Tezzel: The Tilemaker's Tale

[h2]Beautiful puzzler with genuinely clever solutions and interesting mechanics[/h2] [b]Puzzle difficulty:[/b] ★★★★☆ [u]Not recommended to colorblind people due to lack of accessibility options[/u] Don't let the 'difficult' tag scare you away. Yes, the puzzles do get quite hard, but they are not mind-bendingly difficult. Identify which pieces should end up where, and the execution will come naturally if you focus, experiment a bit and put in some brainpower. Each level is a 9x9 grid, making every puzzle a manageable size you can relatively easily overview, and usually you have just enough leeway so that you don't feel too constrained. Most solutions are really clever and feels great to get just right. Every 10 levels you unlock a new mechanic to play with, and they combine with previous mechanics to make challenging and fun interactions. There is some sokoban, but it is just one mechanic out of many, not the core idea. The art direction is excellent, the level selection menu is a wall made out of beautiful pixel art tiles you have to fill by completing levels, you get rewarded with 1 tile each level, making the progression a satisfying task. Awesome puzzle game.

There's something quietly wonderful about a puzzle game that doesn't just test your brain but rewards you with beauty for your trouble. Tezzel: The Tilemaker's Tale, the debut release from solo developer Old Mayor Studios, manages exactly that — wrapping clever, demanding logic puzzles inside a warm story about art, craft, and redemption. Tezzel: The Tilemaker's Tale is a confident, polished debut that earns its place among the best indie puzzle games of the year. It combines thoughtful level design with a charming setting and gorgeous pixel art, all tied together by a heartfelt story about an artisan's last masterpiece. If you enjoy puzzle games that respect both your intelligence and your time, Tezzel is well worth picking up. Score: 8/10 — A beautiful and brainy puzzle game that turns every solution into a small act of creation.