10 Years Later, This is Still the Hardest Platinum Trophy I’ve Ever Earned

Ten years ago, a young 24-year-old, still new to the games media industry, was captivated by The Witness. Enthralled by its maze-like puzzles, they found it impossible to stop playing. Until they encountered the game's final challenge, an optional yet challenging task that drained their brainpower. Yet, conquering this obstacle was an exhilarating experience, comparable to the thrill of defeating a hard boss.

This trophy remains the most difficult one earned, and it holds a special place in their PlayStation platinum collection. The Witness, created by Jonathan Blow, is an intricate game full of secrets. Each biome on the island has its own ruleset, and they're primarily about tracing a line between a start and end point on a grid. However, the clues are subtly hidden, making the puzzles more engaging.

The final challenge is optional, but it's not for the faint-hearted. It's a timed puzzle with randomly generated mazes hidden throughout the game, which you must find before attempting to solve them. With barely 400 seconds to solve all 14 puzzles, it's a grueling task, even more so if you attempt to take notes. Despite its difficulty, it's a brilliant final challenge that epitomizes the masterpiece that is The Witness.

Since experiencing The Witness, the author has been on the hunt for puzzle games of similar caliber. They've enjoyed games like The Talos Principle, Manifold Garden, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and Blue Prince. However, the memories from Big Walk, a recent co-op adventure set on a mysterious island, have been the most stimulating.

Its similar cerebral discovery and nostalgic appeal to early video game experiences, like Myst and Riven, have reignited the author's passion for challenging puzzle games.