From classic old tile laid tetris to modern brain teasers almost all the way to escape rooms, puzzle games of some form or another have been in gaming for decades. They can then card the player, keep them on the floor, and they will keep coming back for more. Why is it we find puzzle games so progressively potent? But the answer is a blend of factors, psychological, cognitive and neurological playing players into a universe of problem solving and exploring. So why aren’t puzzle game addictiveness ever stale for players around the world? And if you’re actually interested in the science behind puzzle game addictiveness, this is the article for you.
1. Problem solving and Cognitive Challenge
Cognitive challenge and problem solving are two of the best out there that also add components of a puzzle game. Puzzle games focus more on patterns, patterns to get past the hurdle.
Flow State: In fact — when the game is being played — players will find themselves at times in a state of ‘flow’: they lose themselves in the game and — apparently — in the world around them until time ceases to matter. It means more play time.
2. The dopamine and reward mechanism
The part of the brain compensation system releases dopamine as a neurotransmitter. Puzzle games feed in on this system because it makes people keep playing games that tie you up for interval award.
Variable Rewards: The percentage of games has an interesting similarity between slot machines and puzzle games, both having the system of a variable reward, where we don’t know either when or in how much we’re going to be paid. The thing is that uncertainty keeps people hooked and motivated.
Dopamine Surge: It has more specifically to do with a burst of dopamine chemical reward when a puzzle is completed, something so good and pleasurable. The player is likely reminded by the brain that they are solving puzzles and by the brain letting the player know that that feels good, so the player is likely reminded to repeat this experience.
3. Progression and Mastery
For games in general they are a concept in puzzle games, where the progression is almost invariably involved, and like you see each level as you master gameplay and move to the next.
Level Design: They’ve been very good designed, and as you get further into them, they get harder. The levels are laid out where the early ones will give you a leg up, feeling as if you actually do know what you’re doing, until the later ones are much more advanced thinking skills involved to get through.
4. Pattern recognition, Spatial awareness
Target:
Spatial awareness + pattern recognition
Basic toys are pattern recognition, spatial awareness and basic uses of fundamental cognitive skills, e.g. puzzle games.
Pattern Recognition: A lot of puzzle games are centered on pattern, sequence, and connection recognition. When you discover and take advantage of these patterns, they are right, lucrative and cumulative.
5. Social and Competition.
Multiplayer and Leaderboards: These leaderboards, multiplayers and social features that allow you to share your scores and time — like so many of the good puzzle games that are out there today — so much of it is present. At most it got players competing against other players just to prove you have a problem solving skill better than some other players.
Feedback and Interaction: Also social elements bring a community, and help grow the need for you to continue bringing the players together and play.
6. It’s emotional and relaxing features
Games can be fun, but running on games and puzzle games are so intriguing, they offer you with that relaxed, feeling polished form of escapism for it to be additional addictive.
Calming and Therapeutic: The puzzles in these action pack games are n’t even like regular action pack games, the game feels more like playing some more calm, meditation games.
Low-Stress Gameplay: Some puzzles are other non competitive in the sense that we drop the pressure and they work out what single task they need to complete.
Conclusion
The puzzle game is addictive at the same time by a mixture of a few cognitive engagement, reward mechanisms, progress and emotional gratification. We know exactly what to tap into in puzzle games: to master something, rocket to dopamine rewards, solve a problem or just not know. Another thing we really want to work on, is how did we take social elements and pattern recognition and relaxation and how do we put the two of them together to produce experiences we want to come back to over and over again.