PCGame

The Witness

First-person open-world puzzle game where observation replaces written instructions

Thekla, Inc. · Released Jan 26, 2016

AdventureIndie

Reviews
Very Positive
85% of 18K
Recent reviews
Very Positive
81% of 199 in 30 days
Players
153
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Playable
Last update on Steam
3 years ago
Jun 1, 2023
Minimum PC
HD 4000
4 GB RAM · 5 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 87/100 (critic reviews)

What is The Witness?

A single-player, first-person puzzle adventure set on a strange open island with dozens of locations and more than 500 puzzles. You roam between areas, draw paths through puzzle panels, and search for clues about your identity and a way home.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy demanding logic puzzles and quiet exploration
  • +you like switching areas whenever one puzzle blocks you
  • +you prefer discovering rules without written instructions

Not for you if...

  • −you want action or a brisk, directed pace
  • −you dislike abstract line puzzles with minimal interaction
  • −you are looking for multiplayer

What players say

85% of 18,182 reviews are positive · 81% of 199 in the last 30 days

Players praise the puzzle variety, satisfying breakthroughs, and environmental secrets hidden across the island. They commonly criticize obscure rule leaps, sparse or pretentious storytelling, and puzzles that can halt progress; several also cite color, sound, and flashing-pattern challenges as accessibility barriers.

Players over time

▼ -63% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 404 players on Oct 4, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 2026153
Nov 6, 2026123
Nov 5, 2026109
Nov 4, 2026115
Nov 3, 2026129
Nov 2, 2026152
Nov 1, 2026177
Oct 31, 2026166
Oct 30, 2026133
Oct 29, 2026117
Oct 28, 2026142
Oct 27, 2026129
Oct 26, 2026164
Oct 25, 2026201
Oct 24, 2026165
Oct 23, 2026154
Oct 22, 2026161
Oct 21, 2026156
Oct 20, 2026171
Oct 19, 2026186
Oct 18, 2026238
Oct 17, 2026198
Oct 16, 2026194
Oct 15, 2026222
Oct 14, 2026225
Oct 13, 2026249
Oct 12, 2026348
Oct 11, 2026372
Oct 10, 2026376
Oct 9, 2026350
Oct 8, 2026367
Oct 7, 2026360
Oct 6, 2026347
Oct 5, 2026381
Oct 4, 2026404
Oct 3, 2026355
Oct 2, 2026149
Oct 1, 2026106
Sep 30, 202698
Sep 29, 2026121
Sep 28, 2026136
Sep 27, 2026144
Sep 26, 2026128
Sep 25, 2026110
Sep 24, 2026105
Sep 23, 202689
Sep 23, 2026101
Sep 22, 2026131
Sep 21, 2026158

How many players finish The Witness?

19% of Steam players have unlocked «Endgame», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

The Witness screenshot 1

The Witness system requirements

Minimum: HD 4000, 4 GB RAM, 5 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run The Witness?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

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Minimum

OS
Windows 7
Processor
1.8GHz
Graphics
Intel HD 4000 series
Memory
4 GB RAM
Storage
5 GB available space
DirectX
Version 10

Recommended

OS
Windows 7
Processor
2.4GHz
Graphics
GeForce 780
Memory
8 GB RAM
Storage
5 GB available space
DirectX
Version 10

Does The Witness have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does The Witness run on Steam Deck?

Playable Playable: it runs on Steam Deck with some adjustments.

  • The launcher or setup tool may need the touchscreen or virtual keyboard
  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
  • External controllers are not supported for the primary player

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Achievements
2
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing
Languages
Full audio: English. Text only: French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Polish, Portuguese - Portugal, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Hungarian.

Does The Witness use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Nov 6, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

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