Puzzle family
Interlocking Puzzles
Pieces lock together so that assembly and disassembly depend on their internal notches and movement order.
Open sectionPuzzle types and mechanisms
Mechanical Puzzle Encyclopaedia
Learn how major puzzle families are classified, recognised and solved, with examples from the Crafty Puzzles archive.
Choose an activity
Explore mechanical puzzle encyclopaedia
Puzzle family
Assembly and Packing Puzzles
Separate pieces must be arranged into a target outline, container or solid without necessarily locking together.
Open sectionPuzzle family
Opening Puzzles and Puzzle Boxes
The objective is to open an object, reveal a compartment or release a hidden item by discovering its mechanism.
Open sectionPuzzle family
Disentanglement Puzzles
A ring, loop, cord or rigid piece must be removed while obeying the physical constraints of the object.
Open sectionPuzzle family
Sequential-Movement Puzzles
A legal sequence of moves transforms a start state into a goal state, and each move changes the options that follow.
Open sectionPuzzle family
Dexterity Puzzles
Success depends partly on controlled movement, balance, timing or guiding an object through obstacles.
Open sectionPuzzle family
Jigsaw and Construction Puzzles
Pieces form a picture, model or three-dimensional object by matching boundaries, tabs, slots or visual information.
Open sectionPuzzle family
Folding and Hinged Puzzles
Connected parts fold, flip or hinge into a target form while remaining joined.
Open sectionClassification is about the mechanism
A puzzle shaped like a ball, animal or barrel may still belong to the same interlocking family as a cube. The most useful category describes the principal challenge and internal construction.