What is it? Portal-esque spatial puzzling wrapped in a grand philosophical sci-fi narrative
Release date November 2, 2023
Expect to pay $30/£25
Developer Croteam
Publisher Devolver Digital
Reviewed on Windows 11, Nvidia RTX 4090, Intel i9 13900K, 64GB RAM
Steam Deck Playable
Link Official site
A good puzzle game is a compelling collection of brainteasers, but a great puzzle game provides compelling context to drive the player forward. The original Talos Principle balanced its Portal-esque first-person puzzles with philosophical introspection, examining what defines humanity, and quizzing the player on what they think, too. Its sequel confidently builds on its puzzle mechanics, but turns its narrative outwards, asking both the player and its own world: "What is a civilization?" The answer, I think, is "something beautiful".
