Studies have shown that regularly doing puzzles can improve an individual’s memory, as well as overall cognitive health in adults. Children can also benefit from including puzzles in their playtime, through improved spatial transformation skills. With a variety of difficulty levels and styles to choose from, there’s a puzzle out there for everyone. Here are the best puzzles on the market. When you choose this puzzle, you’re getting an intermediate-challenge, as well as a piece of art for your home. Price at time of publication: $16 This yard sale puzzle from Buffalo Games is 1,000 pieces and made from premium quality materials, including 100% recycled paperboard. Its colorful image provides a challenge, giving you the opportunity to show off your skills as you match pieces to create a variety of yard sale knickknacks. Price at time of publication: $15 Full of blues, browns, and yellows, it may take some patience to navigate each aspect of “Starry Night,” but accomplishing this puzzle will give you the confidence you need to tackle even harder projects! Price at time of publication: $14 Made from sturdy chipboard and recycled paper, this puzzle isn’t a flimsy, one-time challenge. You can take this out for anything, from family fun nights to cozy afternoons by yourself. It’s a beautiful, timeless project. Price at time of publication: $22 When you’re finished, you’ll have a stunning replica to display in your home, or to take apart so you can put it back together again! Price at time of publication: $20 The pieces are crafted from high-quality cardboard, making them easy to clean and use over and over again. With the right balance of challenge and engagement, this puzzle makes a fantastic gift for your older loved ones, whether you’re there to complete it with them or you’re sending it from afar. Price at time of publication: $22 The colorful New Yorker cover is a fun and engaging image that your entire family will love, with plenty of other New Yorker options that could easily become a family collectible. Price at time of publication: $22 Recommended for ages 7 and up, this is a fun series to complete as a family, collecting new puzzles all as you complete each scene. Price at time of publication: $24 It’s a challenge, with clear pieces that make it hard to distinguish the front from the back—it may drive you crazy, but that’s part of the fun. Price at time of publication: $50 The sturdy storage box ensures that your family can use the puzzle for years to come. Price at time of publication: $10
Degree of Difficulty
When you go to buy a puzzle, the box should indicate how difficult it is to finish. This is often determined by the colors shown in the picture—if you have an image of the ocean with all blues and greens, it may be harder to complete than an image with more color diversity.
Durability
You want to purchase puzzles that will stand the test of time. Choosing a puzzle with durable pieces ensures that you can keep it for years without pieces breaking.
Why Trust Verywell Mind
As a previous fitness coach, long-time wellness enthusiast, and current health editor, Lily Moe understands the importance of taking time for your mental health, through activities like meditation, puzzles, and long walks in the fresh air. She’s also relied heavily on The New York Puzzle Company for Christmas gifts every year! Most importantly, Lily always looks for research and first-hand reviews when it comes to deciding on a product. Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN, physician-scientist, clinical development specialist, and Verywell Mind review board member, says the best puzzles for brain training are those with shapes, colors, words, sounds, calculations, and judgment that elicit emotion, dig deep into our memory banks, and solve problems. “There are more benefits if there is a social aspect to the task at the end, and it’s even better if there are rewards,” Dr. Lakhan adds. “Adding incentives, whether monetary or simply bragging rights, activates the brain reward circuits and uses the very machinery that gets hijacked by drug addiction—but, this time for good,” Dr. Lakhan adds.
