Best assembly & disentanglement puzzles according to redditors

https://www.amazon.com/Hanayama-Metal-Brain-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B000LICL76

Pretty much this with out the pictures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjD_Q3UwLIw

https://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Fidgeting-Spinner-Anxiety-Fingers/dp/B071X8S8WQ

Looking around shows me the exact one in OP's picture, but upon further investigation it seems it's a gift that's included in "The Da Vinci Code (Special Edition Giftset)". Which I found is also much cheaper at only $19.50.

So if you're going to buy this cryptex, instead of getting it by itself for $60, pick up The Da Vinci Code Special Edition giftset for $19.50.

Hanayama metal puzzle. They make really great puzzles that are fairly inexpensive. I have quite a few myself.

https://www.amazon.com/Hanayama-Metal-Brain-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B000LICL76

There are interesting topological problems that can be made into wire puzzles, but none of the puzzles I've seen IRL have been topologically interesting at all. Each of the puzzles here, as far as I can see, are two or three unlinked unknots. If they were topological problems, you could just bend the metal and take the pieces apart. Since you can't, they're geometric problems, sort of like the couch-in-the-hallway one.

It's a puzzle.

Edit: They're available on amazon.

She also bought me this, which looks awesome and is by the guy who made perhaps my all-time favorite phone game (Alcazar), so I guess it's a wash.

It really depends on the individual. My personal favorite is an Infinity Cube.

I think they're called tactile cubes. Here's one by rubix

Rubik's Tactile Cube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDMRRBC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qXl4CbH6GQW61

I'm into anything [puzzle] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TSWO3G8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) related and a buddy brought over something like this one night and I instantly bought my own.

Video to solve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYpl5CJSBYk

http://www.amazon.com/Hanayama-Cast-Metal-Brainteaser-Puzzle/dp/B0053163A2

This one is kind of cool if you don't care about the stealth factor and just want a beat place to out your weed.

Edit: did the wrong link, think I fixed it..

I have one of these toys and it is a lot of fun!

I'm running one on the X-Cube today. It's discounted already, and I made a code that takes another 30% off. Deal takes effect at 2pm CST (in about 2 hours)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DWH3A9G
Use this code at checkout: XCMONDAY

Hanayama puzzles are well made and great looking.

Thanks for posting this (and Nutcase)... In for one of these as well!

Labyrinth is the same price too!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038BCMYU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Not sure why they don't come up that price during a normal Amazon search though... had to use your links for some reason

I found this set of puzzles which look awesome! It's a great test for your brain and also looks really good as a collection :)

/u/bderenzi lets be creative! (found you through random wishlist search!)

https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-Games-Rubiks-Tactile/dp/B07FDMRRBC

She set me up at Christmas with a Cryptex Gift.

Inside that contained a gift from her.
To open it I had to solve 5 riddles, then taking the indicated letter from each answer and unscramble it.


She loves these types gifts and always enjoys watching everyone squirm while trying to figure out her clues. So i want to make this birthday extra special ;)

Color!

I'm also recently addicted to these. You can fiddle with them and make fun shapes and designs.

https://www.amazon.com/Vinci-Code-Mini-Cryptex/dp/B00420B3R8

Da Vinci Cryptex

Brain teasers, like this. There are lots of these in different variations on Amazon.

The Hanayama puzzles are my favorite, by a longshot, and almost certainly less than $20.

You could probably get him both Cast Gear and Cast Laby for about $20. Or replace Cast Laby with Cast Dolce (the one with the male/female symbols), which is also really cool.

https://www.amazon.com/OGEAR-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B00D9J7F2U

https://www.amazon.com/LABYRINTH-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B0038BCMYU

https://www.amazon.com/DOLCE-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B00D9J7F2A

Brain teaser puzzles:
https://www.amazon.com/VORTEX-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B0038BAHGK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1504770079&sr=1-1&keywords=cast+vortex


Curse these things.

