in 1987, arcades in 1988, and ultimately sold over 30 million copies for the Game Boy.
Lemmings (1991) introduces a distinctive challenge, tasking players with guiding a group of creatures through perilous situations by assigning specific tasks.
Eugene Alemzhin's 1994 MS-DOS game, Shariki, introduces the mechanic of swapping adjacent elements in tile-matching games, later exerting a significant influence on the genre.
Interest in Japanese Mahjong video games began to burgeon in 1994.
The release of Minesweeper with Windows 95 marked the transition to mouse-based puzzle gaming.
In 2001, PopCap Games released Bejeweled, a direct adaptation of the 1994 tile-matching game Shariki with enhanced visuals. This title ignited interest in the match-three mechanic, forming the basis for other hit games like Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (2007), Candy Crush Saga (2012), and Puzzle & Dragons (2012).
Physics game
A physics game entails a logical puzzle video game where players leverage in-game physics and the environment to solve each puzzle. These games utilize consistent physics to amplify the challenge, gaining popularity in online flash games and mobile titles. Educators have harnessed these games to illustrate principles of physics.
Physics-based logic puzzle games encompass Portal, The Talos Principle, The Witness, Braid, Fez, World of Goo, as well as projectile collision games like Angry Birds, Peggle, Monster Strike, and Crush the Castle.
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