I’m not much of a puzzle kind of guy, but I will say that if I solved some of these puzzles, I might just weep with joy at my accomplishment. I’m talking full-on weeping. Then again, some of these gadgets also have the power to hurl me into a rage out of frustration. It kind of sounds like a bad relationship, but when I finally snap it won’t be because of a woman. It will be the Superplexus that gets me.
puzzles
Have you ever seen one of those videos where some guy tries to solve a Rubik’s Cube while skydiving? Well, I wouldn’t try something like that with Oskar van Deventer’s epic 17x17x17 puzzle (an unofficial record). Then again, being dead, you would have all eternity to solve it—and you would need every second of it.
Oskar produced the entire 1539-piece puzzle by hand using a 3D printer over the course of 15 hours, then spent another 15 dyeing, sorting and assembling.
The aptly titled “Over The Top” puzzle can be purchased in parts for an equally over the top price of of $2006.54.
Product Page ($2006.54 via Core77)
Man, what is the point of completing a 400 piece jigsaw puzzle shaped like a donut? Is it some sort of willpower exercise? Maybe you’re addicted to donuts and you won’t allow yourself to have one until the puzzle is complete. By that time, maybe the donut’s spell on you will be broken.
Also available in cofee, pizza and Chinese food versions.
As you can see, the important work on this word search clock has already been done for you. However, there are other words mixed into the puzzle that have yet to be uncovered. It’s the perfect diversion while you stare at the clock waiting for quittin’ time.
Product Page ($38 via Holycool)
Puzzles have branched out from their familiar role as nursing home pastime to provide frustrating entertainment in a variety of new formats that will keep you from eating, saving money or wiping your rear. Check out these 10 examples to discover their full range.
Little prep school brat Reginald here might not be phased by the $30,000 price tag of this giant Superplexus puzzle, but it doesn’t take someone smart enough to solve it to figure out that is an assload of money to waste on an mind game. It takes 400 hours to hand craft just one of these puzzles from Finnish birch, and all you do is navigate a 5/8″ wooden marble through the course by carefully maneuvering the sphere.
Lunch Punch’s Match and Munch sandwich cutters do more than just eliminate crusts, they allow your kids to piece together unholy puzzle sandwich combinations. Ordinarily, PB&J doesn’t fit with tuna fish, but they will lock together perfectly here into a devastating pukeular puzzle food bomb.
Product Page ($16)
You remember the infamous bacon tuxedo right? The image above has made the rounds on several different products, none of them more baffling than this 500 piece puzzle. It’s only $10 if you think you can handle it.
However, if that’s not enough meat puzzle for you, step up to Sunrise in Meatopia and fantasize about lying in a sausage canoe, lazily floating down a river of gravy with the hot sun cooking the Meatopian landscape to crispy perfection.
Dismember the St. Bernard and see if you can put his lifeless carcass back together again. Fun for the whole family.
Product Page ($2)
If you reach for the toilet paper roll only to find a “Don’t Pee Me Off” puzzle denying access—stay calm. You must stay sharp if you want to emerge victorious. And remember—dingleberries are the price of failure.
Product Page ($20)
