Overview
Use the monkey on the water pump. Obviously. Moon logic puzzles became adventure gaming’s greatest liability—solutions that made designers laugh but made players reach for walkthroughs. The term captured the genre’s worst tendency: puzzles requiring knowledge players couldn’t reasonably possess or connections they couldn’t reasonably make.
Fast facts
- Definition: Illogical puzzle solutions.
- Origin: Player frustration term.
- Impact: Genre criticism.
- Result: Walkthrough dependence.
Characteristics
| Trait |
Example |
| Arbitrary combinations |
Random item use |
| Hidden requirements |
Obscure prerequisites |
| Designer-only logic |
Internal jokes |
| Cultural assumptions |
Regional knowledge |
Infamous examples
| Game |
Puzzle |
Issue |
| Gabriel Knight 3 |
Cat hair moustache |
Absurd chain |
| Discworld |
Inventory combinations |
Everything on everything |
| Various |
Pixel hunting |
Tiny clickable areas |
Causes
| Factor |
Result |
| Development isolation |
No fresh eyes |
| Hint line revenue |
Obscurity profitable |
| Length padding |
Artificial difficulty |
| Comedy attempts |
Jokes over logic |
Player responses
| Coping method |
Frequency |
| Walkthroughs |
Very common |
| Hint books |
Purchase required |
| Try everything |
Exhaustive testing |
| Community help |
Forums, BBSes |
Designer defences
| Argument |
Counter |
| “It’s logical” |
Only to you |
| “Reward exploration” |
Frustration isn’t reward |
| “Adventure tradition” |
Tradition can be wrong |
Genre impact
| Effect |
Consequence |
| Walkthrough dependence |
External help expected |
| Genre decline |
Players gave up |
| Design evolution |
Fairer puzzles later |
Modern solutions
| Approach |
Implementation |
| Hint systems |
In-game assistance |
| Logical design |
Fair puzzles |
| Playtesting |
Fresh perspectives |
See also