The Witness is a hidden gem in puzzle games, beautifully designed in every aspect imaginable, but what surprised me is that it is - apart from the early game - exceptionally difficult! This game is hardcore when it comes to puzzling. It is so hard that I think accessibility is significantly reduced by it, since a difficult puzzle is not the same as, for instance, Dark Souls difficult. Games like that are beatable with devotion, dedication and persistence, but that will get you nowhere in The Witness. To beat this, you need the mental capacity. Or cheat and look up everything.

The Witness is on par with great puzzle games like Portal (2), Talos Principle, or Myst. Those are the memorable ones I've played (with more to come) but the Witness is without a doubt the hardest of these games. I was stuck on some puzzles for days. I was not able to complete this without the use of pen and paper, or screenshots where I could draw in, and it looks like I am not alone here. I am not sure if it a wise move to make a puzzle game this difficult. The end result is a game that I think most players will not be able to complete or enjoy because I believe intelligence is actually required for a player to finish and enjoy this. The game does not hold your hand, you are left with figuring out the rules through trial and error and although the game is clearly designed to be beatable, you do have to think outside the box multiple times. The difficulty should not be underestimated, even if you've completed multiple puzzle video games and do sudokus and crosswords in your spare time. The Witness is not for everyone.

I would only recommend this to players that fit the profile of high intelligence, strong analytical skills, can think outside the box and a 'bring it on' mentality. If you are *not* 'blessed' with high intelligence, or easily get frustrated when you don't understand what the game wants you to do, then stay clear. You will hate it and leave a bad review.

The Witness is a hidden gem in puzzle games, beautifully designed in every aspect imaginable, but what surprised me is that it is - apart from the early game - exceptionally difficult! This game is hardcore when it comes to puzzling. It is so hard that I think accessibility is significantly reduced by it, since a difficult puzzle is not the same as, for instance, Dark Souls difficult. Games like that are beatable with devotion, dedication and persistence, but that will get you nowhere in The Witness. To beat this, you need the mental capacity. Or cheat and look up everything. The Witness is on par with great puzzle games like Portal (2), Talos Principle, or Myst. Those are the memorable ones I've played (with more to come) but the Witness is without a doubt the hardest of these games. I was stuck on some puzzles for days. I was not able to complete this without the use of pen and paper, or screenshots where I could draw in, and it looks like I am not alone here. I am not sure if it a wise move to make a puzzle game this difficult. The end result is a game that I think most players will not be able to complete or enjoy because I believe intelligence is actually required for a player to finish and enjoy this. The game does not hold your hand, you are left with figuring out the rules through trial and error and although the game is clearly designed to be beatable, you do have to think outside the box multiple times. The difficulty should not be underestimated, even if you've completed multiple puzzle video games and do sudokus and crosswords in your spare time. The Witness is not for everyone. I would only recommend this to players that fit the profile of high intelligence, strong analytical skills, can think outside the box and a 'bring it on' mentality. If you are *not* 'blessed' with high intelligence, or easily get frustrated when you don't understand what the game wants you to do, then stay clear. You will hate it and leave a bad review.