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Puzzle World contains information about many of the finest handcrafted mechanical puzzles in the world. Most of the puzzles presented here are not the mass-produced variety found in stores, but limited production puzzles designed by the foremost puzzle designers in the world and produced by craftsmen (often the designers themselves) working primarily in wood. However, to provide representative examples of all the different puzzle categories, mass produced puzzles are often the only ones available and will be included. Many of the puzzles are available directly from the designers, craftsmen, in stores or from catalog sales. Some craftsmen have provided information about puzzles they have available on their designer/craftsman page.

Please understand this site was created to make contact with other puzzlers who might not be aware there are several hundred serious collectors of mechanical puzzles all over the world. It was first made available in 1998 when the Internet was just getting rolling. It is no longer updated with many new puzzles because they are being designed and made faster than anyone can keep up. If you are not represented as a designer or craftsman, please accept my apploogies. You probably can't keep up anyway! It remains a way to connect. Feel free to browse around, ask questions if you must. And seriously check out the books. I do update those from time to time. You might just find a way to make yourself known to other collectors and become an invited member of the community.

The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections

The original Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections remains available as a companion site to Puzzle World. Serious puzzlers should consider purchasing the enhanced and revised Geometric Puzzle Design.

This site has been revised to have complete chapters on a single page.

Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections Icon

When you see this image on any Puzzle World page, you can click on it to see more information in The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections.

 

The IPP Puzzle Design Competition

The IPP Puzzle Design Competition was established to promote and
recognize innovative new designs of mechanical puzzles.  Go to this web site for further information and galleries for
all previous competitions.

 

Nick Baxter's Sliding Block Puzzles

Broken Heart AnimationIf you are interested in sliding block puzzles, then this is the place for you.  Here you will find everything from such classics as Get My Goat and Dad's Puzzler, to the modern creations of Minoru Abe.  Many of the puzzles are old or rare, so this may be the only place were you can see these designs.  You can actually play most of the puzzles if your browser supports Java.  In most cases, the puzzle pieces are actual images from the real puzzles, making the experience that much better. Once you solve a puzzle, you can challenge yourself to match or beat the minimum number of moves - give it a try!

Puzzle World was last updated on September 24, 2018
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Puzzle World ©1997-2018 by John Rausch
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