"Puzzling Places": VR hit from Germany now available as a screen version
The VR classic "Puzzling Places" is being released in a version optimized for PC and Steam Deck. Is the 3D puzzle fun also enjoyable on the screen?
"Puzzling Places" is one of the most successful German VR titles with 400,000 players reached.
(Image: Realities.io)
Berlin-based VR studio Realities.io has released its hit game “Puzzling Places” on Steam. The Steam version supports gameplay on PC, Steam Deck, and with VR headsets, and is optimized for each of these platforms. Previously, “Puzzling Places” was exclusively available for VR systems such as Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, and Apple Vision Pro.
In “Puzzling Places,” players assemble three-dimensional miniature worlds based on 3D scans of real locations. Instead of flat motifs, small dioramas are created, which gradually take shape and reveal more and more details and a soundscape that matches the motif. There are no points, time pressure, or classic game objectives; the focus is on relaxed puzzling.
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In the game's first 3D puzzle, we assembled an Alsatian street corner with a half-timbered house. The scene gradually came to life: cats appeared, an elderly woman appeared on the balcony, and in the background, a soundscape of street noise and bustling activity set in.
Two game modes and new controls
At launch, the game includes 18 puzzles with motifs from around the world. Each 3D puzzle is available in various sizes from 25 to 400 pieces, covering different difficulty levels and time requirements. Some particularly challenging motifs have up to 1,000 pieces.
Additionally, two game modes are available: The “Classic Mode” provides all puzzle pieces from the start, which can be freely sorted and assembled like a classic puzzle. The “Journey Mode” is aimed at casual players and guides the assembly more strongly: the puzzle pieces are provided in small, pre-sorted groups, and rotating the pieces is largely omitted, which almost makes the 3D puzzles assemble themselves. In both modes, you can zoom into the sometimes very realistic dioramas to discover beautiful details, animated elements, or small story moments.
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We tried the PC version, and the controls are implemented coherently there. The left mouse button moves the puzzle pieces, and the right mouse button rotates them and adjusts the viewing angle. If a piece is in the correct position, this is indicated by a visual effect. You then just need to release the puzzle piece.
However, the screen version cannot match the tactile naturalness and plasticity of the VR version: the direct grabbing and interacting with the puzzle pieces and the emerging diorama can only be partially replicated on the monitor. On the other hand, you don't need to wear VR goggles for the screen version, and other people can easily watch, for example, from the couch. However, the screen version does not offer a proper multiplayer mode. That is currently only available in the VR version.
“Puzzling Places” on Steam: Major expansion planned
The development team has extensive plans for the screen version. Additional puzzle packs are to be released as DLC and in the form of a bundle as early as May, initially with particularly popular motifs from the existing VR catalog, which comprises more than 320 puzzles. Starting in June, the Steam version will be regularly supplied with monthly puzzle packs and improvements, similar to the VR platforms. By the end of 2026, the Steam version is expected to catch up in content with the other platforms.
In parallel, the team is working on an optimized version for Valve's upcoming VR headset and a Steam-exclusive “Puzzle Maker.” This tool allows compatible 3D scans to be converted into custom puzzles and shared with other players via the Steam Workshop.
The Berlin-based VR studio Realities.io was founded in 2016 and initially specialized in photorealistic 3D scans of locations that can be explored with VR goggles. The team only achieved a commercial breakthrough years later with “Puzzling Places,” which has been in development since 2020 and has so far reached around 400,000 VR players. The idea originated from a programming error that broke a 3D scan into its individual parts, raising the question of what it would be like to assemble the fragments in VR.
“Puzzling Places” is available on Steam for 8 Euros. The game is also available for almost every VR platform.
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