March 2009 Notable Toys — Puzzles & Skill

The object of this double-play puzzle is to remove the ring. It can be solved in one way, then turned over, hanging vertically, to be solved differently. Launch date: 2009.

New and improved, this special edition updates the best-selling TIA 2008 T.O.T.Y. Game of the Year with new features to improve game play, more challenges to master, and a cool metal look and texture for a better grip. Packed with speed games and brainteasers everyone can play, the Titanium Edition features six electronic games that test speed and smarts, save high scores, and track progress.

Brightec’s PlayGlo Pets Collection puzzles feature three 11” x 15”, 100 piece puzzles. These glow-in-the-dark puzzles feature photo-quality images and can be charged with a few minutes of exposure to light to allow for hours of glow. The puzzle pieces stay together after completion so that the completed puzzle can be hung directly on a wall to provide instant room décor by day and night.

This 4D time puzzle of New York City includes 765 pieces and challenges participants to build a base map from 640 pieces as they learn about city streets, museums and more. Then, they continue to build the city by adding buildings and skycrapers as they are numbered in the included booklet, which details the city's evolution from 1812 to 2013. Launch date: February 2009.

Game play starts by removing the towers from the base. The goal is to place the towers following two simple rules: there must be only one of each colored tower in every row and column, and the towers must fit into the base to form a perfect cube, with all the towers being the same height. Launch date: November 19, 2008.

P’kolino’s Puzzle Stacker increases the play value of the classic stacker by adding the benefits of puzzles. Stacking toys help develop a baby’s hand-eye coordination and recognition of sizes and colors. The puzzles fine-tune motor skills and teach spatial logic through joining the interconnecting pieces. This two-in-one toy does both, doubling the fun; and doubling the development. Also available in a 6 ring version. Launch date: June 2009.

KENKEN is an arithmetic-based puzzle game that, like sudoku, is played on a grid using numbers.  It goes“beyond sudoku,” however, by taking the puzzle one step further and incorporating math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  Game play ranges from very easy to extremely difficult.  “The hardest ones could challenge even Einstein,” said Robert Fuhrer, the New York businessman whose company, Nextoy™, licenses and markets the puzzle worldwide. iToys’ all-new KENKEN game offers thousands of puzzles on 3x3 to 6x6 grids.KENKEN was launched in 2004 by puzzle master and teacher extraordinaire Tetsuya Miyamoto, quickly becoming Japan’s hottest brain game.  U.S. launch date: February 2009.

Painted in a whimsical style, this 24-piece jigsaw puzzle features a host of sea creatures, from whales and sharks to anemones and starfish. The wooden pieces lie in their frame once assembled to keep the image and pieces together. 
― “Wooden puzzles by Melissa & Doug. Weekly we sell a wide variety of them,” said Chuck Harper, owner of Explorations Toys in Granger, Ind.
― “We literally sell thousands through the year,” remarked Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer's Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich.
― Also in early 2009, another retailer reported sales of 200 to 300 Melissa & Doug puzzles per month.

In this unique puzzle, players must solve 3 challenges each one has multiple solutions. Using the 16 scenery tiles of a sinuous and complex river, the player must be part of the legendary Tautoniac raft race. Arrange the scenery tiles and bring the meanders of the TAUTON River to life while setting the rafts in the right direction. The player who finds the highest number of solutions of all the challenges wins. Tauton may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends.

In this amazing puzzle, players must solve one challenge: create KEFER™ serpent body as a continuous, unbroken path. Player must seek for different solutions, making sure to keep unbroken the red and yellow bands that go along the serpent body. This challenge has multiple solutions. The player who finds the highest number of solutions wins. Kefer may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends.

In this maze, players must solve 8 challenges. Each challenge has multiple solutions. The maze consists of a single pathway that forms four concentric circles, bounded by mobile walls, surrounding the center. The player who finds the highest number of solutions on all the challenges wins. NOXOS™ may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends.

The first completely electronic, solvable Rubik's Cube has six touch-sensitive sides. A player just moves his finger, sliding the row of colored squares where he wants. This version also comes equipped with a teaching tool that shows how to solve the puzzle, and a rechargeable battery with charging display stand. Launch date: Fall 2009.

This set contains 1,250 Puzzibits pieces in 12 vibrant colors. It comes with building instructions and plenty of pieces to shape various creations. The "flexible interlocking pieces create flat and 3-D art," Julie Flann, manager of marketing and sales services for Manhattan Toy, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2008.

This blank puzzle gives kids freedom to draw their own picture, and then assemble and reassemble their very own design. It is available in 5" x 7" and 8" x 10" sizes with mailing envelopes.

This 60-piece puzzle completes to 14.5” x 10.33”.
— “They have a great range from little kids up to adults,” Cheryl Richmond, owner of Punkin Doodles in Havre, Mont., told TDmonthly of the Ravensburger line. Nearly 6 percent of 52 retailers named the company as a preferred vendor in late 2008.

Everything about The Wumbler Patch and its Wumbler characters seeds itself in social, global, environmental, and humanitarian fun and learning wrapped up in the WATERMELON. Its games, puzzles, and full line of plush all share the same theme.

One of the most challenging in the bunch, remove the eight pieces out of the stepped side of the frame and reassemble them in the rectangular frame on the opposite side. Expert (Level 4)

Four chair-shaped pieces of varying sizes combine to form one large, single chair that is the same shape. Hard (Level 3)
— “The thing that's important to me with the games I carry is I enjoy playing and promoting [them] to adults as well as the children. I feel that for adults they need to keep their brains active, and playing games like ThinkFun helps to do that,” Jacque Flagg, owner of Jacque’s Inc. in Bryan, Texas, told TDmonthly in fall 2008. Nearly 6 percent of 52 retailers named Thinkfun as a favorite supplier.

Take the four Ts out of the large frame and try to fit them into the smaller frame on the opposite side. Hard (Level 3)

Based on a nineteenth century puzzle, Wing It challenges puzzlers to remove the metal ring from between the two wings. Medium (Level 2)

This nine-piece packing puzzle challenges puzzlers to take the pieces out of the box, then pack them back flat – so the lid closes easily. Medium (Level 2)

Separate the four jigsaw puzzle pieces and put the puzzle back together again. Easy (Level 1)

Players arrange the four puzzle pieces to build a four-sided pyramid. Easy (Level 1)

A beautiful puzzle with architectural roots, Adams Cube combines six games in one. Each side of this translucent cube offers a new challenge, as players attempt to arrange the five puzzle pieces within a polygon frame. Some puzzles are more complex than others – solve one and move on to the next for lasting fun. Plus, the cube’s smart design allows game pieces and instruction booklet to be stored inside the cube.