Multiplayer games are known to give scenarios to try operating with a sense of teamwork, which sprouts a variety of events from making meme-worthy actions, exhibiting how to pad stats to pull ahead in server rankings, to even making an effort in repeatedly playing a piece of content in search of powerful equipment. Whatever the reason, it’s all about getting the best out of the game with your friends online or offline.

Enter a part of multiplayer gaming that has been a consistent hit-or-miss experience for many players: puzzle sections. The gauge swings wildly from uneventful, boring sequences where teamwork isn’t much required or difficult, to party-wiping instances that demand precision from everyone involved. Any part of the game can be a puzzle. These can be as simple as terrains that need some exploring, real-world puzzle items that need a group’s worth of input, or even raid boss patterns on when to attack or to just dodge and defend.

Let’s read into what gives puzzle parts of multiplayer games their importance.

More things to do

Button-mashing and skill-spamming can go so far. HP scaling may be a popular indicator for harder content, but this also calls for players to do the same actions for longer. Puzzle mechanics applied in special instances add a touch of the unexpected when they are implemented right. A properly weaved-in challenge becomes less of a ‘press to win situation’ and instead encourages players to think tactically.

Everyone has to put in the work

Games like It Takes Two and Mario & Luigi: Brothership put a new spin on multiplayer gaming by putting the game focus on cooperative multiplayer. This is far from 90’s Contra or some beat ‘em-ups where other players can get away with doing little while one of them does most of the heavy lifting. This is best seen in puzzle sections where two players have to make a conscious effort to get past hurdles.

Puzzles encourage unorthodox solutions

Multiplayer puzzles can bring out the best in everybody – especially when they are designed for players to come up with different approaches to a solution. Different teams will come up with various ways to tackle one situation. Games like Overcooked! Generate scenarios where a group’s quick thinking is tested, especially on levels where the playing conditions change rapidly.

A game is less predictable with puzzles

Many co-op or versus games fall to the usual pattern of beating enemies to gain better items to beat more powerful enemies with them. This inevitably becomes routine and groups tend to get all the fun from them and move on to a new title. Puzzles with proper variety add more value to the game, meaning longer playing times for everyone, and players tend to be more loyal. There are unique or innovative puzzles out there: it’s all a matter of how to apply them optimally.

Puzzles can tell a better story than cutscenes

Movie segments in games are mostly about character highlights. They’re typically more focused on making players root for a character than contribute to important plot points. Puzzles can achieve a 2-in-1 effect by not only getting whatever prize awaits the group when they are solved but also some tidbits about the game world or some of its inhabitants.

There’s little doubt that puzzle games have the potential to be an important factor in enjoying a multiplayer game session. In the meantime, play some of these puzzle games for dudes to get some stimulating practice.