Types of Puzzles

If you're not much a gamer or prefer an activity to lose yourself in with a movie or podcast playing, puzzles are perfect for you. There are dozens of different types and styles of puzzles, each scratching whichever itch your brain is currently feeling at the time. Whether it's a traditional 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle or an intricate 3D puzzle, there are plenty of options to pick from to pass the time.

Types of Puzzles

Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles have been around for as long as most of have, and they're still just as popular as ever. It's one of the best ways to wind down and work out your brain, and there are plenty of different nerdy themes to pick from depending the fandom you're apart of. Some of the best puzzle brands around offer plenty of specific themes, like Ravensburger with Pokemon, Disney, and Pixar-themed puzzles. Buffalo is another great pick, and they have dozens of puzzles with art from Spider-Man, Star Wars, and quaint nature scenes to pick from, just to name a few.

3D Puzzles

If you like assembling 3D kits or LEGO sets, but don't quite want to shell out the dough for an expensive kit, 3D puzzles are a great alternative and will satisfy that brain training we all need. Like regulat jigsaw puzzles, plenty of brands offer great 3D puzzle alternatives based on your favorite properties, like Marvel and Harry Potter. We also recommend 3D book nooks, both as a fun puzzle to work through and a practical decoration to organize your bookshelf.

Model Kits

Similar to 3D puzzles, model kits are a wonderful time sink. It can be difficult to know where to begin, but we have a handy guide to the best model kits for adults from a true expert. Older model kits needed to be glued together and painted, which for some added an even deeper layer of fun. But nowadays, many of them are snapped together and come pre-painted. The best example of model kits now and in years past are Gundam mechs from Bandai, but there plenty of other brands and IPs to build from.

Word Puzzles

Word puzzles like Sudoku and crossword puzzles are the perfect brain exercise over a hot cup of coffee in the mornings. Some of the best word puzzle books are easy to find and super affordable, and offer a fitting way to expand your vocabulary if you're a budding writer.

Escape Room Games

Escape room games and murder mysteries can often go hand-in-hand, and there are dozens of great games to pick from. Solving puzzles is the core of any game of this type, and you'll transfer plenty of knowledge if you're an avid puzzler. Games like Clue and One Night Ultimate Werewolf will put your mystery and puzzle solving skills to the test, and are great party games to experience with friends.

Mechanical and Spatial Puzzles

Traditional toys like the Rubiks Cube are another great puzzle-adjacent activity if you prefer a more hands-on, tactile experience. Solving one of these cubes takes a lot of time and dedication, but once you do it's extremely rewarding. Other worthy options are the Bop It toy, which is a game about listening for audio cues and testing your reflexes.