Last Updated on Feb 17, 2026 @ 18:58:38 PM.
Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the brand-new puzzle game Hamstermind as I solved various puzzles within a pyramid while playing as a cute hamster with the power to rotate platforms at will in order to solve the puzzles inside and get deeper within said pyramid.
Throughout Hamstermind, I endeavored to try to solve every puzzle that was put in my path and complete them all with perfect results to try and see everything that the game had to offer, but when it comes to a puzzle game, this can always be a challenge.
Hamstermind Brings Forth Challenging but Rewarding Puzzles
When it comes to Hamstermind, the biggest feature we can talk about is the puzzles that await players within this challenging game, as there are plenty of puzzles to experience, from turning puzzles that require you to create a path so you can access what lies at the end, another rotating puzzle, but this time it is to place blocks within their designated spaces, translating puzzles, and more.
Each of these puzzles has its own unique mechanics that make it a challenge to complete, with even the earlier puzzles in the game feeling complicated, leading to plenty of time being spent attempting to solve them.
When it comes to the main gameplay loop of Hamstermind, players will often find themselves dealing with the primary puzzle in the game, which tasks them with rotating various platforms to create paths in order to gain access to a glowing orb that will open the next room in the pyramid.
Within these puzzles, it might sound simple to just rotate platforms to create a path, but within Hamstermind, there have been various obstacles placed in our way to cause these puzzles to become more and more complicated over time. For instance, as the puzzles evolve and get harder, obstacles like locks that block you from rotating the platforms begin to appear in the shape of vines, or another version of a lock in the shape of a statue that chains the platforms when you are standing in its line of sight.
These are just some of the various obstacles that can be placed in your path, but they are by no means simple obstacles to overcome, as they can easily become a nuisance to the player as the game progresses. Because of this, Hamstermind can be quite a difficult ordeal to take on, especially the longer you play it, as more and more mechanics are introduced into the game, with some levels requiring numerous mechanics to be used in order to solve their problems.
For me, these challenging puzzles helped create a fun yet challenging atmosphere within Hamstermind, as I was never bored. Still, on some occasions, I did feel very idiotic when it came to some puzzles, as the more complicated puzzles can easily go wrong with one simple move too many or too few, causing you to have to repeat the process all over again.
That being said, completing the puzzles within Hamstermind often has a very cathartic moment to it, as upon completing some of these harder levels, I often felt a sense of pride that I was able to complete these puzzles and move on to the even harder puzzles that awaited me further down the pyramid.
100%-ing Hamstermind Isn’t the End of This Unique Story
When it comes to a puzzle game, most gamers who enjoy them never want them to end, I being one of them, and Hamstermind‘s developers seem to share that thought, as completing Hamstermind with a 100% rating isn’t the end of the game but instead feels like a second beginning.
As always, we will refrain from spoiling the specifics of the game’s story, as we don’t want to reveal the secrets of a puzzle game too early, but instead, we will comment on how the game’s story takes a unique step after the credits roll, as there is plenty more content for the player to experience once they complete this complicated yet challenging puzzle game.
For a lot of gamers, playing till the credits roll is a clear indicator that your game is done; sometimes there will be a new game +, alternate game modes, or just simply the option to play again, but Hamstermind goes in a completely different direction and instead gives the player more content to explore once the credits roll, like a second story, if you will.
During this second story, players will be able to explore the pyramid more than ever before, while also being able to get even more backstory regarding why they are there and why Charaon has tasked them with solving these puzzles and rotating the tiles that block their way.
The Different NPCs in the Game Are Full of Life and Humour
While playing through Hamstermind, players take on the role of Hamster Jones, an explorer who has been known to discover all kinds of mysteries that others believed impossible, and has now been tasked by the god Charaon to complete puzzles within a pyramid to prove to Charaon that Hamster Jones is as good as their reputation says.
Along their journey, Hamster Jones brings along a crew of various explorers who are like-minded with Hamster Jones in their search for the secret of the pyramid, with each character having a unique personality and role within the crew.
Within Hamstermind, the player’s crew consists of Ane-Marie, a language expert; Dr. Hamstein, the tech wiz; and Chris Eratops, the demolitions expert, along with Charaon, a cat-like god, and even Ponyglyphs that provide “hints” throughout the story.
Each of these characters has their own role to play within the story as Ane-Marie tasks you with solving more puzzles related to glyphs that have been left throughout the pyramid, Dr. Hamstein repairs equipment you find within the pyramid, and Chris Eratops brings the bang as they help you uncover new paths to take within your exploration.
However, Charaon doesn’t seem to offer any form of support like your crew but instead serves as a character that appears once in a while to tease the player and Hamster Jones. The odd character out is the Ponyglyph, which acts like an entity that provides “hints” to the player to help them along their journey, but their hints are less useful than one might think, as some of their hints are as basic as “remember you can rotate the floor,” something the player has been doing for the past 6 puzzle rooms.
Understandably, this character is designed to lighten the mood, and Hamster Jones even comments on how this “hint” isn’t exactly helpful, but that adds to the fun of the game and these characters, as they all make the experience more fun and less of a simple puzzle game that you blitz through.
Hamstermind
Summary
When it comes to puzzle games, I believe that Hamstermind is one of the best, as it allows the player to take their time and solve puzzles that are very challenging, but it also provides hints when it comes to the harder puzzles to ensure players don’t get stuck for too long.
The story itself is a lot of fun, with it continuing even past the credits, ensuring that those who want the puzzle madness to continue can enjoy even more puzzling madness.
HOURS PLAYED: 12
PLAYED ON: PC
- There is a lot of different content to do ensuring the player has a small freedom of choice.
- The characters are fun to talk to and each have their own roles that push the story along.
- Puzzles can be very challenging causing the player to get burn out.
- Puzzles tend to have one solution meaning players cannot be overly creative in their solutions.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our review of Heart of the Forest, or check out our article talking about all the different God of War announcements that have just been revealed.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
