Defining what exactly a puzzle game is can be a bit of a…puzzle. We’re not talking literal puzzles here, but games where there is a code to crack, a mystery to solve, or something to uncover. It can involve puzzle-like pieces being used to create a figurative bigger picture or leave your opponent stumped, making the challenge harder for them to solve. It can mean working together and using clues to decipher the meaning of something and bringing you all one step closer to victory. It can mean all of these things and more because a puzzle game can mean many things to different people.
In general, puzzle games tend to be more abstract than other board games. They may have a set of rules but unlike games where most turns play out in a similar fashion, each turn will be different from the last and either make solving the problem easier or raise more questions. Puzzle games like strategy games tend to be cerebral and require players to think on their feet, be adaptable, analytical, and versatile. It also doesn’t hurt to think outside the box from time to time.
You can expect a variety of experiences, from cracking codes to solving mysteries, making each game an exciting and engaging adventure.
To cover the wide spectrum of what could be considered a ‘puzzle’ game, below are quite a few examples of what we consider to be some great games worth trying.
Types of Puzzle Board Games
Puzzle board games come in a variety of forms, each offering a unique experience for players. From fast-paced geometric challenges to immersive escape room experiences, there’s a puzzle board game to suit every taste and skill level. Whether you prefer a quick and competitive game or a collaborative and story-driven adventure, the world of puzzle board games has something for everyone.
Fast-Paced Fun for Geometric Geniuses
For those who thrive on quick thinking and spatial reasoning, fast-paced puzzle board games are a perfect fit. Games like Ubongo challenge players to fit geometric pieces into a pattern while racing against the clock. The thrill of competition and the need for rapid problem-solving make these games a hit among players who enjoy a good challenge. If you love the idea of testing your spatial skills and racing against time, these games are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Escape Room Excitement at Home
Escape room puzzle board games bring the excitement and mystery of escape rooms right into your living room. Games like Exit: The Sacred Temple combine intricate puzzles, riddles, and a captivating storyline, challenging players to work together to solve the mystery and escape the temple. These games are perfect for those who enjoy cooperative problem-solving and the thrill of uncovering clues. If you’re looking for a game that tests your teamwork and puzzle-solving skills, escape room board games are a fantastic choice.
Unlock! Series
Players: 1-6 Time: 45-65 minutes Age: 10+
The Unlock! series is a cooperative card game inspired by escape rooms that use a simple system that allows players to search scenes, combine objects, and solve riddles. Using the game app in conjunction with the board game, players are timed and ranked on how quickly they can complete each scenario. There are normally three scenarios in each pack, each with their own deck of cards. The cards represent items, codes, machines, and places, all of which have numbers and/or letters on them. It’s up to players to use the clues given and find cards matching the rooms number in order to progress and solve the mystery.
Players should always keep their wits about them as some of these numbers are hidden on the cards, and it may be possible to combine objects to further their progress. There is also the risk of encountering penalties that will reduce the time players have and put the pressure on. If players can solve the last puzzle before the timer stops they’ll be graded on their performance. However, players can keep playing after the timer stops, but they may receive a lower score.
Unlock! Games are great and although you can only realistically play each scenario once, there are plenty of games out there with three scenarios each to keep you busy. Using the app in conjunction with the cards to solve the puzzles is great and this is definitely a series everyone should try.
Barenpark
Players: 2-4 Time: 30-45 minutes Age: 8+
Bärenpark takes you into the world of bears, challenging you to build your own bear park. Use every inch possible and combine polyomino tiles onto a grid, with players scoring for animal houses, outdoor areas, completed construction, and more. Each player starts with an entrance tile and on their turn, they place one of their park tiles on top of it. Each tile must touch but they cannot cover certain sections of the park tile. Over time, players will expand their park and be able to lay larger tiles worth more and more points.
These tiles can be placed in any way as long as they come into contact with other tiles but do not run over the edges of the board. If a player can over every segment of a park tile, at the end of their turn they can place a bear statue in the pit, which is worth a significant amount of points. If a player covers all of their park, each other player gets one more turn before the scores are calculated, with the highest-scoring player winning.
