There's a good chance you're stuck inside, looking for an escape from the strain of the mundane. Jigsaw puzzles offer you a great chance to sit down and unwind. Plus, if you have a family with kids dashing around begging for your attention, these wooden or board puzzles are a great remedy to your despair, and take little effort to set up and get started.
Jigsaws come in a mishmash of shapes, sizes and difficulties, and you don't want to feel short changed when your package arrives at the door. So, we've turned the internet upside down to shake out all the information the experts have to offer. We'll also reveal our top 10 puzzles for both adults and kids from leading online retailers like Amazon and Argos, including quality brands like Ravensburger and Galison.
Quick List - Top Jigsaw Puzzles
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The sheer volume of jigsaw puzzles available on the market can overwhelm even the most cool, calm and collected. So, we've collated our fully-loaded buying guide to help point you towards the best product to suit your needs.
One of the most important features, and simplest indicators of how challenging your jigsaw puzzle will be, is the number of pieces. Common piece counts are 300, 500 and 1000, with smaller counts really just for very young kids.
Though a contributing factor, this count is just one piece of the puzzle difficulty-wise, which we'll look into below. In short, shuffling through hundreds of pieces trying to find the right one takes time and commitment, so the piece count can be a good indicator of how long your puzzle will occupy you.
The piece count also denotes the size, so don't forget to check the puzzle's assembled dimensions, especially if you have limited surface space or plan on hanging your handiwork up on the wall.
The artwork of your puzzle will absolutely be based on your interests, hobbies, favourite colours, and so on, but it's also a clever way of gauging the difficulty level. Let's take a closer look.
It's understandable to believe that the artwork presented on your jigsaw puzzle only works aesthetically, delivering that dopamine shot as you insert the final piece. But alas, this is not the case – it plays a big role in the difficulty level, too!
Larger pieces, when paired with seemingly difficult-to-put-together artwork, simplify the process, and images broken up into smaller areas of colours or reference points can also lessen the difficulty. These are both worth looking out for if you're after a relaxing, uncomplicated way to pass the time.
On the other hand, if you'd like more of a challenge or a bigger project, artwork containing larger areas of the same colour and shade ensure you'll be pulling your hair out hunting for the right spot!
Jigsaws can display anything from cartoons to travel destinations, quirky art or sophisticated paintings. Whilst choices on the market are aplenty, not all will suit your personal tastes, so it's important to find one that matches your needs, which will motivate you to finish it!
If you love the arts, then you might want to construct one of the world's greatest artistic masterpieces. Kids are a sucker for animated TV shows, so buy a puzzle that lets them recreate their favourite movie scenes.
If you're on the hunt for a product that gets your brain sweating and love abstract graphics, then test yourself with a colour gradient puzzle, where interlocking every piece is a real challenge. The perfect jigsaw for you exists, if you look in the right place, and it seems you've found it!
Jigsaw puzzles are renowned as a pastime that spans generations. Everybody's brain needs a little stimulation, whether you're a grandparent bonding with your grandchildren or friends looking for a good time.
When you spend time on a jigsaw, you get the thrill of climbing an obstacle to overcome a difficult task. However, it's important to remember that younger children could choke on small pieces if unsupervised, and could lose interest if the level is a bit too challenging.
On the other hand, adults may worry that some puzzles won't challenge them enough! Therefore, depending on who will be putting the jigsaw together, check the age recommendation first.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aideal Gradient Round Puzzle | ![]() | Exercise Your Creativity and Relieve Stress | |
2 | Cloudberries Crystals Jigsaw Puzzle |3008 | ![]() | Try Something Different | |
3 | Gibsons The Brands That Built Britain Puzzle|G7073 | ![]() | A Walk Down Memory Lane With Easy XL Pieces | |
4 | HUADADA Space Puzzle | ![]() | Have a Blast With This Space-Themed Puzzle | |
5 | Winning Moves Harry Potter Hogwarts Puzzle | ![]() | Lay the Bricks of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry | |
6 | Ravensburger 4-in-1 Disney Pixar Toy Story 4 Puzzle|6833 | ![]() | Give Your Kids a Magical Time | |
7 | Galison Summer Amusement at the Park by Michael Storrings | ![]() | Pull Out the Shades Whatever the Season | |
8 | Ravensburger The World 3D Jigsaw Puzzle | ![]() | Around the World in 540 Pieces | |
9 | Eurographics Tea Cups Puzzle|6000-5314 | ![]() | A Real Challenge With Superb Attention to Detail | |
10 | Lais Joseph Turner's Modern Rome - Campo Vaccino | ![]() | One For the Classic Art Lovers |
Our coveted top spot goes to the zaniest puzzle on our list. This vibrant product has meditative qualities and demands you to locate the next piece by matching the colour. Take your time, as you'll need to be slow and deliberate to cross the finish line!
If you love challenging puzzles and want to get stuck into an 'experience', this game ticks all the boxes. Reviewers have praised its stress-reducing charms, while pieces are numbered on the back to nudge you in the right direction if it all gets too much.