Enigma too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038BAHI8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5Q73DbEKXRVGW?th=1

Puzzle Pod Cryptex - Brain Teaser & Coin Bank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009RROA26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-ZvsybA6GAM47

> gordians knot

https://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-6820-T-ThinkFun-Gordians/dp/B000EGI4OO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpbpUNRbZtY

A few things I found that they may like:

How to Cosplay: a beginners guild - https://smile.amazon.com/Cosplay-Basics-Beginners-Guide-Costume/dp/1935548816/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494339073&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=sewing+patterns+for+roleplaying

Wish by Clamp: cute story of an angel who comes to Earth. I love it. n_n - 4 books total. Older series so books are cheap. - https://smile.amazon.com/Wish-1-Clamp/dp/1591820340/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494339507&sr=8-2&keywords=Wish+manga


Metal brain teasers: https://smile.amazon.com/yueton-Brain-Teaser-Puzzles-Puzzle/dp/B0140RKPY4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1494339683&sr=8-6&keywords=brain+games

Brain Game book: https://smile.amazon.com/Brain-Games-Clever-Kids-Exercise/dp/1780552491/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1494339742&sr=8-7&keywords=brain+games


Art book: https://smile.amazon.com/Tangle-Art-Meditative-Beautiful-Instruction/dp/B00FKY98DG/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494339862&sr=1-5&keywords=Art+kits

Natures Art Box: https://smile.amazon.com/Natures-Art-Box-t-shirts-materials/dp/1580174906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494340034&sr=8-2&keywords=recycling+arts+for+kids

Crafts: https://smile.amazon.com/Trash-Treasure-Upcycling-Guide-Crafts/dp/193806318X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1494340236&sr=8-11&keywords=recycling+crafts+for+kids#reader_193806318X

Brain teaser puzzles [like this] (https://www.amazon.com/QUARTET-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B0038BHZS8/ref=pd_sim_21_23?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0038BHZS8&pd_rd_r=6SXNMWW9S14JP2298PM4&pd_rd_w=Obc88&pd_rd_wg=oPLsj&psc=1&refRID=6SXNMWW9S14JP2298PM4) are great for doing something with you hands and keeping your mind on something. I'd get him a few of the better reviewed Hanayama puzzles.

I know it as a fidget puzzle. I purchased one at a local store and it came with a small book of "end goal" puzzles. The task was to make the item match the color combinations of the given picture in the book. Here is an example of the puzzle. There are multiple manufacturers

FlexiBlox Fidget - 2 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064CGH0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E5nYxbNNDX8H7

I... am minimalist. But mainly because when my job ends, I want to be able to leave quickly. If I quit, I want to be able to just go. If I am laid off, I don't want the awkwardness to be prolonged. So my office tends to have office materials, and a usb drive that I can take with me.

Actually- no. I keep 1 puzzle in my office at a time. This is the one currently on my desk. I like physical puzzles and they tend to give people something to do with their hands when they stop by to talk about something. But packing something like that up is as simple as putting it in my pocket.

I put a lot of work into my home, and a fair amount of work into my desktop- but I kind of prefer a spartan office. That's also why I prefer that my reference books be ebooks or pdfs.

A quick Google sends me to this page: http://www.magnif.com/shop/the-brain-puzzle/

It appears that it can be ordered from Amazon for $124: http://www.amazon.com/Magnif-2225-Brain-Puzzler/dp/B000BXFN4E

https://www.amazon.com/Brookstone-PZ100-Brain-Twist-Puzzle/dp/B0001NECJ6

You can turn the corners, and you can also turn the entire tetrahedron inside out so that the triangles become corners and vice-versa. I think it's isomorphic to a Dino Cube.

Get a metal puzzel! They are so much fun!
https://www.amazon.com/LABYRINTH-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B0038BCMYU/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1504516477&sr=8-31&keywords=metal+puzzle

This one looks kind of cheap, but it's a nice display piece and you can make the password "TREES" http://www.amazon.com/Puzzle-Pod-Cryptex-Brain-Teaser/dp/B009RROA26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417538197&sr=8-1&keywords=cryptex

The gordian knot puzzle is quite a challenge.

Ideally, she has an interest in the game overall, but the situations and play does not suit her, before a final "You're out." try to see if there's something she is interested in that can be added without detracting from the rest of the game. The 5e DMG (p.6) has a list of main things that players like to get from their game (the list is quite applicable to any system). Some people like just one or two things from the list, others like a whole bunch. Maybe she's really into puzzles, in which case you just a one or two puzzle rooms to the next dungeons and at the end the party finds a puzzle box, so any time she's being nonsocial you just assume her character is fiddling with it obsessively (could even make it a physical artifact!)

I bought one like this last year. It came coded with a word so I would assume they are all made with the same starter word. Unfortunately I can't remember what that word was. It may have been space but that's just a guess.


