Games with Difficult Puzzles and a Forgiveness Rating of Tough or Lower - an IFDB Poll

While searching for games that were difficult, I found many games that had a very unforgiving forgiveness rating, which I don't find very appealing. I do like puzzles, however, so I would be interested in finding games with challenging puzzles that do not also challenge the player's ability to juggle save states.

Try to avoid "moon logic" puzzles if possible. If you include a game with "moon logic" puzzles (e.g. the game is good enough for the player to tolerate a few of them), it would be nice if you could note it as such.

View Comments (4) - Add a comment

	Lost Pig, by Admiral Jota 5 votes "Funny, original, very playable." [+]"Funny, original, very playable.: It's not the easiest, but it isn't insanely unforgiving. Highly recommended." () --Neo... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Mr. Patient... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Danielle... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Ghalev... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Counterfeit Monkey, by Emily Short 4 votes "Excellent..." [+]"Excellent systematic puzzles, with an optional HARD MODE (type that at the start of the game). From the ABOUT text: 'it should not be possible to get stuck or make the game unexpectedly unwinnable'." ( - Full review) --Edward Lacey... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Ann R. J.... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --e.peach... Vote for this game

	Rematch, by Andrew D. Pontious 2 votes "Brilliantly convoluted, yet incredibly satisfying...but be prepared to be at least an hour trying to sort it all out." [+]"Brilliantly convoluted, yet incredibly satisfying...but be prepared to be at least an hour trying to sort it all out." --John Daily... "A one-move game,..." [+]"A one-move game, but you'll play many times before figuring out what the one move should be." --Emily Short... Vote for this game

	The Art of Fugue, by Victor Gijsbers, Jimmy Maher, Dorte Lassen, and Johan 2 votes "Not your typical..." [+]"Not your typical IF-puzzles, mind you, but it does have both difficult puzzles and a forgiveness rating of merciful." --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Blue Lacuna, by Aaron A. Reed 2 votes "I didn't..." [+]"I didn't actually play the game in puzzle mode (available after the prologue) myself, but from what I've heard it contains some tough Myst-like puzzles." --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Lock & Key, by Adam Cadre 2 votes "Designed to be..." [+]"Designed to be replayed a number of times until it comes out right -- each playthrough is basically one try at the puzzles." () --Emily Short... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Sunset Over Savannah, by Ivan Cockrum 2 votes "Challenging,..." [+]"Challenging, clever puzzles, and no way to make the game unwinnable." () --Mr. Patient... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Perdition's Flames, by Michael J. Roberts 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Zape... Vote for this game

	Make It Good, by Jon Ingold 1 vote "Insanely hard but..." [+]"Insanely hard but essentially logical game in which NPC impressions and reactions matter very much. Expect to replay a number of times to perfect your strategy from the beginning." ( - Full review) --Emily Short... Vote for this game

	Worldsmith, by Ade McT 1 vote "SciFi Masterpiece" [+]"SciFi Masterpiece" () --Denk... Vote for this game

	Earth and Sky 2: Another Earth, Another Sky, by Paul O'Brian 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Mr. Patient... Vote for this game

	Unscientific Fiction, by Tom Tervoort 1 vote "Some of the..." [+]"Some of the puzzles may be a bit weird, but in general this is a good and forgiving puzzlefest." --Victor Gijsbers... Vote for this game

Is there another game that you think should be on this list? Just fill in the title of a game you'd like to vote for.

Poll created on June 27, 2011