Barenpark is a simple but fun game, where planning ahead is key to scoring big. Fitting the tiles together in the right way and utilising as much space as possible is a challenge, but and addictive one that will keep players coming back for more.
Azul
Players: 2-4 Time: 30-45minutes Age: 8+
As a tile-laying artist, you have been challenged to embellish the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora. Players take turns drafting coloured tiles from suppliers to their player board then score points based on how they’ve placed their tiles to decorate the palace. Each turn, players pick tiles from a random selection in the centre of the play area. Players can take as many of the same coloured tiles as they wish on their turn, and place them on the left side of their board.
Once all tiles are gone from the communal area, players move their tiles across to the matching sections on the right side of their board, but only if they have a full row of tiles that match. Eventually, the right side will fill up, making the ‘wall’ more full and decorated, and players will score for creating rows and columns of tiles. If a player collects too many of one type of tile however, this will result in them losing points. Once someone has created a line of five tiles the game is over, final points are calculated, and the highest-scoring player wins.
Azul is great and comes in a variety of thematic styles but retains the same objective and gameplay. It’s simple to learn and involves a decent amount of planning, strategy, and luck. It’s also a very pretty game that looks amazing.
Cascadia
Players: 1-4 Time: 30-45 minutes Age: 10+
Cascadia introduces players to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest in this tile-laying and token-drafting game. Over time, players will create a larger and larger environment by placing tiles next to each other and populating it with diverse wildlife in the form of tokens. Everyone starts with a starting tile, depicting a few different landscapes, and each turn will draft a combo of landscape tiles and animal tokens. One of the main objectives of the game is to create the longest corridors, by connecting the same landscapes together without any breaks.
Additionally, each game has a unique scoring system that’s different each time you play. Each animal has several different scoring cards that dictate how to score points with those tokens. This normally involves arranging tokens in a certain pattern in order to score the most points. After all tiles have been played scoring takes place and the player with the highest score is the winner.
Cascadia is a beautiful game that boats solid mechanics and a high replay value. Each game feels unique and there are plenty of ways to play including a solo mode. Highly recommended for fans of strategy games.
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Clues
Players: 1-8 Time: 60-120 minutes Age: 13+
Have you ever had the desire to walk along Baker Street as the fog is rolling in to set out and investigate a crime? Now you can! Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective let’s capture the mystery and excitement of Holmes’ London in this challenging and informative game. Presented with a mystery to solve, players trace the threads of evidence through the byways and mansions of nineteenth-century London whilst they interview suspects, search the newspapers for clues, and put together the facts to reach a solution.
The game focuses purely on your mental agility, initiative, and forward-thinking to piece the clues together and come up with the correct solution. There is no hand-holding in this game, once the synopsis is read, players must use the information they have to go out and speak with who they think will provide the best information and visit the most appropriate locations. Although they can only be played through once, there are plenty of cases to solve and have been fact-checked by experts on the era, so each game offers something new and authentic.
Sherlock Holmes offers an interesting experience, wherein there are no dice, no game board, and there is no luck. It comes down to fact-finding, deduction, using the contacts and analysing the map of London to solve the case in time. A very open-ended game with lots of room for people who like brain teasers.
Patchwork
Players: 2 Time: 15-30 minutes Age: 8+
In Patchwork, two players compete to build the most aesthetic (and high-scoring) patchwork quilt on a personal 9×9 game board. Each turn, players will either move their token around the game board, or purchase tiles that represent pieces of a patchwork quilt. Moving around the board will grant players buttons, used for currency to purchase tiles and points at the end of the game. When they have enough buttons, players can choose from a small selection of tiles to add to their board. These tiles must all touch, and the objective is to take up as much space on the board as possible, with any spaces resulting in negative points at the end of the game.