Puzzle Pod Cryptex - Brain Teaser & Coin Bank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009RROA26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uTnpybS1EB3AZ

Because that's what was on the picture he saw on Amazon.

I really like edgy, dark artwork that is really detailed. It immediately catches my eye in comics.

I am not sure it is unique, but this puzzle is really cool!

https://www.amazon.com/ENIGMA-Hanayama-Metal-Teaser-Puzzle/dp/B0038BAHI8

These from hanayama are great, can take some time depending on difficulty, and solid metal. Some might be big for a pocket though.

X-Cube?

Yes, that's more the theme I'm looking for. I actually picked up the JR set of that. Also, puzzles like this http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-6820-ThinkFun-Gordians/dp/B000EGI4OO/

Kids borrow these toys for about a week so having different types of toys (beyond legos and erector sets) is what I'm looking for.

It's a brain teaser puzzle by Hanayama

A couple suggestions, I might add:

Metal Puzzles: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QL2XRFD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4w8RDbSDA8Y6J

Super Spirograph : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KJLUTQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7x8RDbNRC3FC3

I've used these as well as other variations for fun. I also play with uv reactive paint or markers and a black light

Turns out this already exists! I found out about it on a Boardgaming podcast, and very co-incidentally two days after posting this I was given Manifold as a present! I highly recommend it, fun little brain teaser, and a twist on what we normally fold!

Buy here

Here’s a cheaper one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDMRRBC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RjqiDbAJ00SNT

We did this for our adult daughter for Christmas last year. We gave her one clue that led to another clue in the house, etc. Ultimately she ended up with this puzzle box from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/4Thought-Products-Puzzle-Pod-Cryptex/dp/B009RROA26/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=puzzle+gift+holder&qid=1569523757&s=gateway&sr=8-1

You can program the answer to any five letter word. She had to use the last clue to solve the combination to open the gift. It was a lot of fun to watch.

Perhaps the Elon Musk book - my dad really liked all the in depth tech info in it.

There are also these small metal puzzle things that a few men I've known have really liked - they are brain teasers and can be pretty difficult!

Yueton IQ Toys, IQ Test Mind Game Toys Brain Teaser Metal Wire Puzzles Magic Trick Toy, Metal IQ Puzzle Set of 8 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140RKPY4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ohksybD36PVQA

I'll let you know! I'm super anxious to get it (I actually bought 3 of them). My therapist gave me one of the puzzles in [this set](yueton IQ Toys, IQ Test Mind Game Toys Brain Teaser Metal Wire Puzzles Magic Trick Toy, Metal IQ Puzzle Set of 8 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140RKPY4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zE3MybC6TQ09R) middle row all the way to the left - and that kept me busy enough to not pick!!

This?

Holy cow yes. Have you tried infinity cubes?

Infinity Cube Fidget Toy, Luxury EDC Fidgeting Game for Kids and Adults, Cool Mini Gadget Spinner Best for Stress and Anxiety Relief and Kill Time, Unique Idea That is Light on The Fingers and Hands https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071X8S8WQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jSV4CbQJC48RF

I agree, if you like that sort of thing it's a great excuse to get your nails done. A family friend would to this to help with dermatillomania, because the length and texture of fake nails made it physically harder to pick at her skin. I imagine it would be more difficult to pick at the actual nails as well.

I don't bite my nails but I do mess with acne or pull at my eyebrows if my nails get too long, so I just keep them really short. Cutting them short with a few coats of thick polish (so you can't bite or tear at them) may be as helpful as fake nails.

Kind of the same but not really - my husband tends to take off his left shoe and sock when he drives and pick at the sock (why I have no idea). We bought him some nice, super comfy socks and an infinity cube to mess with instead. So far it's seemed to help.

Idk. Unsolicited advice, but I wanted to throw that out there in case something was helpful. :)

[full size](The Da Vinci Code Cryptex 1:1 Scale Prop Replica https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026PS5CW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wEcTybCBFVX0H)

[mini one](The Da Vinci Code Mini Cryptex https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00420B3R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aFcTybPX23NDS)

Brain Twist Puzzle

Apart from actual little puzzles you can hand out to the party IRL I don't give puzzles to my parties. Too often puzzles are tests for the players not their characters and there is nothing you can really do in-game to provide any in-game push apart from an npc. Giving somebody one of these or something similar is just complicated enough to make them invest real attention to it but small enough that it doesn't detract from the rest of the group. Plus you can pass it around and the table and everyone can try it.