Photon Engineer

Photon Engineer is a 3D + FP puzzle game that challenges players to manipulate lasers and mirrors to solve increasingly complex puzzles. The game features 40 levels/platforms with unique challenges and new ideas + 95 puzzles (45 puzzles with lasers and 50 sliding puzzles). The Graphics are colorful, with bright colors and clean lines that make it easy to see what's going on in each level. One of the strengths of Photon Engineer is its level design, which gradually introduces new mechanics and challenges to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. The puzzles require careful planning and strategic thinking, so the further you go, the more complex mechanisms you'll encounter. This is not an easy typical puzzle game, just because the 100% length is around 2h but that doesn't mean playtime will be short since average time is definitely above 10h so it is really worth the price. Overall, this game is worth checking out for fans of the genre. *** Watch my 100% Walkthrough: https://youtu.be/9fTM15yLrhI

Great puzzle game. I like that the whole system is simple to understand and very intuitive. The puzzles get progressively more complicated and I like that it's not too easy as well. I enjoy playing the game. It's very addictive. I can only recommend it!

Photon Engineer scratches a very specific and persistent itch. The same itch that its peers like Portal, Talos Principal, and The Witness aim to satisfy. While the inspiration from those games is definitely felt, Photon Engineer definitely distinguishes itself and presents a unique and engaging first-person puzzle experience. The setting and style of the game pops with a spacy color palette almost reminiscent of No Man’s Sky. The music choice is pleasing, ranging from peppy to soothing. The overarching plot narrative might be a tad weak, but that only serves as a backdrop for what really matters: the puzzles. There’s something deeply satisfying about freely floating around a puzzle room deciding where to place your precious few mirrors to solve a laser reflection puzzle that doesn’t quite seem to add up. When you do find the solution however, the satisfaction of that “aha” moment is so worth it. Some of the solutions I’ve discovered so far were hard-won but very clever – they always make sense in retrospect, and I’ve yet to come across a solution that felt “unfair.” The laser puzzles are broken up with some sliding tile puzzles as well, which can be deceptively devious for their simple appearances. The two styles of puzzles are staggered such that neither one will become stale or leave you fatigued. The pacing and teaching (environmentally, mostly) in the game is quite good, with only a couple of instances leaving me scratching my head about a game mechanic (an issue that the dev is actively improving). But overall Photon Engineer has been a very satisfying adventure and a substantial brain workout for me. I’m about 16 rooms deep in the game so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes from here!

To get the biggest criticisms out of the way first: the game is a bit janky, UI and UX are not particularly smooth and its not the most polished game out there. What it is instead is a love letter to the first person puzzle genre, paying homage to the laser puzzles of games like Talos Principle and featuring grid-puzzle-panels that are somewhat reminiscent of the Whittiness. But where TP is far more concerned with pretty environments and philosophical musings Photon Engeneer pushes the laster mechanic to its limits, introducing more and more complex elements and increasingly interesting puzzles. If you can look beyond the lack of polish and like this kind of puzzle mechanic this is definitely a recommendation. An kudos to the solo-dev for sticking to their own engine.

Great game. The puzzles are challenging but never impossible. Best puzzle game since Talos Principle. I highly recommend it.

A well designed puzzle game with some clever puzzles!

Great for those who enjoy a good mental workout