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How many types of puzzles exist? That kind of depends on what you consider a puzzle to be.
At its simplest, a puzzle is “a game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.”
Puzzle Classification
Puzzles are usually grouped together into four groups: logic puzzles, word puzzles, mechanical puzzles, and other puzzles. There are tons of puzzle types in each group (and some puzzles can belong to more than one group) so let’s check them out!
Logic Puzzles
Logic puzzles involve no guesswork, everything is solved using logic. There are many types of logic puzzles such as sudoku, hitori, warships, brainteasers, and more. Let’s check out some of the most popular types of logic puzzles.
Brain Teasers
Brain Teasers are a group of logical puzzles that require thought to be solved. No pen or paper is typically required!
There are several common types of brain teasers including riddles, syllogisms, truth-tellers and liars, and more.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Calcudoku
Calcudoku is a logic puzzle played on a grid. It’s a variation of Sudoku. The most common Calcudoku grid sizes are between 4×4 and 9×9.
The object of the puzzle is to fill all the empty squares with the numbers 1 through X (where X is the grid size). Each number must appear once (and only once) in each column and each row. Within the grid are special blocks surrounded by bolder lines and containing a result and math operator and result. The numbers in the block must total the result using only the given operator.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Calcudoku for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Chess Puzzles
Chess puzzles utilize the rules of chess but without playing a full game with another person. Each puzzle will utilize its own setup and challenge.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Solve Chess Puzzles for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Hitori
Hitori is a logic puzzle played in a grid. The object is to shade squares leaving a single continuous area unshaded.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Hitori for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Kakurasu
Kakurasu is played on an empty grid. The goal (using the clues provided) is to figure out which cells need to be colored and which ones should be left blank.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Kakurasu for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Mine Finder (aka Battleship Solitaire)
Mine Finder is a logic puzzle with a series of mines that are randomly hidden in a grid. It’s your job to figure out the location of those mines and mark them off.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Mine Finder for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Nonogram (aka Picross)
A nonogram is a grid puzzle where you fill in the grid based on the numbers at the top and to the side. When you’ve completed the puzzle, there should be a clear picture!
A properly designed nonogram puzzle will require no guessing.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Solve Nonograms for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Nurikabe
Nurikabe is a fun logic puzzle that comes in a variety of grid sizes (the larger the grid, the harder the puzzle). Each Nurikabe puzzle consists of a grid that contains clues in various places. The goal is to create islands by adding “walls” between clues
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Nurikabe for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Path (ABC & 123)
Path puzzles are made on a 5×5 grid. The first number or letter (1 or A) is pre-placed somewhere in the grid.
The goal of the puzzle is to fill in all the cells so that all numbers or letters (1 to 25 or A to Y) appear exactly once. Around the edges of the grid are clues to help you.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Path Puzzles for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Shikaku
Shikaku is a number puzzle played on a grid. The goal is to create blocks of cells filled with the same number.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Shikaku for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Skyscraper
A Skyscraper puzzle is made of a grid. Every square in the grid must be filled with a number from one to the grid size so that every row and column contains one of each number.
Visualize each number inside the grid as a skyscraper. The number represents how many stories tall the skyscraper is. If you were standing at the edge looking at the skyscrapers, the number there would be how many you can see. Every skyscraper will block the view of any shorter skyscrapers, while taller skyscrapers will still be visible.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Skyscraper for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Sudoku
Sudoku is a logic puzzle played in a 9×9 grid. It’s not a guessing game, but a game of serious thought and logical moves.
The numbers 1 through 9 are placed (once) in each column, row, and square in the grid with no duplicates.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Sudoku for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Tic Tac Logic
Tic Tac Logic is a single-player puzzle that’s based on the popular two-player game “Tic Tac Toe.”
Tic Tac Logic is played on a grid. Each puzzle starts with some X’s and some O’s in various places on the grid. The goal is to place an X or an O in the remaining squares without breaking any of the rules.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Tic Tac Logic for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Warships (aka Battleship Solitaire)
Warships (aka Battleship Solitaire) is a puzzle based on the popular board game, Battleship. Unlike the game, the puzzle is designed to be played alone.
The puzzle consists of a grid with numbers indicating how many spaces contain pieces of a ship. Each puzzle has 10 ships and the goal is to discover them all.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Warships for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Word Puzzles
Word puzzles are all about the words. They may test your vocabulary or they might be logical (or both). There are a lot of different word puzzles you can play including crossword puzzles, boggle, anagrams, word searches, and more.
