The Glass Masquerade puzzle game series has always been about beauty as much as it is about puzzles, but Glass Masquerade 4: Constellations feels like the point where the developers fully embrace that identity. This is not a game that rushes you, challenges you with timers or pressures you with scores. Instead, it invites you to slow down, take a breath and lose yourself in some of the most striking stained-glass puzzle designs I’ve seen in a video game.
Actual stained glass in real life is inherently stunning, which is why you often see it lining the walls and windows of some of the most exquisite churches and cathedrals around the world. Glass Masquerade 4 leans into that aesthetic harder than ever before. With the fourth entry in the series, each puzzle now feels less like a traditional jigsaw and more like a carefully assembled piece of artwork. Light, color and symmetry all play a role, and watching each image slowly come together piece by piece is deeply satisfying. It is the kind of game where progress itself feels rewarding, even before a puzzle is finished.
This time around, Glass Masquerade 4 features 28 puzzles, each built around the theme of constellations. Rather than being literal star charts, these constellations are more interpretive and artistic. One of my favorites was a music-themed puzzle, featuring piano keys, musical notes, drums, a saxophone and other instruments woven together into a cohesive stained-glass composition. Each completed puzzle feels distinct, both visually and thematically, which helps keep the experience fresh throughout.
Gameplay remains familiar for anyone who has played previous entries in the series. You rotate through a circular selection of puzzle pieces and place them into the growing image at the center of the screen. Pieces snap satisfyingly into place when they fit, just like a traditional jigsaw puzzle, but the stained-glass presentation gives everything a more elegant and deliberate feel. There are no timers, no penalties and no pressure to play efficiently. You are free to experiment, rotate pieces and enjoy the process at your own pace.
One welcome addition in Constellations is the inclusion of different puzzle modes. You can adjust the size and shape of the pieces, allowing for a more accessible experience or a greater challenge depending on your preference. Personally, I found the traditional puzzle shapes to be the most enjoyable, but the flexibility is appreciated and makes the experience more welcoming to a wider range of players.
Glass Masquerade 4 is also remarkably relaxing. This is the kind of title you can load up at the end of a long day, put on a podcast or some music, and simply unwind. The in-game music is also really soothing with a calm, New Age kind of vibe. It’s made by composer Nikita Sevalnev, who wrote the original game’s soundtrack. I am not someone who typically gravitates toward puzzle games, and I am admittedly not very good at them either. Even so, I had a genuinely great time with this. The lack of pressure and the focus on visual beauty made the experience feel calming rather than frustrating, which is not something I can say about many puzzle titles.
The developers estimate around three to five hours of gameplay, but that number will vary wildly depending on how quickly you solve puzzles. I spent that amount of time on just a handful of them, and I never felt like any of the puzzles were overstaying their welcome. In fact, I found myself lingering longer than necessary simply because the act of assembling each stained-glass image was so enjoyable.
At less than five dollars on the Steam platform, Glass Masquerade 4: Constellations is an incredible value. It offers a polished, visually stunning experience at a price point that feels almost too good to be true. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series, someone who loves puzzle titles or someone who usually avoids the genre altogether, this is an easy recommendation.
Glass Masquerade 4: Constellations succeeds by knowing exactly what it wants to be. It’s an aesthetic and relaxing puzzle experience that respects your time, rewards patience and offers an inviting entry point for players of all skill levels.
Sometimes, that is exactly the kind of relaxing, no-pressure fun that you need.