Puzzling Places | PC Review
Growing older has shifted my perspective into enjoying more relaxing activities and hobbies compared to my adolescence and 20’s. I used to stay up past one in the morning, go to parties, and play high-intensity sports. Although I do still enjoy partaking in those, they are few and far between. Mostly, I enjoy sitting at home and doing things with the family, such as putting together puzzles. This is also true for video games, as my gaming interests still include big open-worlds and action heavy games, but I prefer to have more cozy experiences. It might have been a surprise to Scott Clark on the podcast episode to hear me request Puzzling Places from Realities.io inc., but it was the perfect game for me to play right now.
The Puzzling
Puzzling Places offers players 18 3D-puzzles to piece together. Players can select between two different modes, journey and classic, as well as choose the number of pieces. Each puzzle offers options from 25 to 400 pieces (some up to 1000), with pieces becoming smaller as you increase the quantity.
Journey mode is the more relaxing experience of the two modes. At the start, you are given a piece in the puzzle area and then six pieces that will connect around that piece. After you pick up a piece, it will move in the 3D orientation and then you must find its location on the puzzle, denoted by a display of white shapes. This is the mode that I spent most of the time playing, as I just wanted a cozy playtime.
For those that want more of a challenge, classic mode is like putting a real-life puzzle together. All the puzzle pieces are set in front of you, as well as reference cards for the puzzle. Not only do you have to find their location on the puzzle, but you must also move it around in the correct 3D orientation, unlike in journey mode when it does that after picking it up. I only put together one puzzle in classic mode, but I will play it more after putting together the rest in journey mode.
The controls did take me some getting used to. Playing on Steam Deck, the right joystick controls the camera in a 3D-orientation and uses inverted controls. You can zoom in and out with the left and right triggers, and you can look around in a 2D-orientation holding the left bumper and moving the left joystick. You can also reset your orientation if you have trouble reorienting yourself. This game is also available in VR, and I think this would be a better experience in VR. However, after some time with the controls, I do think this is worthwhile for people such as myself who do not have VR and play with a controller.
The Places
Puzzling Places depict different locations from around the world, and each are stunning. One puzzle has you putting together an alley in London filled with colorful graffiti. Another depicts a view of a person photographing at the bottom of a canyon in Arizona. The 3D art that Realities.io inc. has created makes this worth the price of admission.
Not only are the landscapes gorgeous, but some create live dioramas. For example, one puzzle depicts a royal wedding in the middle of a European castle. As you build the puzzle, you will start to see people dancing or walking along the castle. This was a cool concept and made some of the puzzles feel alive. I was disappointed in how little this was utilized, as there are only a few that had live dioramas and some were great opportunities to make fun scenes. This is a feature that I would not complain about if not present or advertised in the trailer, but did leave me disappointed and wanting more. Hopefully, more can be added over time.
Final Verdict
Puzzling Places provides a relaxing experience for anyone who wants to put together 3D-puzzles. Offering two different modes and options for different quantities of pieces, it provides a ton of replayability and is ripe for DLC. The 3D puzzles are gorgeous with some offering live dioramas but could have been utilized in more puzzles. While it would likely be a more fun experience for those that have VR, it also is a great time for those of us who do not own a VR headset. If you like puzzles and relaxing gaming, this is an easy recommendation.
To hear me talk more about Puzzling Places, be sure to listen to the April 8th, 2026 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:31:05 time stamp.
This review is based on a PC copy of Puzzling Places provided by Future Friends Games for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation VR2 and Meta Quest.
Puzzling Places
$7.99
Pros
- Options to Tailor the Puzzling Experience
- Stunning Locations
- Highly Replayable
- Seems Perfect for VR
Cons
- Controls Take Some Getting Used To
- Could Have Been More Live Dioramas