World-renowned puzzle brand, Cloudberry, brings you this unique and elegant product, moulded from the finest materials. Each piece is double-layered with linen, delivering a matte finish that stops glare distracting from the beautiful image. Even the box looks great, so no need to hide it away!
You'll get robust pieces that faintly shift in gradients to simplify the piecing together – though not too much. A stunning array of crystals make up the final picture, which is why we recommend gifting this to a puzzle-loving friend as a token of your affection.
This puzzle follows the evolution of brand packaging through Robert Opie's time tunnel. Usually, you'd need to trek over to Notting Hill to see the historian's impressive collection of vintage labels. Now, you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home, whether you fancy a bit of nostalgia or want to show your kids how labels haven't changed since the Victorian era.
Plus, it's created from 100% recycled cardboard so it's durable and sturdy enough to stand the test of time, much like many of the featured brands!
Shoot for the stars with this stunning puzzle that depicts our Solar System in all its glory. Space fanatics can set about recreating the universe, while it doubles up as an educational tool for children, teens and adults alike.
Made from recycled cardboard, this environmentally-friendly puzzle oozes quality, with some reviewers loving the image so much they've framed and hung it on the wall. We also love the fact you can turn the pieces over to find numbers that help you if you get stuck!
Who didn't dream of Hagrid smashing your door down, ready to whisk you away to Hogwarts? Forget what's going on outside, jump into this magical world, and bring your family along too. This puzzle is perfect for kids falling in love with Harry Potter, and those feeling heartbroken now that the series is over.
We rate this puzzle as medium difficulty, because the image is broken into multiple sections – so locating the next piece is easier, but not too easy! Sit down as for some good old family time and tackle the brick-by-brick construction of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Bring Disney's modern classics to life in your own home with this Toy Story 4 jigsaw puzzle. These beloved characters span generations and new players, like Duke Caboom, make an appearance too. Kick back with your kid and enjoy piecing together this simple, yet fun game.
This puzzle represents real value for money with four puzzles in one. Giant pieces simplify the challenge for children, but those under 3 years old are still at risk of choking, so don't forget to supervise at all times!
Grab your bucket, spade, and imagination as this puzzle flies you straight to the States. Artist Michael Storrings captures the glory of summers spent at the beach and amusement park through charming watercolours and fantastical characters.
Smaller than most puzzles on our list, it's 500 pieces, but still delivers a great challenge. Seeing every character and detail up close bestows a sense of pleasure that keeps you interested until you place the final piece.
Ravensburger are responsible for many great toys, games and puzzles, but this 3D world map is utterly unique. It's fun, not too tricky to put together and teaches you and your family lots about geography and our world.
Since the puzzle has 540 pieces, it's a great chance to sit down with children and nurture them through the game, whilst throwing in some extra bits of knowledge to make the most of the experience. There's even a stand included to proudly display your globe once complete! However, this puzzle takes up a lot of space, which might be a problem if you're low on storage space.
This slick creation by Eurographics just oozes class. Dozens of multicoloured tea cups offer you plenty of reference points, but the intricate details and small pieces ensure you're given a proper challenge.
We'd recommend younger children steer clear of this puzzle. Though colourful, it's difficult to put together and the pay-off isn't likely to excite them. However, for a snip of a price, this is a real test of your puzzling ability that delivers a stunning image for your triumph.
If you love art, you'll adore piecing together this masterpiece by one of Britain's greatest artists. The colours merge and fade into each other, giving you a real challenge from start to finish. There's nothing like putting in the work to earn such a prize!
It's a little pricey compared to our other recommendations, but we think it's money well spent – high-quality pieces and the beautiful image delivers a creation worthy of a spot on any wall.
You can expect a big boost to your short-term memory too, as the constant reorganisation of puzzle pieces relative to shape, colour and size keeps you thinking. This effort translates into real-world benefits that might help your keys reappear next time you lose them!
And finally, puzzles may challenge us, but they help us to relax while improving our state of mind. Our brains produce extra dopamine, which regulates mood, relieves stress and gifts us with a sense of optimism. Which we all could do with sometimes!
Jigsaw puzzles are one giant cog in the behemoth game machine. We've got tons of alternative product guides and recommendations to scratch all of your itches, ranging from 3D jigsaw puzzles all the way to hilarious party games. Check them out below!
We hope you're brimming with helpful knowledge that's given you everything you need to find the product you want. Who would have thought so much went into choosing a jigsaw puzzle? Enjoy the hours of endless fun you're guaranteed to get!
Author: Danny Mitchell
No. 1: Aideal|Gradient Round Puzzle
No. 2: Cloudberries|Crystals Jigsaw Puzzle |3008
No. 3: Gibsons|The Brands That Built Britain Puzzle|G7073
No. 4: HUADADA|Space Puzzle
No. 5: Winning Moves|Harry Potter Hogwarts Puzzle
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