Passion For Puzzles

What is missing in most curricula? From elementary school all the way through to university education it's just coursework focused on the development of problem-solving skills.

Most students never learn how to think about solving problems. Besides being a lot of fun, a puzzle-based learning approach also does a remarkable job of convincing students that:
- science is useful and interesting,
- the basic courses they take are relevant,
- mathematics is not that scary (no need to hate it), and
- it is worthwhile to stay in school, get a degree, and move into the real world which is loaded with interesting problems (problems perceived as real-world puzzles)

Puzzle-based Learning: Introduction to critical thinking, mathematics, and problem solving is a book that will increase your problem solving techniques. Available via Amazon.com for less than US$ 45.

Tags: Puzzle-based Learning | Puzzle Book

Homeowner Dave Mackie, age 49, is trying to beat the property slump by becoming the first person in Britain to raffle his house in a Sudoku competition.

Anxious to emigrate, Dave is offering his £675,000 three-bedroom home in Hambleton near Blackpool, as top prize in an online contest after deciding to emigrate to Egypt

He hopes to get 14,000 people to each pay £50 to enter and solve the Sudoku puzzle. By this he hopes that the potential £700,000 raised will cover the £675,000 cost of the property as well as the £25,000 legal and advertising fees. According to dave there's no catch. He’s looking to retire abroad and the time has come to move on.

Tags: Sudoku

Today January 29th in the United States of America the National Puzzle Day is celebrated.

Today you can do an extra puzzle or try to make one of your own.
- At Passion For Puzzles you can find some online puzzle games, or via our puzzle weblog you can find hundreds of great online puzzle games for free.
- Puzzles.com as they say "The world's best resource for puzzling on the internet".

Happy Puzzling Today !

Tags: Puzzle Day

WordClash is a mutliplayer version from the same author of WordConnect.

WordClash is a puzzle word game similar to the classic game Tetris. Some have called it a hybrid between Tetris and scrabble. Object is to place the falling letters to form a word horizontally or vertically. Each word that you form, the letters in that word will be sent to the other player you are playing against. You win if you find all the words in the word list found in the middle of the screen, or if the other player reaches the top with stacked blocks. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: WordClash | Puzzle Game

Push Box is a nice online puzzle game by Fupa.

Object is to guide the boxes over the orange circles. Once each box covers each of the orange circles the level is complete. Plan your moves carefully to avoid blocking yourself in and unable to move the boxes. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Push Box | Puzzle Game

Switchit is a Lights Out puzzle game copy by Kwikgames.

Use your mouse to switch of all the lights. Clicking a switch will toggle not only the switch you click but also the ones next to it. The levels get tougher as you progress. Switch more than 100 times on a level, or take over five minutes and it's game over. There are 30 levels to solve. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Switchit | Puzzle Game

Now you can play the same crossword puzzles published daily in The New York Times (NYT) on your BlackBerry.

With NYT Crosswords Daily, you can play the same puzzles that are published in the NYT. Subscribers get the daily NYT crossword puzzles as well as other features including live leader boards for solving times. Also includes access to over 4,000 archived puzzles, up to 30 classic puzzles and the latest news headlines from NYTimes.com.

NYT Crosswords Daily is a subscription product. You will be charged US$ 2.99 per month to have access to daily puzzles from The New York Times.

Tags: NYT Crosswords | BlackBerry

Maze Stopper 2 is a simple looking online maze puzzle game by Flash Relax.

Object is lead your man to be the first in this maze by creating obstacles for your opponent in this maze running competition. You can help your man reach the flag first by placing obstacles for his opponent(s). A limited number of obstacles are available, but you can replenish it by picking up mana power up. Force your man or you opponents to pick up speed up or speed down power ups to your advantage. You can freeze time by pressing SPACE to think over the situation and place the obstacles without hurry. You can also delete accidentally placed obstacles by clicking the red X on top of the obstacle. Once you unfreeze the time, you can't remove any of the already placed obstacles anymore. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Maze Stopper | Puzzle Game

Sleepy Head is an Online Cartoon Puzzle Game by SmartKit.

This simple looking puzzle game with just 16 puzzle pieces is a very hard online puzzle that requires lots of careful thought and deduction. To solve it you need to look careful at some subtle clues in each of the pictures. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Cartoon | Puzzle Game

[ PZZL ] is a space for children designed by Arthur Rottier and PCS ("pieces"), a Joint-Strike-Force of Design, Manufacturing and Quality.

Children need space, noise and a lots of toys. [ PZZL ] is a mighty organizing tool to set some boundaries for your kids to their exploratory nature. [ PZZL ] clearly marks where the playground ends, and your living room begins.

