There’s a very specific kind of wonder I remember feeling when I first played “The Talos Principle” back in 2014. That heady mix of mental gymnastics and philosophical unraveling, wrapped in the guise of a serene virtual garden, powered by a voice that spoke like a digital god. It was unforgettable. Coming back to it in 2025 with “The Talos Principle: Reawakened” feels a bit like returning to a long, lost cathedral of thought, only to find its every surface gleaming and its halls deeper and more mysterious than before. Croteam and Devolver Digital didn’t just give the original a new coat of paint, they breathed new life into it. “Reawakened” is a meticulous remaster that isn’t content with merely polishing the original. Instead, it dares to expand, reshape, and even rethink what it means to exist in the Simulation. Everything you remember, the cryptic puzzles, the haunting silence punctuated by deep questions of existence, the creeping sense that not all is as it seems, is here, now wrapped in an Unreal Engine 5-powered shell that is stunning to behold.
Visually, this is one of the most awe-inspiring puzzle games I’ve ever seen. The environments don’t just look better, they feel better. Light dances more naturally, shadows stretch with purpose, and distant architecture invites your curiosity. The upgrade isn’t just aesthetic; it brings an immersive sharpness that enhances the meditative atmosphere of exploration and problem, solving. It’s impossible to deny the impact of the new content. The inclusion of Road to Gehenna is a welcome one, it’s as cerebral and emotionally charged as ever, but the real prize is the brand, new chapter titled “In the Beginning.” Here, we dive into the story of Alexandra Drennan, whose presence once loomed as a quiet but profound force. Now, she steps into the spotlight with narrative weight and emotional nuance that gives the entire framework of the Simulation more meaning. This chapter doesn’t just plug into the existing story, it reframes it, bringing a fresh perspective to themes of purpose, legacy, and the evolution of artificial life.
As for the gameplay, it still holds up brilliantly. Puzzles revolve around gathering tetromino, shaped sigils by navigating cleverly enclosed spaces, each one brimming with logic challenges and physical threats. Whether you’re dodging drones, disabling turrets with jammers, or reflecting beams of light across crystalline networks, the experience is as mentally stimulating as ever. And just when you think you’ve mastered the rules, the game throws in time, cloning, anti, gravity fans, or multi, level logic sequences that force you to think in entirely new ways.
The level design is smartly non-linear, encouraging you to move between hubs and return to trickier puzzles later. You’re never trapped, just challenged, and always respectfully so. Optional star sigils and cryptic secrets offer even more for those willing to dig deep and think outside the box. If you get stuck, the Messenger system offers a nudge in the right direction without spelling things out, and I still love how that fits thematically within the world. It’s help, sure, but in the form of another curious soul reaching out through the fog of the machine. One of the best surprises is the Puzzle Editor. Modding support has always been one of the community’s secret dreams for this series, and now it’s real. With a toolset that’s both robust and user, friendly, the door is open for infinite expansions, player-made challenges, and maybe even entirely new stories. This alone secures the game’s longevity, and I can’t wait to see what players come up with.
At its core, “The Talos Principle: Reawakened” remains a game that asks big questions, about intelligence, obedience, freedom, and faith, and then challenges you to answer them not through dialogue, but through thought. You’re not just solving puzzles; you’re assembling a philosophy. The presence of Elohim still echoes like a warning, the Milton Library Assistant still pokes and prods at your beliefs, and every QR code and terminal message still adds layers to a world that’s as much internal as external. If I had one minor gripe, it would be that the difficulty in the new chapter occasionally borders on harsh. This isn’t just a test of logic, it’s a gauntlet. But given the context, this is the Simulation’s first real trial, after all, I can’t argue that it feels out of place. “The Talos Principle: Reawakened” isn’t just a celebration of what made the original great, it’s a proclamation of its continued relevance. In an age where puzzle games often lean on gimmicks, this one dared to ask you who you are, why you think, and what it means to be. It’s as humbling as it is brilliant, and for puzzle fans or deep thinkers alike, it’s nothing short of essential.
9/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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