Passion For Puzzles

Matcheroo is a match three puzzle game with some nice physics-based features used up by YoudaGames.

The rules are simple:
- Move the gems with your mouse and match at least 3 of the same colors together to let them disappear and win the level.
- Move the gates by dragging the gems to them in the right direction. Every next level there will be a new little challenge and if you mess up, just restart the level.

Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Matcheroo | Puzzle Game

Z-Rox is a really innovative brain/puzzle by Smart-Kit. This online Flash Puzzle game starts off easy, and then gets difficult, very difficult!

Z-Rox asks you to identify a given letter, number, shape, or symbol but all it shows you is a single line cross-section as it moves from top to bottom–like a copying machine. There are 100 different brain puzzles currently for Z-Rox.

Some important notes from the creator, Evil-Dog:
- Don’t forget, it can be anything, letters, numbers, shapes, symbols, objects.
- Answers are in English and can be words, not just keyboard keys.
- Pay attention to the tutorial
- Solve the puzzles with friends when it's too hard
- Sleep on it when you can't find the answer and try again with a fresh brain.
- Drawing helps understanding what you see.

[Via Puzzlinks]. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Z-Rox | Puzzle Game | Brain Game

Wheel Of Death is a free online Flash puzzle game on Kongregate. If you liked Fantastic Contraption you will also like this puzzle game.

Object is to get the daredevil inside the wheel of death to the goal by using the 'props' available (ramps in different angles, springs, ...), drag the props from the bottom of the screen into to the game grid to reach the goal for each of the 19 levels. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Wheel Of Death | Puzzle Game

Fuzzle is a classic, highly addictive puzzle game, that is both simple yet challenging.

Move the balls around the board to create lines of five balls of the same color. Every time you finish a row, the balls are removed. But after every other move you make, more balls are added.

Additional to the plain colored balls, two special balls are provided - the rainbow ball, which serves as any colour, and the bomb ball, which clear all balls of the line's color from the board. Use these wisely in your quest to survive as long as possible.

With fast game play, smooth graphics, and intuitive tap-handling - making the selection+moving of the stones fast+easy - this game will keep you entertained for hours. Here is a video explaining Fuzzle. [via candycaneapps]

Tags: Fuzzle | iPhone

At A Cleverly-Titled Logic Puzzle Blog you can find a lot of Pearls Of Wishdom Puzzles (a.k.a as Masyu) which looks a bit like Slitherlink puzzles.

The rules are simple:
1. Draw a single loop that connects the grid cells. The loop may only travel horizontally or vertically, and never diagonally (so all turns are of 90 degrees). The loop may only turn at the centers of grid cells. The loop may not cross itself or branch off; in other words, the interior of the loop will be a single polygon.
2. The loop must pass through every pearl (circle) on the grid.
3. The loop MAY NOT turn at a white pearl, but MUST turn at ONE or BOTH of the adjacent cells in the loop.
4. The loop MUST turn at a black pearl, but MAY NOT turn at EITHER of the adjacent cells in the loop.

Happy Puzzling !

Tags: Pearls Of Wishdom | Slitherlink | Masyu

The latest Rubik's is called Rubik's Mirror Blocks and looks more like a piece of art than a puzzle.

The first time I saw Rubik's Mirror Blocks I thought this can not work with the asymetrical blocks, but it does. Personally I really like the looks of Rubik's Mirror Blocks, has the same size and works as far as I can see from the video Rubik's Mirror Blocks Review at YouTube exactly the same as the original Rubik's cube. Rubik's Mirror Blocks is at this moment only available in Japan and I can not wait till it's available in Europe (luckily a friend of mine is on holiday in Japan, and of course I asked him to bring one Rubik's Mirror Cube for me ! [via BoingBoing].

Tags: Rubik's | Mirror Blocks

Via The Missing Docs .Net I found a very nice Slitherlink Puzzle Generator.

The program is called LoopDeLoop and is a generic implementation of Slitherlink (also known as LoopDeLoop and Kwontom) loops puzzle game. It has a multi player mode and support for non-standard grids (Square, Square Symmetric, Triangle, Hexagon, Pentagon and Octagon). You can also select the size you would like for your Slitherlink grid.

If you're not familiar with Slitherlink puzzles please read "How To Solve Slitherlink Puzzles". Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Slitherlink

Thanks to Josh from Puzzlinks.com I am now already one day puzzling on Penrose Sudoku.

This Sudoku variant is based upon the Penrose Slitherlink the quasi-periodic 5-fold tiling discovered by Sir Roger Penrose. The main trick to solving the puzzle seems to be discovering the row/column equivalents. Happy Puzzling !!!

Tags: Penrose Sudoku

Loops Of Zen is an online puzzle game about harmony. Solve the entagled loops until perfect harmony is reached.

Click to start. When left clicking a tile it will rotate 90 degree clockwise. With the left and right cursor keys you can navigate between already solved levels. In total there are 30 levels to solve.

If you like Loops Of Zen you probably also like Plumber and Rotate². Happy Puzzling!

[Via Microsiervos]

Tags: Loops Of Zen | Puzzle Game

Rolocu is a Twist'n'Swap Puzzle Game. Charles Edge pointed me to this game via an email.