Crosswords
There are three major types of crossword puzzles: fill-in, hints, and cryptic.
A fill-in crossword puzzle provides a list of words that must be fitted into the given grid. For an extra challenge, try number fill-ins!
A hints crossword puzzle provides a list of hints (such as trivia). The answers to the hints must be fitted into the given grid.
A cryptic crossword puzzle is a more difficult type of hints crossword. It provides a list of puzzles (such as riddles, puns, wordplay, etc) as hints. The answers to the puzzles must be fitted into the given grid.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Crosswords for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Cryptograms
A cryptogram is a puzzle where a phrase has been encoded. Each letter is represented by a different letter (or number or symbol). The passage can be decoded using a cipher.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Cryptograms for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Letter Arrangement
In a letter arrangement puzzle, you’re given a set of letters and must organize them into one (or more) word(s).
Scrabble is a classic example of a letter arrangement game.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play WHAT for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great items:
Word Grid (aka Boggle Solitaire)
Word Grid Puzzles (aka Boggle Solitaire) are based on the Boggle board game. In Word Grid, you’re given a grid of letters and must find as many words as you can.
The rules are simple: words must be made from letters that touch and each letter can only be used once per word. To make it more challenging, set a time limit!
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Word Grid for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Word Scrambles / Anagrams
A word scramble is when the letters of a word are arranged out of order. To solve the puzzle you must rearrange the letters to make the correct word.
An anagram is similar to a word puzzle, but the letters are arranged to spell different words.
For example: LISTEN = SILENT
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play WHAT for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Word Search (and Number Search)
A word search is a grid filled with letters. You must find all the words hidden in the grid. Most word searches provide a list of words to be found.
A similar (and often more challenging) puzzle type is the number search puzzle. You’re given a grid of numbers and a list of numbers and have to find them all.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Searches for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. Then, get started by buying one (or more) of these great books:
Mechanical Puzzles
Mechanical puzzles are ones that you manipulate physically such as Rubik’s Cubes, Jigsaw Puzzles, and Nail Puzzles. Mechanical puzzles may have a logic component or they may be completely trial and error.
Assembly
Assembly puzzles involve taking a bunch of given pieces and assembling them into a specific shape, pattern, etc., Jigsaw puzzles are a simple example of an assembly puzzle (but they’re so popular that they’ve got their own section below) but there are many, many more!
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Disassembly
Disassembly puzzles are the opposite of assembly puzzles. You’re given one object and must disassemble it into all of its individual pieces.
Japanese Puzzle Boxes and Nail Puzzles are popular types of disassembly puzzles.
Some disassembly puzzles are also challenging assembly puzzles once you’ve completed the disassemble.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Jigsaw
A jigsaw puzzle is an image that’s been cut up into pieces and needs reassembled.
Jigsaw puzzles come in a variety of shapes and sizes ranging from 20-piece toddler puzzles to gigantic 50,000+-piece puzzles.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Rubik’s Cubes
The Rubik’s Cube is a 2.25″ (5.7 cm) cube made of 6 different colors. At the start, the cube would be a mixed-up assortment of colors and the goal was to get each side all the same color.
There are now hundreds (thousands?) of variations of the Rubik’s cube in different sizes and shapes.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Other Puzzles
If logic puzzles, mechanical puzzles, and word puzzles aren’t enough puzzle types for you, don’t worry! There are still other puzzle types including math puzzles, trivia puzzles, rebus puzzles, and more!
Math Puzzles
If you like math, you’ll love math puzzles. Math puzzles can be wordy or logic or trial and error.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Rebus
Rebus puzzles use words, pictures, and other elements arranged as a clue for the solution. They’re often abstract and require good critical thinking skills.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Trivia
Are Trivia Puzzles word puzzles? They can be. Trivia puzzles are typically focused on a topic or theme and exact vocabulary is often unnecessary.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Not-Quite Puzzles
There are several activities that aren’t really puzzles but are puzzle-like and deserve a mention.
Color or Paint by Number
Painting or coloring by numbers isn’t really a puzzle because you’re just following a guide. BUT, they offer a similar mental satisfaction so if you’re not so interested in regular puzzles, this might be more your style.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Spot the Difference
Spot the Difference is puzzle-like but not quite a puzzle. Like paint by numbers, they offer a similar mental satisfaction upon completion.
Get started by buying one (or more) of these great puzzles:
Get Puzzling!
Now that you know about many of the different puzzles types (but not all), it’s time to grab some puzzles and get puzzling!
Happy Puzzling,
