Recursive box puzzle · Patrick Traynor, 2022
Patrick's Parabox
A box-pushing puzzle where boxes contain whole levels, and you can push yourself inside them. Recursion made friendly.
4.6out of 5 · Master key
Rung 3: SteadyHints in the game: No
Puzzle profile
Logic5
Observation1
Language1
Spatial5
What you do
Push boxes onto targets, enter boxes, and discover that boxes can contain themselves.
Who it suits
Logical minds who love clever ideas explained cleanly.
The first lock
A simple box-pushing level, then a box with a world inside it. Your brain does a happy flip.
Deeper locks
The ideas keep escalating, always explained by doing, never by text.
When you are stuck
Many levels are optional; skip and come back.
Opens easily
- Mind-bending idea
- Very fair
- Clean design
Sticks a little
- Plain visuals
- Late puzzles very hard
The score
Puzzles4.9
Fairness4.9
Atmosphere3.8
Fair to you4.8
Overall 4.6 out of 5 · how we score
Verdict
Boxes in boxes in boxes. Brilliant.
Written by the Copper Key desk. Updated 25 October 2026. Facts checked against publisher and store pages at that date.