9 Platformer Games with Clever Environmental Puzzles

Platformer games have always been a blast, blending quick reflexes with creative challenges. When you add environmental puzzles to the mix, they become even more engaging, making you think as much as you jump. These games use the world around you—switches, levers, moving platforms, or even gravity shifts—to create puzzles that feel like a natural part of the adventure. I’ve rounded up nine platformers that stand out for their unique take on environmental puzzles, each offering a fresh spin on how you interact with the game’s world.

From indie gems to big-name titles, these games push you to explore, experiment, and outsmart tricky landscapes. They’re not just about reaching the end of a level but about solving the environment itself. Let’s dive into nine platformers that make puzzles as exciting as the platforming.

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

‘Portal 2’ takes puzzle-platforming to another level with its mind-bending portal gun mechanics. You play as Chell, navigating test chambers set by the sarcastic AI, GLaDOS, using portals to manipulate space and solve intricate environmental challenges.

The game’s puzzles revolve around redirecting lasers, bouncing on gel, or flinging yourself across gaps, all while the environment feels alive and reactive. Its clever level design and witty writing make every solution satisfying, earning it praise for blending brain teasers with smooth platforming.

‘FEZ’ (2012)

‘FEZ’ follows Gomez, a 2D character who discovers a 3D world, letting you rotate the environment to solve puzzles. This indie classic uses its perspective-shifting mechanic to create puzzles that feel like optical illusions, making you rethink how platforms connect.

Each level is a vibrant, pixel-art world packed with secrets, where rotating the view reveals new paths or hidden doors. The game’s charm lies in its balance of simple controls and complex environmental challenges, keeping you hooked as you uncover its mysteries.

‘Outer Wilds’ (2019)

‘Outer Wilds’ is a space-faring platformer where you explore a solar system stuck in a time loop. The environmental puzzles come from piecing together clues across planets, using their unique physics—like shifting sands or quantum objects—to progress.

You’ll navigate crumbling ruins, dodge anglerfish, or time your jumps with planetary cycles. The game’s open-ended exploration and lack of hand-holding make every discovery feel earned, blending platforming with a sense of cosmic wonder.

‘The Pathless’ (2020)

‘The Pathless’ combines fluid movement with open-world puzzles, tasking you with restoring light to a cursed land. You dash and glide through forests and ruins, solving environmental challenges like aligning lightstones or activating ancient mechanisms.

The puzzles feel organic, woven into the landscape, and reward keen observation. With its focus on momentum and stealth-based encounters, the game keeps you moving while challenging you to think, creating a seamless and immersive experience.

‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’ (2014)

‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’ puts you in the boots of Captain Toad, exploring compact, diorama-like levels filled with environmental puzzles. Each stage is a puzzle box, requiring you to rotate the camera, pull levers, or shift platforms to find a path.

Its charming art style and bite-sized levels make it accessible, but the puzzles grow surprisingly tricky. Originally a Wii U title, its Switch version added co-op, making it a delightful pick for solo or duo play.

‘Unravel Two’ (2018)

‘Unravel Two’ stars Yarny, a yarn creature who uses their own thread to solve environmental puzzles in a lush, Nordic-inspired world. You swing, tie knots, or pull objects to create paths, often in co-op with another player.

The game weaves emotional storytelling with clever platforming, where every level feels like a craft project come to life. Its puzzles are intuitive yet challenging, making it a heartwarming adventure for players of all ages.

‘Evergate’ (2020)

‘Evergate’ follows Ki, a soul navigating a dreamy afterlife, using a flame mechanic to activate platforms and solve environmental puzzles. Each world introduces new twists, like manipulating crystals or bending time, to keep the challenges fresh.

The game’s ethereal art and tight controls make every puzzle a joy to solve. Its gradual ramp-up in complexity ensures you’re always learning, with speed-running options adding replay value for dedicated players.

‘A Boy and His Blob’ (2009)

‘A Boy and His Blob’ brings a classic NES game to modern platforms, where you feed jellybeans to your blob companion to transform it into tools—like a ladder or trampoline—to solve environmental puzzles. The Switch version shines with updated visuals.

Each level blends platforming with creative problem-solving, as you experiment with the blob’s abilities to progress. Its nostalgic charm and unique mechanics make it a standout for fans of quirky puzzle-platformers.

‘Toki Tori 2+’ (2013)

‘Toki Tori 2+’ puts you in control of a chirpy bird solving open-world environmental puzzles without traditional platforming jumps. You whistle and stomp to manipulate creatures and objects, creating chain reactions to clear paths.

Its vibrant world feels alive, with puzzles that encourage experimentation over rigid solutions. The Switch version refined the original Wii U release, making it a charming and brain-teasing adventure for puzzle lovers.

Which platformer with environmental puzzles is your favorite, or did I miss a hidden gem? Share your thoughts in the comments!