Entertainment – At the core games are about having fun. I know it sounds so simple, but never forget the fact that the primary goal is for players to have an experience they will enjoy.
Game Flow – While designing make sure to take into account the players journey through your stage/room/level. You don’t want the players being run in circles because of poor level design. It should have a flow where players are only stopped by their own inability to successfully connect logic, not because of missing information or vague leaps of logic. A successful flow tethers the edge between a proper step for the logic and grasping at straws.
Difficulty – There’s something satisfying about a puzzle that ranges from not overly easy, yet not overly demanding. That happy medium whereby the player is intellectually engaged and exploring their own inner capacity for problem solving. It’s a fine balance, as we all possess different aptitudes and viewpoints from which we solve puzzles, thereby what is easy for some maybe difficult for others and vice-versa.
Be open – Draw your inspiration from many different places. It’s funny as I did more and more puzzle design I’d start to be out and see an object or a picture and think this could be used as a puzzle. Let your mind be free to daydream there’s inspiration everywhere.
Play More Games – Find out what you like and don’t like in a game. When you play different games examine them for what elements they’ve done right and what elements you think should be improved. Take on an analytical frame of mind to understand different aspects of success.