Puzzle games that are hard, not just annoying

A good puzzle makes you feel clever when you solve it. A bad one just hides information and calls it difficulty. That line is what I chase when reviewing this genre.

Hollow Lantern gets it right — its puzzles are logical, and when you're stuck it nudges rather than blocks. You never feel tricked, only slightly slower than the game.

When I get stuck, my habit is to stop guessing and re-read the room. Most fair puzzles give you everything you need on screen; the answer is usually in something you walked past.

Offline is a big plus here, since puzzle games are perfect for waiting rooms and flights where there's nothing else to do.