What makes a puzzle game good?

Good puzzles.

nothing puzzles games are automatically shit

Challenge

>>388503071
>>388503740
>What makes [thing] good?
>By being good

>>388503023
variation
innovation
thematically consistent

>>388504918
This... although that also applies to every genre.

Games like Portal or Swapper have those traits and are considered interesting by most people.
Games like Spachem or Inifinifactory have those traits and are considered unappealing by most people (although good by many others).
Some games might have those traits and be considered a bore.

I think most players don't find games interesting unless they can control a character and there is at least an excuse of a story.

Too big of a challenge, like in Zachtronics' games, are also unappealing to most people. So it must make the player feel good by giving him constant "aha!" moments, but not make him actually think hard. Because if you make somebody think and he still doesn't find the solution, he gets frustrated (something you don't want to happen as a developer).

Make it timed

Replay value

escort missions

Being DROD

>>388503023
procedurally generated