Other open world puzzle games like this?

[Limimi]

This game is awesome, what are some more games like it? Specifically open world puzzle games, but with the caveat that I feel like I'm wasting my life away if I play a puzzle game that doesn't have a narrative beyond 'solve these puzzles please'. I have The Talos Principle and The Witness in my library, but I can't play either of them for longer than 15 minutes without the ghost of my father berating me. (I know both have stories beyond 'solve puzzles thx' but the immediate presentation centres the puzzles too much.) Obviously I have psychological issues I need to work out, but for right now some cool game recommendations would be great!

Void Stranger is another banger in this category, which makes me think other sokobans are my best bet, but any kind of puzzle is cool.

[Ennis]

It sounds like Full Bore would be exactly what you're looking for. Very well designed puzzles, a pretty big world to explore, a surprisingly fascinating story, and an awesome soundtrack to boot. https://store.steampowered.com/app/264060/Full_Bore/

[Michael]

My recommendations are Outer Wilds and Tunic. Outer Wilds is more like Myst than this game, but is IMO the pinnacle of open world puzzle games. Tunic starts out like Zelda but ends as an open world puzzle game.

Finally there's Environmental Station Alpha, which is a Metroidvania that ends as an open world puzzle game. I've found the endgame far too difficult to figure out though so I wouldn't recommend it unless you've played Tunic and wanted something similar.

To others without your story requirement, I recommend Taiji, which is a 2D version of The Witness that I found far superior.

[Zelakon]

Originally posted by Baf:

The DROD series is the classic of the open-world puzzle game genre, but the first one is very light on story. I suggest starting with Gunthro and the Epic Blunder, which is the fourth DROD game in release order (fifth if you count the spin-off DROD RPG), but it has a lot more story and it was specifically intended as a jumping-on point for new players. And if you like it, you can get the first three games as DLC for it.

To add to this, a fantastic recent puzzler clearly inspired by DROD:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2880750

[marietta_felis]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1526370/Bilkins_Folly/ - puzzle, story, open world