Many of us have been playing with puzzles, especially during our childhood. Whether we did it for school or we had one at home, solving puzzles is an activity that is both challenging and fun. Fortunately, with puzzles, you have many options to choose from.
Aside from the usual word and jigsaw ones, 3D puzzles are now available on the market. This refers to puzzles that produce structural objects instead of flat images or patterns. With this article, we hope to give you an idea of what to consider before purchasing 3D puzzles. We also included a list of the 10 best 3D puzzles you can buy online.
Quick List - Top 3D Puzzles
Colorful Tangram Puzzle to Enhance Your Logic and Imagination
Katrina is a freelance writer who joined the myBest PH team in January 2021. She is interested in writing about hobbies and anything that falls under entertainment. When not writing on the Internet, you can find her in bookstores and cinemas, or engaged in a conversation about art and media.
Aside from being fun, puzzles also have a multitude of benefits that can improve your mind in one way or another. They can effectively boost your brain's functions, and also your mood, especially if done regularly. A few of the many benefits of solving puzzles are listed below.
Whether you are in your 20s or are already in your 60s, a great way to sharpen your memory is through puzzles. By remembering words, shapes, and even just solving a simple logic problem, your mind gets memory training that improves your cognitive recollection. A study shows that doing crossword puzzles delays the onset of accelerated memory decline by 2.54 years.
Solving puzzles is a mentally-challenging activity that requires you to be logical. Whether you are solving a Sudoku puzzle or a Rubik's cube, your mind facilitates logical reasoning in order to find a solution, therefore, improving your problem-solving skills. It is very beneficial in helping you think more rationally and apply logical thinking in other aspects of everyday life.
Despite the challenge, there are still people who find puzzles relaxing and even enjoyable to do. For others, they may even serve as a healthy distraction since they require your undivided focus and attention. Solving puzzles can bring pleasure, especially if you are the kind of person who enjoys coming up with interesting solutions to complex problems.
Lastly, solving puzzles can make you smarter by improving your brain power. Logic problems such as sequence, series, and word problems use both your deductive and inductive reasoning skills, which are very important in logical reasoning. Usually, IQ ratings are defined by your ability to solve these kinds of problems so, in a way, solving puzzles is a great practice to improve your IQ score.
Due to the wide range of options when it comes to 3D puzzles, selecting which one to purchase can be quite overwhelming. But we've listed down some things to consider to help you choose a 3D puzzle that is suitable for you. Check them out below!
While 3D puzzles are already a specific kind of puzzle, there are still many puzzle options that fall under this category. For example, you can look for slide or twist puzzles that test your speed, or marble track puzzles if you enjoy putting together or assembling a mini-course. Moreover, here are some common types of 3D puzzles that may help you narrow down your choices.
Tangram and box puzzles are minimalist puzzles that require you to be logical and creative when coming up with a solution. They usually have straightforward objectives, such as imitating a given pattern and finding a secret opening within a collection of wooden pieces. Despite their simplicity, don't underestimate their difficulty as most of them pose a serious challenge even to puzzle enthusiasts.
Perhaps, the reason why tangram and box puzzles are wildly popular is that you only have to work with a small number of pieces. This pushes you to think outside the box. For example, tangram puzzles force you to think logically with geometric figures. On the other hand, box puzzles encourage you to think creatively by exploring and exhausting all possible solutions to the puzzle.
Replica puzzles come with pieces that you have to assemble to create a miniature version of an architectural structure or a scene from a popular movie. They are much more intricate than regular puzzles because the pieces come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. Fortunately, detailed instructions are always included to make your model as accurate as possible.
This type of puzzle is perfect for collectors and hobbyists. For example, building sets are ideal for those who appreciate architectural masterpieces, while LEGO has a wide variety of buildable sets featuring well-loved movies and characters. Moreover, the final output can be a great accent piece and decor for your home or be displayed as part of your collection.
One way to gauge the difficulty of a puzzle is to determine which age group it caters to. Needless to say, puzzles for children are much simpler than those made for adults. Although it still depends on you and your skill level, picking a 3D puzzle based on your age is a good place to start when buying one.
If your child has no experience yet or is still in the process of discovering puzzles, it would be best to start with simple puzzles with a straightforward concept. Puzzles like these include knob puzzles, which ask you to connect matching images and words, as well as building blocks and 3D jigsaw puzzles, which can be assembled to form figurines.
In case your kid enjoys a particular TV show, perhaps you can choose puzzles that are based on characters and shows from Disney, Marvel, and Cartoon Network. Picking a puzzle with a theme they relate to can pique their interest and help them be more engaged with their puzzle activity.
On the other hand, if you are a grown-up who enjoys mental games, you can try complex and intricate puzzles that take a lot more time and effort to solve. These kinds of puzzles can include many or just a few pieces but either way, the solution typically requires you to be creative and to think outside the box.
For those with many pieces, these usually come in assembly sets of different objects such as car models and train sets as well as miniature versions of well-known buildings and tourist spots. Meanwhile, for puzzles with a few pieces, a great example would be Japanese wooden box puzzles, which are minimalist puzzles that require head-scratching solutions.
Some people are competitive while some work best when alone. Usually, puzzles that come with many pieces are much harder to solve. But the good thing is that you can always assemble them with a partner or in groups. With that being said, the number of players is one of the things that you can consider before making a purchase.
While others find it relaxing to spend their free time doing outdoor activities, some prefer staying at home while solving a challenging puzzle. Go for solo puzzles if you prefer figuring out a solution on your own because it relaxes your mind. A familiar 3D puzzle that falls under this category is the Rubik's cube.
