The Web's Best Free Puzzle Games

I've played a lot of puzzle games. A lot. Here are some of the best of the freeware puzzle games I've found (not including my own [which you can find at www.fasteddiessoftware.com] -- it wouldn't be kosher to rate my own games).

#5. Tile World

Tile world is a freeware clone of the game "Chips Challenge", which was includedin the windows entertainment pack. It uses the Chips Challenge engine, but is made upof levels created by fans of the game (there is an editor available to create your ownlevels). In this puzzler you collect a certain number of computer chips in order to pass through a door to the next level. There are many items to help and hinder you inyour quest. There are locked doors, colored keys, water, flippers, fire, fireproofboots, and much more. There are also creatures with different behaviors waiting to stop you. The game can be repetitive at times (if you "die" you are brought back to the beginning of the level), but the challenges are fun and rewarding. This game isdefinitely worth a try. Resources for Tile World and Chips Challenge are below.

tile world - http://www.muppetlabs.com/~breadbox/software/tworld/
chips challenge/tile world faq - http://chips.kaseorg.com/faq/cache/18.html
chips challenge editor - http://www.stage62.com/chipedit/chipedit.htm

#4. Deadly Rooms of Death

The rules of this game are simple. You guide a character with a sword through rooms swarming with various creatures trying to kill you. All you have to protect youfrom these monsters who would like to see what your insides look like are your feet tocarry you in any of four directions and a sword that you can swing in two directions.The trick is that the monsters only move after you move, and you have all the time youneed to plan each move in order to survive. The game below is the "architects edition"which includes an editor to create your own "Deadly Rooms of Death".

drod site - http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewsitepage.php?id=90294

#3. Bricks

Bricks is, in the words of the author, Andreas Rottler, "based on the Polish game ofSenski....". This classic puzzle game sports "sliding block" puzzles ranging from relatively easy to close to impossible. The concept is simple, move the "bricks"by sliding them into an empty space in order to get the goal brick to the target location. If you are ready for a fun brain workout, check out this game at

bricks download site - http://www.bricks-game.de/html/winbricks.html

#2. Sokoban

Sokoban is one the most copied puzzle games I have seen, and with goodreason. The rules are simple, but the results can provide hours of enjoyment. Sokoban was written in 1980 by Hiroyuki Imabayashi. In Japanese, the word Sokoban means "warehouse keeper". And that is the easiest way to describe the player's role in the game. The game consists of rooms with a number of crates that the player must move to goal squares somewhere in the room. The only rules are that crates can only be pushed, never pulled, and that only one crate can be pushed at a time. These two rules combined with the absolutely fiendish layout of the rooms can make for puzzles that at first glance seem impossible. Only with the correct sequence of moves can the rooms be solved. Some Sokoban links are below. There are many versions of the program, some with editors for users to create their own levels. Have fun exploring the puzzling worldof possibilities that Hiroyuki Imabayashi has created.

official site (Japanese) - http://www.sokoban.jp/
sokoban++ - http://www.joriswit.nl/sokoban/

And, saving the best for last.......

#1. Laser Tank

Laser Tank contains some elements of Sokoban, but it is definitely not just a clone. The main element that makes Laser Tank stand apart from Sokoban is the laser. InSokoban, the player must push crates around the room. In Laser Tank, the player has a laser equipped tank which pushes crates by shooting at them. This allows the player to push crates from a distance. The object of the game is also different. The player mustmaneuver their tank from the starting position to a goal flag somewhere on the level. This sounds quite simple, but there are many obstacles that must be overcome. There can be crates as in Sokoban, but there can also be items such as mirrors to reflect the tank's laser, cannons that will mercilessly shoot you, water, conveyor belts, and more.

Another thing that makes Laser Tank so special is the sheer number of levels. Laser Tank was written by Jim Kindley. The author has made distribution of Laser Tank free, but he asks that players create their own levels with the included editor and send them to his website. He calls this creative concept addware. The result is that the current version of Laser Tank contains over 17,000 levels! All of the levels provided havesolutions, but looking at some of them you would swear that just can't be true. That isthe true sign of a great puzzle game. So, if you have a few hours to spend on an addictive, truly wonderful puzzler, give the link below a try.

http://www.jccontrols.net/laser/