
Once you've settled that, you can begin to connect interlocking pieces until you've created a wraparound border. The direction of each angle should tell you the corner in which each of these pieces belongs. Beyond that, you've got four corner pieces (assuming the puzzle is in the shape of a quadrilateral), each of which is constructed with a right angle. You can usually separate the puzzle's frame pieces by eyeing up their straightened edges. Jigsaw 101: A Beginner's Guide to Solving Any PuzzleĮvery jigsaw puzzle is built around a basic frame, and this is a great place to start for any beginner. Or perhaps you'd like to solve the world's largest jigsaw puzzle, which includes 551,232 pieces, and a border that runs 76 feet wide. Perhaps you'd like to try a puzzle that can only be solved by connecting the pieces vertically. Or perhaps you'd like to try a puzzle with extra throwaway pieces maybe a puzzle that's custom-made to confuse the eyes. If you're an enthusiast, perhaps you'd like to try a puzzle that is nothing more than a solid white rectangle (all shape and no shades). These straight-edge pieces will eventually fit into the puzzle, but they can't be locked in until a corresponding section is 99 percent complete. Manufacturers may throw in a curveball by featuring several oblong, or even rectangular pieces.

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The more identically-shaped pieces a puzzle features, the more trial and error it will take to match those pieces with an appropriate mate.

In addition, a puzzle is considered more challenging if the overall picture is vastly made up of either one color, or a very crowded mix of similar objects. If those giant pieces had been cut 100 times smaller, then the puzzle as a whole would theoretically be considered 100 times more difficult to reassemble. Imagine, if you will, a toddler's jigsaw, the pieces of which are meant to look gigantic. The most obvious way to make a jigsaw puzzle more challenging is by cutting the pieces smaller. But it should be noted that the artwork is unique and attractive, a big mark in its favor. So, for those who appreciate interesting construction simply for the sake of design, it is a good choice puzzlers who prefer a challenge may not enjoy working these types once the novelty wears off. Even though the whimsical pieces are interesting, they can make the puzzle almost too easy. Finally, we ultimately only kept one Artifact wooden selection, the Artifact Tyukanov Flying Bottle. We also like the Springbok Board Game, and its depiction of classic board games we all know and love. It is bright and cheerful, and its size makes it an excellent choice for a group activity that can be completed in one night.

But we removed the moderately difficult Tenyo Disney Art, as there are occasional problems with missing pieces.Īs for easier options, we've added the Buffalo Games Vivid Coffee and Donuts.

If you've got plenty of stick-to-itiveness, this can be great if you have more of a Twitter-type attention span, you might struggle to finish. When finished, they're both over 9 feet wide, so these are no casual afternoon projects, as you can well imagine. We've also removed the Melissa and Doug Solar System and the Artifact Tyukanov Flying Bottle due to availability issues.įor those who love a challenge, we have kept the Ravensburger Paradise Sunset and the Educa Wildlife and their 18,000 and 33,600 pieces, respectively. The Educa Wildlife has been taken off the list although it has a whopping 33,600 pieces, its price has become too high. We've also updated the information for several listings, including the Springbok Board Game, the BetterCo Milky Way, and the Buffalo Games Vivid Coffee and Donuts. The Hartmaze Decorative Elephant is another new one on the list, a colorful wooden selection with an artsy, cultural vibe. Kids can work on the easier sections, like the characters, while adults can assemble the areas that are more difficult, like the starry backdrop. We particularly like the You're All Clear Kid, a vintage Star Wars scene, because of its multigenerational appeal (perfect for the holidays and other gatherings). For this update, we've added three fun puzzles for different skill levels, starting with the New Neighbors 60-Piece - a kid-friendly favorite with seven cute animals.