Overall, these kinds of puzzles might seem tougher and they probably are, but they also train your mind to be resourceful and creative. Plus, solving these puzzles is much more rewarding since you know that you have to come up with the solution without the help of other players.
Whether there are two players or even twenty, multiplayer puzzles are always fun and entertaining. These are perfect if you want to bond with competitive friends or relatives who enjoy intellectually challenging activities.
For instance, you can go head-to-head with one of them with a puzzle that tests your logic and speed. Another example would be replica puzzles that allow you to collaborate with other people in order to assemble an object or building.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Best for | Material | Number of Pieces | Number of Players | |||||
1 | CSP-DTA Educational Creative Shape Puzzle|180-pc Set | ![]() | Colorful Tangram Puzzle to Enhance Your Logic and Imagination | Tangram | 3+ | Wood | 180 | 1 | |
2 | Thinkfun Rush Hour | ![]() | Unblock Your Car From Challenging Traffic Jams | Box Puzzle | 8+ | Plastic | 16 | 1 | |
3 | LEGO Star Wars Tie Bomber|TM 75347 | ![]() | Assemble a Star Wars Action Toy With Your Little One | Replica Puzzle | 9+ | Plastic | 625 | 1-2 | |
4 | Spin Master Games Rubik's Original Race Pack & Go | ![]() | Slide Puzzle to Play Head-to-Head With a Partner | Box Puzzle | 7+ | Plastic | 48 | 2 | |
5 | Lil' Haven DIY Miniature Central Perk Set | ![]() | Recreate the Iconic Set From FRIENDS | Replica Puzzle | 15+ | Wood, Fabric, Plastic, Paper, Metal | unknown | 1 | |
6 | Robotime Marble Run Game | ![]() | Wooden Marble Track With Complex Gears | Replica Puzzle | 14+ | Wood | 254 | 1 | |
7 | Kanoodle Cosmic Puzzle | ![]() | Sharpen Your Critical Thinking Skills With This Portable 3D Puzzle | Box Puzzle | 7+ | Plastic | 12 | 1 | |
8 | Piececool Titanic Ship Model | ![]() | Build Your Own Replica of the Titanic | Replica Puzzle | 14+ | Metal | 226 | 1-2 | |
9 | Brain Teaser Metal Wire Puzzles | ![]() | Minimalist Puzzles That Will Push You to Think Outside the Box | Tangram | 6+ | Metal | 8 | 1 | |
10 | Magic Snake | ![]() | Nostalgic Twist Puzzle for Improving Spatial Imagination | Tangram | 3+ | Plastic | 1 | 1 |
Tangram patterns originated in China centuries ago, yet they're still around because of their simple concept and ability to improve spatial reasoning. This puzzle consists of uniquely shaped pieces called "tans" that you can combine in order to copy the figures or illustrations on the flashcards that come with the set.
Since there are at least 48 patterns that you can create, it's a great puzzle for passing the time so you won't get bored when staying indoors. Plus, it's made of wood and is suitable for children three years old and above. It's definitely a great choice if you want a bonding activity with your little ones at home.
Type | Tangram |
---|---|
Best for | 3+ |
Material | Wood |
Number of Pieces | 180 |
Number of Players | 1 |
Type | Box Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 8+ |
Material | Plastic |
Number of Pieces | 16 |
Number of Players | 1 |
Type | Replica Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 9+ |
Material | Plastic |
Number of Pieces | 625 |
Number of Players | 1-2 |
Type | Box Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 7+ |
Material | Plastic |
Number of Pieces | 48 |
Number of Players | 2 |
Type | Replica Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 15+ |
Material | Wood, Fabric, Plastic, Paper, Metal |
Number of Pieces | unknown |
Number of Players | 1 |
This 3D puzzle is one of the most complex puzzles on our list, with pieces that can be assembled into mechanical gears to form a waterwheel coaster. This creates a marble track complete with a hand crank, stair lift, and funnel trail. It is a 254-wooden piece set that requires 4-5 hours of assembly time.
But it is a ready-to-assemble set, so you won't need extra tools. It already comes with steel balls, 7 pre-cut wood sheets, a shaft sleeve, sandpaper, wax, a screw nut, a handle, and a steel shaft. You will also get an assembly guide to help you set it up. However, a lot of patience and organization will come in handy to finish this puzzle smoothly.
Type | Replica Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 14+ |
Material | Wood |
Number of Pieces | 254 |
Number of Players | 1 |
Type | Box Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 7+ |
Material | Plastic |
Number of Pieces | 12 |
Number of Players | 1 |
Type | Replica Puzzle |
---|---|
Best for | 14+ |
Material | Metal |
Number of Pieces | 226 |
Number of Players | 1-2 |
Type | Tangram |
---|---|
Best for | 6+ |
Material | Metal |
Number of Pieces | 8 |
Number of Players | 1 |
Type | Tangram |
---|---|
Best for | 3+ |
Material | Plastic |
Number of Pieces | 1 |
Number of Players | 1 |
Spending time at home doesn't have to be boring! Here are article links for more puzzle, card game, and board game recommendations that you can enjoy with family and friends.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: |CSP-DTA Educational Creative Shape Puzzle|180-pc Set
No. 2: Thinkfun|Rush Hour
No. 3: LEGO|Star Wars Tie Bomber|TM 75347
No. 4: Spin Master Games|Rubik's Original Race Pack & Go
No. 5: Lil' Haven|DIY Miniature Central Perk Set
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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