Solving puzzles may happen in your daily life from various word puzzle games like Wordle, or through strategy-based games and puzzle books, but piecing together a physical puzzle is a great way to focus your brain, relax and unwind. As a hobby for all ages, there are hundreds of jigsaw puzzles to choose from these days. However, this list focuses on what we've found as the most challenging yet rewarding puzzles with adults in mind, and even included some 3D gems in the mix.
What’s even better is they come in a variety of different styles and designs once put together. Whether you want the finished product to reflect your favorite franchise, game, artwork, or a piece of beautiful scenery, there are puzzles for everyone to enjoy. The below list includes a nice range of sizes as well, from 1,000 pieces to a whopping 3,000 pieces, so you’ll still have quite the challenge when putting them together.
TLDR: The Best Puzzles for Adults
- The Legend of Zelda Hyrule Map 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - $24.99
- The Mystic Maze 1,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle from The Magic Puzzle Company - $22.99
- Marvel Mjolnir Thor Hammer 3D Puzzle Model Kit with Stand, 87 Pcs - $5.90
- Marvel Infinity Gauntlet 3D Puzzle Model Kit with Stand, 142 Pcs - $16.80
- Buffalo Games Star Wars: Galactic Child Jigsaw Puzzle - 1,000pc - $13.29
- Silver Select Marvel Spider-Verse 1,000pc Puzzle - $13.99
- KAAYEE Phoenix Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle, 200 Pieces - $21.26
- PICKFORU Stained Glass Flower Puzzle, 1,000 Pieces - $15.63
- Toynk '80s Game Room Pop Culture 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle by Rachid Lotf - $25.99
- Buffalo Games Stranger Things Trilogy 2,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - $17.03
The Legend of Zelda Hyrule Map Jigsaw Puzzle
If The Legend of Zelda games are right up your alley, this is an excellent jigsaw puzzle to have in your collection. Coming in at 1,000 pieces, you can piece together a full map of Hyrule to have in your home. It has a fantastic antique style that’ll be great for showing off once it’s all put together. Frame it and keep it, or pass it on to the next puzzler in your life to do next!
The Mystic Maze Jigsaw Puzzle
Puzzles from the Magic Puzzle Company truly are magical. Not only does this puzzle, called The Mystic Maze, feature over 50 easter eggs for you to find, but it even has a surprise ending for after you’ve finished putting it together. It’s an exciting twist on the usual puzzle, and well worth picking up for your puzzle and games collection.
Marvel Mjolnir 3D Puzzle
If you’re looking for another unique puzzle, this 3D puzzle of Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, is a great twist on a usual puzzle. This model kit comes with 8 sheets of 87 pieces for you to use in order to put this iconic hammer together. It even comes with a stand so you can set it up and show it off once it’s all done, making it a great addition to any superhero collection.
Marvel Infinity Gauntlet 3D Puzzle
This is another 3D puzzle from the same company listed above and features another memorable Marvel item: The Infinity Gauntlet. This puzzle comes with a few more pieces than Mjolnir - 14 sheets with 142 pieces - but comes with a stand as well so you can set it up for display afterward. If you’re a Marvel fan, this is a great investment to have, especially if you enjoy collectibles. Interested in other models? Check out our roundup of the 10 best LEGO alternatives.
Star Wars: Galactic Child Jigsaw Puzzle
This jigsaw puzzle is absolutely worth picking up if you’re a Star Wars fan. Coming in at 1,000 pieces, it features Grogu front and center in his little pod with a gorgeous cosmic background behind him. It also comes with a full-color bonus poster to help you with piecing together this Grogu puzzle perfectly. Other Star Wars fans in your life will want to borrow this puzzle when you're done; unless of course, you want to keep it and frame it!
Marvel Spider-Verse Jigsaw Puzzle
Venture into the Spider-Verse with this excellent jigsaw puzzle from Buffalo Games. This 1,000 piece puzzle is a sight to behold, featuring Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Ham, and many more Spideys. It even features some of his greatest enemies lurking around if you take a closer look. This Silver Select puzzle also comes in a giftable box with silver foil accents.
Phoenix Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
Not only does this wooden puzzle look great once it's all put together, but the pieces themselves also have unique shapes. You'll find shapes of animals and nature items which are fun to spot as you admire the final pieced-together product. Our pick for this Phoenix jigsaw puzzle above comes with 200 pieces, but you can also grab a large version (290 pieces) or x-large version (680 pieces).
Stained Glass Flower Puzzle
This is another puzzle that’s well worth displaying after you’ve put it together. With 1,000 pieces in the box, this puzzle features a vibrant stained glass design with flowers blooming at the center. It’s a great one to work at slowly and appreciate the beautiful result once you’re all finished.
'80s Game Room Pop Culture Jigsaw Puzzle
Feeling nostalgic? This puzzle is ready to transport you back to the '80s and '90s, thanks to its retro style and assortment of pop culture references that you’ll be just as busy pointing out even after you’ve pieced it all together. It also comes with 1,000 pieces, so you'll be able to spend plenty of time immersed in it.
Stranger Things Trilogy Jigsaw Puzzle
Season 5 of Stranger Things may not be premiering for a while yet, but there’s no better time to start rewatching the previous seasons, right? And while you’re doing that, you can work on this gigantic 2,000-piece Stranger Things puzzle that focuses on its first three seasons and features Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max. It’s a fantastic investment if you’re a Stranger Things fan, and one that’s sure to keep you busy for a while, too.
Need a better table for puzzling? Check out our picks for the best board game tables and board game storage that work great for all of your puzzles as well.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
