The Talos Principle (2014)

Developer: Croteam
Publisher: Devolver Digital, Croteam
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Action, Adventure, Indie
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 32,923 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 20 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A slow, thoughtful crawl through ancient ruins, each puzzle a quiet test of logic and patience.

pensivemethodicalsolitarycontemplativedemandingserenemysteriousatmospheric

What players say

Players praise The Talos Principle for its clever puzzles and philosophical writing about consciousness and identity, often comparing it favorably to Portal. The difficulty curve is well-balanced but some endgame puzzles feel drawn out, and collecting stars for 100% completion requires tedious searching. The soundtrack and atmosphere are widely appreciated, and the game runs great on Steam Deck.

Screenshots

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More by Croteam

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.