Object of Rolocu is to arrange these squares so that each row and each column has all nine colours in them. Double click a square to rotate a quarter turn or drag and drop one square onto another to swap places.

It looks a like Sudoku with colors. Only with Rolocu there are three online puzzle types available:
1. Twist Puzzle : All the squares are in the correct position but have been rotated.
2. Swap Puzzle : No rotations but squares have been swapped around.
3. Twist 'n' Swap Puzzle : Rotated and swapped

Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Rolocu | Puzzle Game

Via Shaastra.org there is an online puzzle championship from the 19th until the 26th of September 2008.

There will be three contests running back to back with a total prize money to be won of US$ 5.100. The contest will be with many varieties of puzzles, mostly logical, requiring little technical knowledge. Deadlines for entering your solution will be one week after the particular problem set is put up. Happy Puzzling!!!

Tags: Puzzle Championship

The 3rd edition of The European Rubik's Cube Championship 2008 starts today and will be held in Derio (Bilbao - Spain) and end on Sunday when all winners of the several categories are known.

During the championship the official WCA regulations will be applied. The program of the European Championship consists of:
- Friday: finals for some side events, qualification for main events.
- Saturday: preliminary rounds for main events, finals for some side events.
- Sunday: finals, winner's ceremony, after party.

The European Rubik's Cube Championship is open to competitors from all countries of all ages (registration is closed). For each event only the best competitors from Europe and Israel are eligible for the official European Championship titles.

Tags: WCA | Rubik's Cube

Stochastic is a cute and small puzzle game by MoFunZone.

Out of the blue, you are teleported into an empty, enclosed room. As you wonder what the hell is happening, giant crates fall from the ceiling and the room starts filling with water. Can you survive long enough this stochastic event before teleporting out of the onslaught. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Stochastic

Twins Deluxe is a colorful puzzle game where you have to connect two of the same colored bubbles. The rules are that your connect between two bubbles cannot turn more then twice. The objective is to empty the field before your time runs out.

Use the mouse to click on 2 bubbles. If your connection was correct both bubbles will disappear from the screen. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Twins Deluxe | Puzzle Game

Cutey Cubes is a Tetris variant puzzle game, cute and addictive block stacking puzzle game by CuteFlashGames.com.

Object is to place blocks in rows or columns of four or more block of the same color to eliminate all the blocks with eyes. Control the falling pieces with the arrow keys (left, right and the up to rotate the two blocks). Play against a friend or try to complete all the levels. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Cutey Cubes | Puzzle Game

Exit is a funny Flash puzzle game by DevilishGames.com.

In Exit you have to get to a door which is the exit of each level, but first you have to get to collect the key to open the door. There are some special tiles (yellow) which disappear when you walk on them or tiles with spikes (red) which kill you. Use the arrow keys to move left, right, up , down. Make sure you have all tiles from the screen before exiting the level. Click on the 'JUGAR' button to start the game. Happy Puzzling

Tags: Exit | Puzzle Game

Su.doku.es wrote about a video of Tiger Woods putting a Rubik's Cube for a viral of EA Sports to promote the PGA Tour.

Well my first thought was that is was just fake and that it was a just a digitaly enhanced video. But there is also a video at Youtube that shows you a 'Behind The Scenes' of Tiger Woods putting a Rubik's Cube of Tiger Woods' putting a Rubik's Cube for real in just one take, in golf terms a hole in one (or ace = getting the ball directly into the cup with one shot). Enjoy both video's!

Tags: Tiger Woods | Rubik's Cube

RingMania 2 is an interesting and inventive Flash puzzle game by MoFunZone. It's also the sequel of RingMania

Object is to connect three rings of the same color, based on magnetism to destroy the them. Unlike in the first version of Ringmania, control is now with the mouse allowing more freedom of movement as you try to eliminate all of the colored rings from each levels. You can read the complete set of instructions and controls when the game starts. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: RingMania |

Passages is a small but interesting Java puzzle game by Cheesy games.

The object of Passages is to get the colored tokens into their respective squares. Tokens may only slide horizontally and vertically to an empty place. They may not hop other tokens nor may they cross the bold barrier lines. This sounds easy but it isn't. Find your own strategy for solving this puzzle, after that, it's just all the same. More levels or larger puzzle grid should improve the puzzle experience for Passages. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Passages | Puzzle Game

Tilox is yet another interesting small online Flash puzzle game by LightForce. Tilox is based upon the old DOS game called Hock.

The aim of Tilox is to remove all blue tiles by jumping on them. Use keyboard arrows to move up, down, left and right. Hold down 'ctrl' key to make a jump (2 tiles). Press 'space' to restart level anytime. The first levels are not to difficult but later on you really need to think ahead so you won't get stucked on a tile. There are in total 14 levels to play. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Tilox | Puzzle Game

IsoInfected is an online action puzzle game by x-pressive.com.

Object is to move a little ball through a tricky maze of obstacles like fans, gravity fields and ramps. Find and collect the secret gems. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: IsoInfected | Puzzle Game | Maze

Never End is a Portal and Shift like online Flash Puzzle Game.

