The great puzzlefests - an IFDB Poll

Playing Curses!, I started wondering which games belong to the canon of great puzzlefests. With this term I mean puzzle based games that are long, difficult and punishing; but also fair, engaging and truly rewarding to work through. The best works of Infocom probably belong here, as do Curses!, Anchorhead, Savoir-Faire and Varicella. But my knowledge of this corpus is hazy. Titles like Christminster, Mulldoon Legacy and Not Just an Ordinary Ballerina strike a bell, but I've never played them. Among more recent works, Counterfeit Monkey and Hadean Lands might be good examples. (The Dreamhold is perhaps not quite what I have in mind, being on the shorter side.) But I'm probably unaware of many other gems, both old and more recent. So help me by voting in the poll!

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	Counterfeit Monkey, by Emily Short 10 votes "Large puzzle game based on wordplay" [+]... "Large great gama based in twisting words on english words" [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --CMG... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lucifalle... "Portal for..." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --cgasquid... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Jubal... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game

	A Beauty Cold and Austere, by Mike Spivey 7 votes "Math Puzzlefest" [+]"Math Puzzlefest" () --Denk... "Impressive visualisation of abstract math-problems." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karl Ove Hufthammer... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Emily Short... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lance Campbell... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --cgasquid... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Kinetic Mouse Car... Vote for this game

	The Wand, by Arthur DiBianca 6 votes "This game is pure puzzles - many of them, and clever" [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --CMG... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karl Ove Hufthammer... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lance Campbell... Vote for this game

	Curses, by Graham Nelson 6 votes "The great puzzlefest that showcased the strengths of Inform" [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --shornet... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Ghalev... (No comment) [+](No comment) --SRD625... Vote for this game

	Anchorhead, by Michael Gentry 5 votes "Adds creepiness and suspense to a genre that often felt laid-back and purely cerebral" [+]... "A long game with well integrayed puzzles in the plot" [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk... "The game that got..." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lucifalle... Vote for this game

	Hadean Lands, by Andrew Plotkin 5 votes "Alchemical puzzlefest in which repetition is avoided by powerful automatic puzzle solving" [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --CMG... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Chin Kee Yong... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --bkirwi... Vote for this game

	Savoir-Faire, by Emily Short 4 votes "Brilliant game gets a distinctive feel because of the magic-based puzzles" [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) --cgasquid... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --bkirwi... Vote for this game

	First Things First, by J. Robinson Wheeler 4 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... "Quite hard but..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk... Vote for this game

	Cragne Manor, by Ryan Veeder, Jenni Polodna, Adam Whybray, Adri, Andrew Plotkin, Andy Holloway, Austin Auclair, Baldur Brückner, Ben Collins-Sussman, Bill Maya, Brian Rushton, Buster Hudson, Caleb Wilson, Carl Muckenhoupt, Chandler Groover, Chris Jones, Christopher Conley, Damon L. Wakes, Daniel Ravipinto, Daniel Stelzer, David Jose, David Petrocco, David Sturgis, Drew Mochak, Edward B, Emily Short, Erica Newman, Feneric, Finn Rosenløv, Gary Butterfield, Gavin Inglis, Greg Frost, Hanon Ondricek, Harkness, Harrison Gerard, Ian Holmes, Ivan Roth, Jack Welch, Jacqueline Ashwell, James Eagle, Jason Dyer, Jason Lautzenheiser, Jason Love, Jeremy Freese, Joey Jones, Joshua Porch, Justin de Vesine, Justin Melvin, Katherine Morayati, Kenneth Pedersen, Lane Puetz, Llew Mason, Lucian Smith, Marco Innocenti, Marius Müller, Mark Britton, Mark Sample, Marshal Tenner Winter, Matt Schneider, Matt Weiner, Matthew Korson, Michael Fessler, Michael Gentry, Michael Hilborn, Michael Lin, Mike Spivey, Molly Ying, Monique Padelis, Naomi Hinchen, Nate Edwards, Petter Sjölund, Q Pheevr, Rachel Spitler, Reed Lockwood, Reina Adair, Riff Conner, Roberto Colnaghi, Rowan Lipkovits, Sam Kabo Ashwell, Scott Hammack, Sean M. Shore, Shin, Wade Clarke, Zach Hodgens, Zack Johnson 3 votes "The biggest puzzlefest" [+]... "Literally dozens..." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Denk... Vote for this game

