Earticle

This paper focuses on the Multi-Reflection Puzzle, which is one of the core puzzles in the 3D multiplayer game, Isle of the Four Seasons. The paper analyzes the puzzle's effects on users' cognitive functions based on eye tracking. Users perform a cognitive activity requiring repeated distraction and refocusing to solve the puzzle, which involves predicting the reflection path of a laser. Real-time gaze data were recorded with a Python webcam eye tracker during gameplay, and ROI analysis with gaze trajectory visualization provided indicators of gaze concentration, attention switching, and blink frequency. The results revealed high gaze focus on the puzzle center region and gaze trajectory patterns resembling reflection paths in certain users. This suggests that reflection puzzles stimulate strategic visual reasoning and problem-solving processes. Additionally, differences in switching frequency and blink rate among participants reflected variations in strategic approaches and engagement levels. This study demonstrates the potential for real-time cognitive flow analysis and immersion assessment using eye tracking, a limitation of existing puzzle studies. This method can inform the design of game-based cognitive stimulation and feedback systems.