Set in a 50's style B-movie world, Puzzled tells the story of an evil professor who turns you into a shapeless 'blob' with the goal of taking over the world. Your mission is to navigate through increasingly complex levels, clearing the screen and hitting targets while ensuring there's still a route to the exit.
The gameplay revolves around strategic puzzle-solving, with typical mission goals centered around clearing the screen and completing objectives along the way. Each level takes up to 20 minutes to complete, with 150 levels in total. The first 20 or so levels introduce new game elements one by one. You can manipulate puzzle pieces, remove blocked routes, and use special blocks like teleporters or ice to aid you in your quest.
The core principle of the game is similar to memory, where two equal-looking puzzle pieces need to be found and removed from the playfield. To achieve this, you can 'clone' the blob and send your alter ego to connect the blocks occupied by the main character and the clone.