First, some rough definitions:
enigmatic puzzle: a problem where the goal / answer should be well-defined (e.g. enter a certain word or phrase into an form which is accepted; find a clue to a location where a previously designated token can be found). However, the mechanics of extracting this solution are left partially or completely vague, and it’s up to the solver to guess at several interpretations of what the puzzle could mean until one fits.
environmental-based puzzle: a problem where the solver is a "character" in some environment / world (e.g. a video game) where the parameters of the environment dictate the allowable actions by solver. The solver is limited to only allowable actions (in the environment) as potential solutions to the puzzle. Likewise, the solver cannot exit the environment / world where the puzzle resides as a solution.
An "enigmatic environmentally-based puzzle" is simply a mix of the above two definitions.
I'm having trouble thinking of tips I can use to solve EBEP's. I thought of some obvious ones from my head, as follows:
- Know of the allowable actions you can take in the environment.
- If all else fails, try all allowable actions you can think of.
- Use the solutions of similar EBEP's as hints / potential solutions.
- Look for things that seem out of place.
- Look for obvious signs of a hint / solution.
- Don't overthink the solution / Occam's razor.
- Combine allowable actions to increase the set of potential solutions.
- Hints may not be close to the actual puzzle itself.
- Look for differences / dissymmetry if likeness or symmetry seems to play a role.
The list above was all I could think of.
