The Witness
v1.98Puzzle enthusiasts and fans of atmospheric, exploration-based games who enjoy challenging, non-linear gameplay and intellectual stimulation.
What Is The Witness?
Launched Sep 21, 2017
Updated Feb 2026
What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
A non-linear island environment allowing players to explore dozens of distinct locations at their own pace.
Over 500 puzzles that rely on environmental clues and logic rather than explicit tutorials or text-based instructions.
Game design that respects the player's intelligence by avoiding filler content and focusing on unique, evolving puzzle mechanics.
A discovery-based story where players piece together their identity and purpose through exploration.
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
“Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate engaging content and visual quality, but report excessive advertising and technical stability and performance.”
What Users Love
this game was the best! I just love these games!!
Good game with an entertaining storyline.
great graphics and story line
good game, nice graphics
Pain Points
an ad every 60 seconds. in the middle of something? who cares, AD!!!
so many ads it is impossible to play the game
Took my money then froze on me
Game have a lot of errors
High confidence · 27 reviews available
How is it ranked?
| Category | Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure | Paid | #63 | ▲12 |
| Puzzle | Paid | #70 | ▲27 |
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Unique non-verbal puzzle design
- High volume of unique, non-repetitive content
- Strong visual and atmospheric fidelity
- Established brand reputation in the puzzle genre
Cons
- Technical bugs (freezing and audio lag)
- Inconsistent monetization/ad experience across platforms
- High price point for the mobile market
- Lack of active social media engagement
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- Standardize premium experience across all mobile platforms
- Optimize performance for broader device compatibility
- Capitalize on recent chart momentum with targeted updates
- Expand the IP through community-driven features
Market Threats
- Direct competition from The Talos Principle
- New high-quality entrants like Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Brand dilution from ad-heavy clones
- Rising user expectations for technical perfection in paid apps
Who competes with The Witness?
The Nemesis
Why it's a threat
- +
Users are happier — sentiment 62/100 vs 48
- +
Higher rated at 4.6★ vs 4.0★
Contenders
The gold standard for premium mobile puzzle design, focusing on intricate mechanical logic and environmental discovery.
Tactile Puzzle Exploration
A highly intellectual, non-verbal puzzle game that relies on visual logic and player intuition rather than instructions.
Panel-based Puzzle Mechanics
The House of Da Vinci 3
Blue Brain Games
Offers high-fidelity 3D environmental puzzles and mechanical logic similar to the 'filler-free' design of The Witness.
Offers high-fidelity 3D environmental puzzles and mechanical logic similar to the 'filler-free' design of The Witness.
Peers
Shares the minimalist aesthetic and perspective-based puzzle philosophy, though at a lower difficulty tier.
Sacred Geometry Puzzles
Coast to Coast AM Insider
Premiere Radio Networks, Inc.
Atmospheric, non-verbal environmental storytelling that appeals to the same 'show, don't tell' player base.
Atmospheric, non-verbal environmental storytelling that appeals to the same 'show, don't tell' player base.
The Gardens Between
THE VOXEL AGENTS PTY. LTD.
A time-manipulation puzzle game focusing on memory and discovery in a surreal environment.
A time-manipulation puzzle game focusing on memory and discovery in a surreal environment.
Tiny Room Story: Town Mystery
★4.8 (11K)Kiary Games Ltd
Isometric puzzle exploration that requires careful environmental observation to solve mysteries.
Isometric puzzle exploration that requires careful environmental observation to solve mysteries.
New Kids on the Block
Paper Trail NETFLIX
★4.8 (3K)Netflix, Inc.
A recent innovation in puzzle design using a folding-world mechanic to solve complex spatial logic problems.
A recent innovation in puzzle design using a folding-world mechanic to solve complex spatial logic problems.
What are the key takeaways?
The Witness is a divisive games app that is a paid app. With a 4.0/5 rating from 836 reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users. Users particularly appreciate engaging content, though excessive advertising remains a common concern.
Best for: Puzzle enthusiasts and fans of atmospheric, exploration-based games who enjoy challenging, non-linear gameplay and intellectual stimulation.
How much does it cost?
Model: paid
The app uses a premium upfront model on iOS to signal quality and an ad-free experience, though data suggests a conflicting ad-supported presence on other platforms causing user friction.
iOS Version
1.98
Android Version
1.0.16
Release Date
Sep 21, 2017
iOS Price
$9.99
Android Price
Free
Developer
Thekla, inc.