Due to [ PZZL ]'s sturdy construction and durability, it's is a great way to mark the "kids at play" area in businesses, hospitals and so on. [ PZZL ] is made of twelve colorful puzzle pieces (six colors) of precision cut 19mm MDF (size 120cm x 160cm), finished in bright colors with an extremely durable powder coating.

Tags: [ PZZL ] | Floor

Brick Yard should be called Brick Stacker 2 as it is the sequel to the original puzzle game Brick Stacker.

In this version you can choose from five game modes to play: same 80, random, rain, time and wacky. The infinite blocks mode has been removed in this version as this is a physics simulation.

Game play is easy, you can use the mouse to place the brick anywhere or the keys A and D rotate the brick, W and S scroll the screen. Press ESC to return to the main menu, R restarts, P makes the gods angry and L submits the score. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Brick Yard | Puzzle Game

Grow RPG is the second game of GROW and is RPG-nized, but you can't control the brave man by yourself.

All you have to do is to decide his fate. That means, in short, the usual Grow. Drag the eight panels in your selected order. Items you drag will grow and grow with each turn.
You will complete the game when all panels' level is max. They effect each other as they grow. So you have to think about the dragging order.

You can also read more about the third part of Grow called Grow Cube and Grow Island. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Grow | RPG

People of Lvov city in Ukraine decided to add a large attraction for the visitors of their city. An artistic project decided to place a giant 100 feet (30 meters) tall crossword puzzles at the wall of the one of a ten stories high apartment block.

One interesting detail about the design of the puzzle is that it looks like an empty crossword puzzle during the day-light, but at night when special lights are on the words in the crossword puzzle become visible with a lightly-glowing fluorescent color.

The questions for this crossword puzzle can be found at different point of interests in the city of Lvov, like monuments, theaters, fountains etc. While walking around the city people can try to find the answers. When the night comes to the city they can meet at this house and solution. [via English Russia].

Tags: Crossword | Ukraine

McDonald's has been on a roll with some very creative campaigns recently. The latest is an outdoor puzzle billboard that invites you to 'sort your head out' with their 1 Euro large coffee.

The billboard is actually a puzzle that allows you to shuffle the pieces around to sort out the model’s head. The empty square displays McDonald's logo. This is one of the wittiest billboards I have seen lately, very well done.

The billboard is created by DDB Stockholm ad agency with art direction by Ted Harry Mellström, Simon Higby and Viktor Arve. Photography for these prints is by Alexander Pihl.

Tags: McDonald's | Billboard

Dutchman Fred Vonk updated his free online version of Rush Hour. In the latest version all 160 original games are implemented from the original Rush Hour card set 1,2,3 & 4.

As you probably already know you have to free the red car from the game grid by dragging and dropping the other cars and trucks out of the way. You can drag and drop all cars and trucks out of the way. Select a card set and a game in the overview at the bottom and play. The minimum required moves per game are indicated together with your score and total.

For puzzle lovers who like the original Rush Hour puzzle game there is now ThinkFun Rush Hour Ultimate Collector's Edition. This version comes complete with a raised game board, parking spaces for the cars and trucks, a billboard to hold the challenge being played, a storage drawer for all of the challenges and an exit ramp. The sleek, new look keeps players solving challenge after challenge in style. It features one red hero car, one limousine, eleven cars, and four trucks, one parking lot traffic grid, instructions, and 155 challenge cards, solutions included.

Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Rush Hour | Puzzle Game

Block Party is a simple free puzzle game where you have to create the pop band of the century.

The story starts like this. You have been invited to a party with the up and coming stars, and your task is to create a great pop band. Be careful not to include the trashy rockers into your band, or your tour might not be a success.

Object is to create rows of three to remove blocks, and make the stars on top of them fall to the stage floor. Any block can be moved, whether it creates a match or not. If you use a bomb in a vertical combo, it will remove the whole column, if you use it in a horizontal combo, it will remove the whole row! To maximize your score, try making several of the pop stars fall to the stage floor in just one move. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Block Party | Puzzle Game

Meeblings is addictive online Flash puzzle game by NinjaKiwi and looks a bit like Lemmings (thanks to Tim for sending an email to passionforpuzzles.com).

Object is to help the Meeblings, use the Meeblings special abilities to rescue as many as possible each level. Explore the Meeblings' world in all fifty puzzling and fun filled levels. The first levels starts easy, but it's getting more difficult each level. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Meeblings | Puzzle Game

Crossblocks is a simple online Flash puzzle game by DeviantArt.

Object is to cross out groups of blocks to remove them from the play area. Each level presents a new configuration of blocks that you have got to fully remove, and a specified number that you must remove at once. The first twenty or so levels were fairly easy to solve, but they give you a good feel for how the game works.