When playing, it’s the player whose token is in last place that moves. This means that if playing tactfully, players may be able to take several actions before handing play over to the opponent, like moving, collecting buttons, and placing tiles all in one go. When a players token reaches the last space on the game board, players add up their scores, adding up buttons and reducing that number by the number of blank spaces on their board.
Patchwork is a light and fun game for two players that’s easy to learn and quick to play. Aesthetically it looks great and provides just enough strategy to both casual and regular gamers to enjoy.
Blokus
Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes Age: 7+
Blokus (officially pronounced “Block us”) is an abstract strategy and puzzle game that uses transparent, Tetris-shaped, coloured pieces that players try to play on a communal board. Everyone receives 21 pieces in the colour of their choice and must try their hardest to fit them on to the board. Each turn, players select one of the pieces to play and work their way from the corners to the centre of the board.
Each time a piece is played, the new piece must touch at least one side of the piece that was played previously. With the pieces being all different shapes and sizes, players need to think ahead and predict what their opponents will do and utilise the space as much as possible as it shrinks. It’s not just about laying your tiles but blocking other from doing so. Once there is no more space for players to lay their tiles the game ends and scores are calculated. For every tile not placed, players lose one point (ie. If two 4 tiled pieces are left, that player loses eight points) and whoever has the highest score wins.
Blokus is simple and easily accessible but requires a significant amount of strategy. It’s great for all ages and figuring out how to fit all the pieces on to the board provides a fun challenge.
Needless to say, there are plenty of options out there when it comes to puzzle games. It depends on what type of experience players prefer, how long they want to spend playing a game, and what types of themes they like in a game, but there is definitely something out there for everyone. These are just a small sampling of some of the great puzzle games available, but we’d love to hear what your favourites are!
Jigsaw Puzzle Board Games
Jigsaw puzzle board games combine the classic appeal of jigsaw puzzles with the interactive excitement of board games. These games often feature unique and challenging gameplay experiences, requiring players to carefully assemble the board to create a cohesive game environment. The blend of traditional jigsaw puzzle elements with strategic gameplay makes these games a delightful and engaging experience for players of all ages.
Benefits of Jigsaw Puzzles in Board Games
Jigsaw puzzles in board games offer a range of benefits, including:
Improved Cognitive Function and Memory: Assembling jigsaw puzzles helps enhance cognitive abilities and memory retention.
Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: The challenge of fitting pieces together boosts critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Increased Social Interaction and Teamwork: Working on a jigsaw puzzle board game with friends or family fosters collaboration and communication.
A Fun and Engaging Way to Spend Time: These games provide a unique and enjoyable way to spend time with loved ones.
A Unique and Challenging Gameplay Experience: The combination of jigsaw puzzles and board game mechanics offers a fresh and exciting challenge.
Jigsaw puzzle board games are perfect for players of all ages and skill levels, from kids to adults. They offer a fun and engaging way to exercise your brain and challenge yourself, while also providing a unique and exciting gameplay experience. Whether you’re looking to improve your cognitive skills or simply enjoy a fun game night with friends, jigsaw puzzle board games are a fantastic choice.
Also Read: Board Games Through The Ages: A Journey of Fun and Strategy
Puzzle Board Games FAQ
What defines a puzzle board game?
Puzzle board games typically involve code-cracking, mystery-solving, or uncovering something. They can include using puzzle-like pieces to create a bigger picture, stumping opponents, or working together to decipher clues.
How do puzzle games differ from other board games?
Puzzle games tend to be more abstract, with each turn being different from the last. They require players to think on their feet, be adaptable, analytical, and versatile.
Are puzzle games suitable for all ages?
Many puzzle games are designed for various age groups. For example, games like Barenpark and Azul are suitable for ages 8 and up, while more complex games like Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective are recommended for ages 13 and up.
Can puzzle games be played solo?
Yes, some puzzle games offer solo play options. For instance, the Unlock! series and Cascadia both have solo modes.
How long does a typical puzzle board game take to play?
The play time for puzzle board games can vary widely. Based on the games mentioned in the article, most range from 15-30 minutes (like Patchwork) to 60-120 minutes (like Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective).