The Talos Principle 2: PS5 Review

Developed by Croteam

Published by Devolver Digital

Platform: PS5

Puzzle games come in all shapes and sizes.

And nearly a decade after the first game was released, the sequel shows up to leave many scratching their heads as the year ends.

But whilst it's also a sign that gaming can offer more cerebral edges in among sleek graphics and mind-bending gameplay, it's also a reminder that titles like this and Humanity from earlier this year are actually about the core basics of puzzle solving, which either leave you punching the air with joy or slapping your face with growing desperation.

Essentially a game that sees you take on the role of an android 1K and try to solve puzzles that unlock levels and proffer more puzzles, The Talos Principle 2 really does rely on player patience. Graphically the game offers a beautifully rendered world whose simplicity belies the execution of what plays out.

With what initially appear to be simple puzzles offering mind-bending possibilities the closer you get to a solution, The Talos Principle 2 does actively have a steep learning curve that will remind players of game mechanics of reflecting lasers, diverting beams - it's all very familiar stuff spun in a compellingly different way.

It's also - bizarrely - quite relaxing when you're exploring the world, getting some mental downtime before the game kicks back into mind-melting mode.

It's a great way to push lateral thinking and a clever way to make gaming a bit more challenging than what has simply proliferated the gaming world where guided walkthroughs and persistently nagging companions proffer solutions without any prompt.

You would need to have a level of patience to dive into The Talos Principle 2, but given the right frame of mind and the desire to be challenged on every level, this game is a rare delight - an intellectual curio that looks superb and that will leave you thinking about it at all hours.