The satisfaction of solving a puzzle is inherent. You learn the rules of the game, then you are presented with a challenge that tests your knowledge of those rules. The predictability is calmingand hearing the click or the chime or the ringing of the game when you solve each puzzle is a serotonin boost that I’ve become somewhat dependent on. But sometimes I can’t solve a puzzle, and in those situations I’m grateful for games that let me keep going.
In many puzzle games, the levels become more difficult and complex as you progress, often using earlier puzzles to teach you tactics that you’ll use in later challenges. There are also puzzle games — often newer releases — that don’t concern themselves with whether you can figure out each level. A little to the left is a great example: the game is all about relaxation (although it has also become a lot more fun) a bit of a reputation for driving players crazy), and it would be antithetical to hold the player hostage on a difficult level. More importantly, what is “difficult” in a puzzle game like A little to the left is much more subjective, so the developers decided to let players skip the levels they don’t like.
It’s a Rorschach test of a game, especially in the case of the DLC Seeing Stars which was released in June; these new puzzles have multiple possible solutions, sometimes five or more for a single puzzle. It’s made to be skipped, which for me isn’t just about moving on. I also reject the idea that games are only satisfying if you complete every last piece, and do it alone. Cheating — or co-op, as we like to call it here at Polygon — is an indelible part of modern single-player games, so much so that Animal source has a whole puzzle that cannot be solved without the help of other players.
Another reason why level skips are a necessary and appreciated feature for gamers like me is the sheer volume of games I want to play at the moment. There are hundreds of puzzle games to dive into, and if I get so stuck on a puzzle that I can’t continue playing it, I’ll likely move on to another game in my backlog.
It’s not really my business if other players skip levels, but I think gamers are generally pretty intrinsically motivated. The reason we sit down to play is because we want the experience of the game. So for completionists and purists, offering the option to skip levels doesn’t address the problem. These types of players will probably still sweat over a difficult puzzle because they just want to to finish it before moving on, not because the game forces them to.
Arranger: a role playwhich comes out Thursday, lets players skip levels, but it doesn’t make it easy. To skip a level, you have to navigate to the gate at the end of the level (which can sometimes take a lot of maneuvering in itself) to activate the “skip level” pop-up. I’ve only done it once in this game so far, and I was just as relieved when I skipped the level I hadn’t solved in four straight sessions as I was when I solved the next puzzle in just a few minutes.
It seems like skipping levels is becoming more and more common in puzzle games. I think it’s a welcome recognition that we all have very different brains and that we all like and are good at different things.