Puzzles, Riddles

A puzzle or riddle is assumed to be complete and determinate. The user must play within the rules to defeat the puzzle and be considered "victorious." Puzzle games are often used as a social testing mechanism. They test the speed and ease with which the user can understand the puzzle. Riddles can also be used to test the flexibility and creativity of the user. They will often be based on assumptions in the user's culture, and success will require that the user overcome those assumptions by exposing flaws within them.

Puzzles and riddles normally follow the pattern of the "missing puzzle piece" game. They are normally determinate. They have a single solution that must be found, as opposed to a range of possible solutions.