	Finding Martin, by G.K. Wennstrom 3 votes "Wait, what? I was trying to find someone? Puzzles galore." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Blake... Vote for this game

	Varicella, by Adam Cadre 3 votes "You must defeat your enemies rather than pass locked doors, but still a puzzlefest" [+]... "Fight tooth and nail (not literally) to get what you want. Lots of puzzles." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Chin Kee Yong... Vote for this game

	Lydia's Heart, by Jim Aikin 2 votes "Creepy puzzlefest" [+]"Creepy puzzlefest" () --Denk... "Long, difficult and rewarding. Both puzzles and story are top-notch." [+]... Vote for this game

	The Incredibly Mild Misadventures of Tom Trundle, by B F Lindsay 2 votes "This game has..." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Canalboy... Vote for this game

	The King of Shreds and Patches, by Jimmy Maher 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lucifalle... Vote for this game

	The Axe of Kolt [8-bit versions], by Larry Horsfield 2 votes "A huge fantasy puzzlefest. Very oldschool." [+]... "Straight non-ironic Fantasy-quest. " [+]... Vote for this game

	Frustration, by Jim MacBrayne 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) --Canalboy... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Denk... Vote for this game

	Blue Lacuna, by Aaron A. Reed 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk... "When played in..." [+]... Vote for this game

	Illuminismo Iniziato, by Michael J. Coyne 2 votes "The laughing makes the puzzles even harder." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... Vote for this game

	The Chinese Room, by Harry Giles and Joey Jones 2 votes "Philosophical conundrums brought to life." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	The Mulldoon Legacy, by Jon Ingold 2 votes "Great puzzle-fest game" [+]"Great puzzle-fest game" () --zer... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --cgasquid... Vote for this game

	The Dark Tower, by Jack Lockerby 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) --Canalboy... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk... Vote for this game

	Worldsmith, by Ade McT 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk... Vote for this game

	The Temple of Shorgil, by Arthur DiBianca 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karl Ove Hufthammer... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk... Vote for this game

	Adventurer's Consumer Guide, by Øyvind Thorsby 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game

	Risorgimento Represso, by Michael J. Coyne 2 votes "Brain-breakingly funny." [+]... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... Vote for this game

	Zork I, by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling 1 vote "I guess all the official Zork games fit the bill so I just add the first" [+]... Vote for this game

	Castle Blackstar, by Mark Sheppard, Andrew Cummins, Geoff Richardson 1 vote "Large Intricate Treasure Hunt With Added Quest" [+]... Vote for this game

	Mirror of Khoronz, by Derek Haslam 1 vote "Recently Extended Sequel To Gateway To Karos" [+]... Vote for this game

	Not Just an Ordinary Ballerina, by Jim Aikin 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --cgasquid... Vote for this game

	Augmented Fourth, by Brian Uri! 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Castle Ralf, by Doug Clutter and Steve Vance 1 vote "Large and clever..." [+]... Vote for this game

	Mentula Macanus: Apocolocyntosis, by One of the Bruces and Drunken Bastard 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game

	Gateway to Karos, by Derek Haslam 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --Canalboy... Vote for this game

	Hezarin, by Alex Shipp and Steve Tinney 1 vote (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game

	Birmingham IV, by Peter Emery 1 vote "Time travel puzzlefest with a moral dilemma denouement" [+]... Vote for this game

	Philosopher's Quest, by Peter D. Killworth and Jonathan Mestel 1 vote (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game

	The Dark World, by Terrence Bull 1 vote "It is a very challenging game with lots of twists and turns, but is also very funny." [+]... Vote for this game

	The Dungeons of Dunjin, by Magnus Olsson 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --Canalboy... Vote for this game

	Ferret, by FerretAuthors@jugglingsoot.com 1 vote "Post Apocalyptic Epic - The Pilgrim's Progress Meets Survivors" [+]... Vote for this game

	Suspended, by Michael Berlyn 1 vote "Special but big puzzlefest" [+]... Vote for this game

	The Lost Kingdom of Zkul, by Jon Malone and Allan Black 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Canalboy... Vote for this game

	Once and Future, by G. Kevin Wilson 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --Canalboy... Vote for this game

	Warp, by Rob Lucke and Bill Frolik 1 vote (No comment) [+]... 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.