Object is to try to find your way out of this maddening maze. Rotate the room around in order to get to the exit! Game play is simple: Move left and right with the cursor keys to run around, jump with the up key and rotate the room with the Z (counter clockwise) and X key (clockwise). Happy Puzzling

Tags: Never End | Portal | Puzzle Game

Tritris is a nice puzzle game based upon Tetris by Doof.com.

In Tritris the same as Tetris only this time you have to play three separate Tetris games at the same time. Object is connect the blocks that fall down to create full rows and eliminate them from the game field. At the top of the game grid you can see already the next block that will fall down.

Game controls: use the arrow keys to move a block to the left, right or down. Use the up-key to rotate and press space to switch to the next game. If lose one Tetris game you can still continue with the remaining ones. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Tritris | Tetris | Puzzle Games

Linyca is another block-based online Flash puzzle game.

The aim of Linyca is to remove as many lines as possible. To remove pieces, click the same in the line. To pass the level, you have to remove a certain number of lines. Remove the pieces and listen an obtained melody at the end of level. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Linyca | Puzzle Game

DeConstruction is a really exciting puzzle game by PortfolioF.

In DeConstruction you must drop explosives and blow the building. Another good news is that the games has a 'Level Builder', it is a little simple but you can personalize and share your maps. You can play the game and use the level builder in the link below.

Game instructions: ARROWS - Move the robot. SHIFT - Drop bombs. CTRL - Explode bombs dropped. Happy Puzzling.

Tags: DeConstruction | Puzzle Game

KenKen puzzles are created by Japanese educator Tetsuya Miyamoto, but now the worlds most famous puzzle maker Will Shortz will bringing KenKen to the United States this fall. It will be syndicated nationally in newspapers and magazines in September and books will be out in October 2008.

Before the official introduction Will Shortz introduces KenKen and gives a brief play-by-play demonstration of this new puzzle craze on YouTube. More information about KenKen including an online version of KenKen puzzles can be found at KenKen.com

Previously we already wrote several times about KenKen on our puzzle weblog:
KenKen Puzzles (Sudoku Variant)
KenKen Puzzle Book
KenKen Puzzles and KenKen Calculator


Tags: KenKen | Will Shortz

Hirokazu Iwasawa's (a.k.a. Iwahiro) ODD Puzzle became the Puzzle of the Year receiving both Puzzlers' Award and Jury Grand Prize at The Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition 2008. The event is held annually since 2001 in conjunction with IPP. The ODD Puzzle consists of only three pieces two of which are identical and a box. The goal is just to place all three pieces into the box so that none of them sticks out. Don't be mislead - the challenge sounds much easier than it really is! No surprise it became the Puzzle of the Year. Three more puzzles have been awarded First Prize each: Irmo Box by Eric Fuller, Secret Base by Hiroshi Iwahara and Tangerine by Vesa Timonen (Vesa won the last year's competition with his incredible two-piece Cast Loop puzzle).

Judging was conducted at IPP28 in Prague, Czech Republic, August 1-3, 2008. Puzzlers' Award is selected by IPP attendees. All other prizes are selected by Judging Committee.

The list of all 57 puzzles entered the competition this year can be found at the PuzzleWorld website.

To see more details (available in PDF version as well), please visit the Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition home page [via Puzzles.com].

Tags: Puzzles | Nob Yoshigahara

Puzzle Photo Frame is a five piece puzzle with a digital clock. Puzzle Photo Frame looks like a Happy Cube.

Rotate it clockwise to display calendar, alarm, timer and temperature orderly. You can also divide the unit into 6 spare parts then form it into different shape.
It's available via Gadget4all.com at US$12.00.

Here's another Puzzle Photo Frame we blogged about!

Tags: Puzzle Photo Frame

Gidon Shaviv sent me an email about an puzzle game he created: The URL Riddle game. There URL Riddle contains 20 levels to solve.

The URL Riddle is a game where you have to solve a riddle on each webpage, which will lead you to the next riddle. The answer to each riddle is the address to the next riddle. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: URL Riddle | Puzzle Game

The latest part of 10 Gnomes has been released and is called Water Forge.

10 Gnomes is a point and click hidden object type of puzzle game and also in this episode of 10 Gnomes you'll have to find 10 gnomes hidden in the pictures and you have got only ten minutes to do that. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: 10 Gnomes | Puzzle Game

Word Cube is a word formation puzzle game for your Facebook account and is similar to WordTwist or Bookworm. The difference, obviously, is that players work via a cube.

Word Cube starts with a five minute timer and players click on any visible letter, illuminating all eight adjacent letters as they attempt to connect them together in order to form words. However, unlike other word play games, the design is quite original.

The game sits in an isometric view allowing the player to see three sides of the cube. The cube is 3x3x3 and as you use letters, the hue of that letter face gradually becomes a reddish color until the block goes away forever and you have to use the letters beneath it. Furthermore, you can manually remove cubes as you see fit that allow other players to make strategic decisions on improving your score and what letters they choose to use [via Inside Social Games]. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Word Cube | Facebook | Puzzle Game