Absolutely Stunning – The Witness Review

I’ve played dozens of innovative, high-quality iOS puzzle games over the past few years, including many well-known titles such as Monument Valley, The Room, Agent A, and Device 6. And while each game offers its own unique appeal, none has had a greater personal impact than The Witness. I’ll admit, I was a bit concerned that the simple mechanic of drawing lines through a maze would become stale with repetition. But this game has a way of deconstructing all preconceptions to make room for new thoughts and ideas. After a while, I realized that what may have been simple in theory was actually quite challenging and surprisingly engaging. The puzzles themselves were constantly introducing new rules, tools, and clever variations to the same basic concept. Every panel, though often similar in appearance to the previous one, presented its own unique obstacles to the player. It was this constant change of pace that kept the puzzles from becoming repetitive. But The Witness has SO MUCH MORE to offer than just puzzles. Secrets and surprises lurk around every corner, and the island itself rewards persistent curiosity and exploration. The observant player will soon begin to uncover deeper layers of mystery hidden just beneath the surface. The developers have interwoven big ideas and themes in such a way that they become tangible within the context of the island, but stop short of becoming “pretentious.” Every last detail has been meticulously considered, allowing for countless euphoric moments of discovery. I fully completed all content after two months of play, but there’s always more to do and see beyond the puzzle panels themselves. For those of you who want to know more about the technical aspects: The customizable controls are flawless and allow for remarkable precision, my game was saved constantly and consistently, the sound design is subtle yet purposeful, and the graphics are gorgeous. Bottom line: The Witness combines exquisite artwork with a brilliantly crafted puzzle adventure. A TRUE masterpiece. An ABSOLUTE must-play. But don’t give up! Be ready and willing to approach it on its own terms, and listen to what it has to say. You won’t be disappointed.
Review by **CleverName** on The Witness.