The game I played was Monument Valley. I have played this game before but it is my all-time favorite and I know its puzzle mechanisms well. I think the experience of this game is 45% visual experience, 45% solving the puzzle, and 10% following the game’s story. The puzzles of the game usually involve visual effects. Oftentimes, the puzzles are understanding the trick-eye mechanism of each level and learning to manipulate it to find a path that the character can move. For instance, in the screenshots below, players need to examine the visual effects and try turning the knob. Then, the players can see that the contrast in shades changes the dimensions and perception of the plain, creating a path for the players to move.
Therefore, the puzzles force the players to explore the visual effects, which helps players appreciate the visual effect. Such a close tie between the puzzles and the visuals of the game also makes the puzzles solvable all of the hints and mechanics are in the game, specifically the round that the players are one. Moreover, some mechanics of puzzles are shown multiple times which allows players to learn and solve later puzzles more easily, helping them feel accomplished. I believe that the puzzles enhance the experience of the game by forcing the players to deeply appreciate the visuals of the game and try conquering it using their observations, which provides a key factor in the fun of the game.
