rating all the PUZZLES I’ve done

Last year I really started getting into puzzling.

Not to the point where I am watching puzzle channels on YouTube (in case you are wondering, yes, they do exist).

But, I’ve realized that winter is a great season for doing puzzles, since it’s chilly outside I can sit inside with a cup of my homemade hot cocoa and just work on a puzzle.

For some reason I find them very relaxing and sometimes that’s just what I need.

Earlier this week I came across someone who had a blog post of all their favorite puzzles. While I would like to write a post like that at some point, I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to have favorites yet, so I thought I would just give ratings for the ones I have done.

I’m actually enjoying doing puzzles so much that I’ve started a puzzle wish list – maybe I’m not too far away from watching puzzle channels on YouTube!

All of these I’ve done in the last year, with the exception of one, so we’ll start with the exception.

Karmin International Color a Puzzle

Jared got this puzzle from a co-worker a few years ago and it was hard! The first time through it’s black and white, so it’s just black and white and shapes! Then we colored it and re-did it a year or two later and it was much easier.

I would rate it different both times:

Rating as a black and white: 3/5

Rating once colored: 4/5

Dr. Livingston’s Human Anatomy Puzzles

We did these as part of our homeschool/learning about the human body at the beginning of the year.

Because they were such odd shapes they were quite challenging!

We did the head, thorax and abdomen puzzles. They are supposed to be magnified 200%, the three puzzles together were as tall as Ephraim as an eight year old. I took a picture of him lying next to them but for the life of me I can’t find it now.

Rating: 3/5

All Good Things are Wild & Free

This was the first puzzle that got me hooked last winter and also made me want to try all the Flow puzzles out there.

I liked the quality of the puzzle and the diversity of colors and objects.

Rating: 5/5

Free to Just Be

The last puzzle of last winter. I liked how the hanging blankets or whatever they are were kind of like individual little puzzles.

Rating: 4/5

Home Sweet Home

The first puzzle of the 2022/2023 winter season! I think we started this one in October and we’re currently on pace for about one puzzle a month.

I really enjoyed this one, like All Good Things are Wild and Free, it felt like there was a good amount of different colors and objects going on. Plus, I enjoy being at home so I appreciate the sentiment.

Rating: 5/5

Dare to Dream

So, this was my first puzzle with a lot of green plants and I’m realizing it is not something I enjoy overly much.

Rating: 3.5/5

Museum Mysteries – Escape Puzzle Kids

I got this puzzle as a gift from one of my patrons (on my bookish Patreon) and I was pretty excited because I had seen them around but didn’t know how they worked.

The puzzle itself was quite difficult, the pieces pretty much fit anywhere so in some sections, like the night sky pieces, it was really hard to tell what really went where. (This is my first Ravensburger puzzle, I’m wondering if this is common for all their puzzles?)

The actual mystery/escape portion was quite fun. I would like to try one of these again!

Rating for the puzzle: 3/5

Rating for the mystery: 5/5

And that’s all the puzzles I’ve completed so far! I’m currently in the middle of this puzzle and I can tell you already, it’s hard!

Now, which of the puzzles off of my wish list should I try next?