After that, it's more puzzling. Your lines don't have to cover full rows - they just need to be long enough to remove the required number of blocks. Many levels have more than one solution that works, which is always welcome in a puzzle game. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Crossblocks | Puzzle Game

Splitter is a physics-based Puzzle Game.

Object is to cause the smiley to roll, fling, or bounce onto the bronze-colored circle. You can score points by passing over the star on your way. Move the smiley by using a knife that can cut through certain objects that make up each level. Wooden pieces and string-like connectors can be cut, brick and metal objects can not be cut. Splitter compounds the challenge by limiting you to a certain number of cuts per level. While you'll likely breeze through the first several levels, you will eventually encounter some tricky scenarios as you progress. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Splitter | Puzzle Game

Link Up is a simple, yet challenging game, where the objective of the game is to link four or more pieces on a board in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. Once linked, these linked pieces are then removed from the board. The game is turn based and on each turn the player moves a piece to try and link-up with existing pieces. More pieces are added to the board after each turn and the game is over when the player can no longer link-up pieces.

Features:
- Multiple themes including Underwater, Jungle and Dungeon. Can you unlock the other themes?
- Each theme has its own set of unique graphics and sounds.
- Special pieces to help you stay in the game as long as possible.
- Timed pieces to fluster and panic - once the timer reaches zero the piece becomes dead.
- Dead pieces to obstruct and frustrate.
- 5 difficulty levels ranging from Beginner to Xtreme.
- Two methods of game control; drag and drop, touch and go.
- Hall of Fame.
- Persistent game state, quit and come back at any time.
- Multiple game saves - try out different strategies.

TIPS:
Meyume has added videos channel on YouTube (Tip Station) which will help you get maximum score and enjoyment from the game.

You can download Link Up via App Store.

Tags: Link Up | iPhone

Come and take a breath of its never ending beauty, its mystery, its hospitality and opportunities. Slovakia a little big country.

Exactly these words were the beginning of the presentation which gave Slovakia the opportunity to organize the WSC 2009 (World Sudoku Championship) in Slovakia from 24 - 27 April 2009. This will be the 4th WSC.

All of you are heartily welcome. Slovakia prepared not only the competition to win the title but also fun, humour and several surprises. They believe that you will experience pleasant feeling and company of friends gathered together through the hobby called Sudoku.

Each country may be represented by six participants in the individual competition. The individual results will be not be taken into consideration for the team competition. The team will consist of three members. If there are more individuals from one country, it can have two teams. Only the result of the better team will be in the results ranking. It means that two teams from the same country may compete against each other. If only one or two participants come from one country, they may be able to compete and fight for the honour of their country.

Specialities and rules (nomination, registration, rules, ranking, proposal of accommodation, fee and payment conditions, accreditation's will be from January publish. Registration starts January 2009, you can contact Ján Farkas, on behalf of organizer in Slovakia, for more information.

Tags: WSC | Sudoku

In one twist, you'll solve the Rubik's Cube puzzle of this clock's popularity.

Twist the top row, and the display changes between time, temperature, alarm or date, so you're always just one turn away from exactly what you need. Requires one AA battery (not included). Rubik's Cube Alarm Clock is made of plastic and measures 3" square. Available via Puzzle Master for approx. US$ 20.

Tags: Rubik's Cube | Alarm Clock

More Puzzle Clocks:
- Rubik's Cube Clock
- Karlsson Clock inspired by Rubik's Cube
- Mensa Puzzle Alarm
- Puzzle Clock
- Another Puzzle Alarm Clock
- Jigsaw Puzzle Clock

Ice Breaker is a fantastic online Flash puzzle game (and a great timewaster!).

Object is simple : Save the frozen Vikings by getting them all back to their longboat to complete each level, there are in total 40 levels to solve. Click and drag across the ice to slice through the ice. Happy Puzzling !

Tags: Ice Breaker | Puzzle Game

MatchBlox 2 is a nice online Flash puzzle game with a twist on the match making casual puzzle games.

Object is to match three or more of the same colored blox to solve puzzles and collect items that will unlock Captain Abram's secrets in this addictive brain bender. MatchBlox includes unique and challenging game play, special high scoring blox, over 200 levels, an exciting arcade mode and random puzzles for never ending fun. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: MatchBlox | Puzzle Game

With Puzzle you can divide any opened in Firefox image (form web or stored locally) and play puzzle.

You can start play with low level 2x2 grid (4 elements) and after completion you have the option to ramp up the difficulty, which goes all the way up to a 15x15 grid.

