Portal is not on Xbox, and has not been for a long time. That leaves a real gap for anyone who wants the specific feeling it built, a first-person space where the puzzle is the physics itself, not a combat encounter or a hidden object hunt. Two titles in the catalogue sit closer to that feeling than most games attempting it, for a fraction of what a big-budget puzzle game usually costs.
Relicta, $13
Relicta is the closer match of the two. A first-person physics puzzle game set on a lunar research base, built around manipulating magnetic and gravitational fields to move objects and yourself through a level, the same first-person, one-mechanic-mastered-deeply structure Portal made popular. The moon setting gives it a colder, more isolated tone than Portal's dry humour, closer to a hard sci-fi mystery than a comedy, but the core loop, look at a space, understand the one rule governing it, solve it with that rule alone, is the same idea executed with a different mechanic.
DeTechtive 2112, $5
A puzzle detective adventure rather than a physics puzzler, closer in spirit to a point-and-click mystery than to Portal's environmental logic, but it shares the same underlying appeal, progress comes from observation and deduction rather than reflexes. At $5 it is a low-risk way to find out whether the deduction-driven side of puzzle games suits you more than the physics-driven side, and a natural next step from Relicta if you want a different kind of puzzle rather than more of the same one.
Which one to start with
| Relicta | DeTechtive 2112 | |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzle style | First-person physics and environmental logic | Detective deduction and observation |
| Tone | Isolated hard sci-fi mystery | Investigative mystery |
| Price | $13 | $5 |
| Closest to Portal | Yes, mechanically | In spirit, not mechanically |
If the appeal of Portal was specifically the physics and environment logic, Relicta is the closer match. If it was more the isolated, figure-it-out-yourself atmosphere, DeTechtive 2112 is worth the five dollars regardless.
Get either key
Both are genuine global Xbox digital keys, delivered by email and redeemable on any Microsoft account. Relicta and DeTechtive 2112 are both available now, and our Xbox code redemption guide covers console, phone and browser methods.
Browse more
See the rest of the game key catalogue, including our roundups of hidden gem indie titles under $15 and the best couch co-op games on Xbox.
Frequently asked questions
Is Relicta actually similar to Portal?
Mechanically, yes, both are first-person puzzle games built around mastering one physics-based mechanic (magnetism and gravity in Relicta) and applying it across increasingly complex spaces. The tone is more isolated hard sci-fi than Portal's dry comedy.
Is DeTechtive 2112 a physics puzzle game like Portal?
No, it is a detective-style puzzle adventure built around observation and deduction rather than environmental physics. The connection to Portal is in spirit, figuring things out through logic, rather than in mechanics.
Which is harder, Relicta or DeTechtive 2112?
Relicta's physics puzzles escalate in complexity as new mechanics are introduced, similar to how Portal layers mechanics. DeTechtive 2112's difficulty comes from piecing together clues rather than execution, a different kind of challenge rather than a harder or easier one.
Are these single-player games?
Yes, both Relicta and DeTechtive 2112 are single-player experiences with no co-op or multiplayer component.
Are these genuine Xbox keys?
Yes, both are genuine global, region-free Microsoft codes, delivered by email and redeemable on any Xbox account regardless of country.
