Beyond the Piece: Puzzle And Play
What Happens When Puzzles Have a Second Act? Exploring Extra Activities and Surprising Endings.
*Originally published on MyPuzzleDay.com — August 27, 2024*
⚠️ Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Allure of Puzzles With Extra Activities
Jigsaw puzzles with extra activities offer a unique appeal by combining the classic experience with additional elements of engagement and challenge. These puzzles encourage creative thinking and problem-solving, enhancing cognitive skills while stressing patience and perseverance.
Types of Extra Activities
These unique puzzles combine traditional piece-fitting with extra layers of fun. Here are the four main ways they offer an immersive experience:
Escape Room Puzzles
Combines puzzling with an immersive challenge. Pieces contain hidden clues, codes, or small riddles that must be solved to complete the final image or challenge.
Seek & Find Puzzles
Requires close observation to locate specific hidden objects (animals, numbers, items) camouflaged within the larger completed image.
Mystery Puzzles
Incorporate a narrative—usually a crime or mystery—that the solver must uncover. The puzzle pieces often reveal clues or messages needed to solve the case.
Riddles & Twist Ending Puzzles
As you build, you unlock clues and riddles that lead to a surprising twist or altered image once the final puzzle is complete.
🧩 Categorized List of Puzzle Brands With Extras
🕵️ Mystery, Detective, & Surprise Endings
• A Killing Affair (Murder Mystery)
• BePuzzled (Murder Mystery, Impossibles Mystery)
• Hasbro (Murder Mystery)
• Magic Puzzle Co (Seek & Find/Mystery)
• Odd Pieces (Mystery & Surprise Ending)
• Piece Story (Magical Ending)
• TDC Games (Mystery)
• University Games (Mystery)
• White Mountain (Murder Mystery)
★ Read my spoiler-free review of White Mountain Mystery puzzles here.
🗝️ Escape Room & Challenge Puzzles
• Ravensburger (Escape Room, Kids Escape Room)
• Unidragon - Quezzle (AR, Mazes, & Mini Puzzles)
• Vizzles (Riddles & Challenges)
• Tooniverse (Musical Riddles)
★ Read my review of Vizzles puzzles here.
🔎 Seek & Find / Hidden Images
• Aquarius (Where’s Waldo)
• Bits & Pieces (Hidden Images, Spot the Difference)
• Buffalo Games (Highlights™ Hidden Images, Hidden Images)
• Galison (Seek & Find)
• Hart (Seek & Find)
• Heye (Seek & Find)
• Laurence King (Spot the Characters)
• MasterPieces (Seek & Find)
• MudPuppy (Hidden Images)
• Ravensburger (Hidden Images)
• Re-Marks (Hidden Objects)
• SunsOut (Hidden Images)
• White Mountain (Seek & Find)
• Kids: Educa - Kids, Melissa & Doug - Kids, Trefl - Kids
★ Read my review of Hart jigsaw puzzles here.
🤪 Altered Image, Pranks, & Coloring
• Buffalo Games (Prank Puzzles)
• Eurographics (Coloring)
• Evermade (Altered Image)
• Galison (Coloring)
• MasterPieces (Coloring)
• PuzzleTwist (4 More Additional Images, Color Reveal, Mixed Up Altered Image, What’s up? Altered Image)
• Wasgij (Altered Image)
• Kids: D Toys - Kids
★ Read my spoiler-free review of PuzzleTwist puzzles here.
💡 Final Thoughts
Ready to take your puzzling to the next level? Puzzle and play puzzles offer a unique and enriching experience that sets them apart from traditional jigsaw puzzles.
Try a puzzle with extra activities today and experience the unique benefits of this exciting new trend!
Want More Puzzle Brands?
🚨 If you enjoyed this deep dive into unique puzzles, don’t miss my complete guide to jigsaw puzzle sizes or check out my big list of puzzle brands for more puzzling fun!
—jen