As this is still an experimental Add-On you need a Firefox Add-on account to be able to download Puzzle. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Puzzle | Firefox

Flea is a nice little Flash puzzle game by kChamp Games.

Object is to guide your tiny flea through tons of levels, avoiding spikes and picking up coins along the way. Use the left and right arrow keys to move and the space bar to jump. Press the up arrow key inside the finish box to go to the next level. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Flea | Puzzle Game

The original Electronic Wizard Game is back and is now called Merlin Electronic Puzzle Game. The original Merlin was created by Bob Doyle, a Harvard PhD. and inventor who had previously worked with NASA.

Merlin is a classic handheld favorite that entertained millions when it was first launched. The new, sleeker Merlin game offers six different games of chance, memory and strategy, all in a self-contained electronic unit. Choose from Tic Tac Toe, Music Machine, Echo, Blackjack 13, Magic Square, or Mind Bender. Requires 3 “AAA” alkaline batteries, included. Available via Amazon.com.

Tags: Merlin | Electronic Puzzle Game

Spinner is a simple looking but nice Flash online puzzle game by Gamestove.

Object of Spinner is to line up the colors correctly and score by using the mouse to spin the wheel, but don’t forget to press space on time, because you could lose everything. Happy Puzzling

Tags: Spinner | Puzzle Game

BamBoom is an excellent online puzzle game similar to Double Maze by LightForce Games, but in this one you choose combinations of balls to move and have to get each colored one to their destination.

Use the arrow keys to move game pieces and space to change selection (space to make piece follow yours). BamBoom offers you also so handy extras like Auto save, Custom Level Designer and a Mini Music Player. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: BamBoom | Puzzle Game

The Unit Cube is one perfect cube of silver, divided into two complementary fractals, on a base of black marble by Bathsheba Grossman.

Bathsheba Grossman is an artist exploring math and science in sculpture. If we could ignore the Pauli exclusion principle for a moment, the pair would lock together into a solid cube. They have done so and made is visable via an animation on the website. There you can also find much more lovely interesting mathematical objects made by using a metal-printing process. There are also some laser-etched math models. Enjoy!

Tags: The Unit Cube | Fractals

4D Sudoku Puzzle is a challenging Sudoku variant where you construct a square block of numbered cubes.

The challenge of 4D Sudoku is to construct a square block of numbered cubes, arranged in such a way that every possible row, column and side around the block contains each of the numbers 1-9. Meanwhile inside the block, every 3x3 section, sliced vertically or horizontally, also consists of the digits 1-9. So pit your wits against the invisible force of 27 magnetic cubes in this ingenious puzzle.

You can play 4D Sudoku online or buy 4D Sudoku via their website. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: 4D Sudoku | Puzzle Game

Push 'N Snap as a online logic puzzle game designed by Luiz Fernando Modotti.

Push N Snap is a Sokoban look-a-like puzzle game. The object of this puzzle game is to slide the colored blocks to fill the corresponding colorgaps. Place your mouse pointer over the block you want to move and click in the direction where you want to push it. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Push N Snap | Puzzle Game

Yoshimoto Cube is a puzzling start of 2009.

Yoshimoto discovered the Yoshimoto Cube when he was searching for a way to divide a cube equally in three-dimensional space. The result is a peculiar polyhedral dyad consisting of eight interconnected cubes that can be opened in multiple ways. The cube can be divided into two cubes and then transformed into two rhombuses, one silver the other gold with twelve faces each.

In the Yoshimoto Cube video on Youtube you can see how the Yoshimoto Cube transforms into two stellated rhombic dodecahedrons.

Tags: Yoshimoto Cube

Trizm puzzles are logic puzzles with rules similar to Sudoku, but using triangles and colored crossbars instead of rows, columns and grids. At the Trizm Puzzle website you can find "How to Trizm", here all the aspects of the Trizm puzzles are explained.

The Trizm puzzles website offers new puzzles every weekday that can be played online or printed. You can also subscribe by email for their monthly e-Zine which includes Sudokus and crosswords in addition to their own Trizm puzzles. Happy Puzzling !

Tags: Trizm | Puzzle

I have to thank Santa for leaving me another puzzle in my stocking for Christmas Day. He did a great job as he gave me a hand-made metal disentanglement puzzle called Freedom's Ring.

Freedom's Ring by Tavern Puzzle is one of the blacksmith's most challenging design ever. Object is to remove the large metal ring and then of course be able to replace the Ring. This tough puzzle will last forever and measures approx. 10.5 x 5 x 1.5.

Buy Freedom's Ring from Puzzle Master or buy
Freedom's Ring by Tavern Puzzle via Amazon.com.

Tags: Freedom's Ring | Tavern Puzzle| Metal Puzzle