The 20 Best Puzzle Books That Will Boggle Your Mind

Puzzles are not just fun activities to pass the time, they are great for boosting your brain power too. Solving challenging puzzles requires logic, spatial reasoning, wordplay and pattern recognition. Regularly doing puzzles can improve memory, concentration, problem-solving skills and even delay cognitive decline.

If you enjoy flexing your mental muscles with a good head-scratcher, a puzzle book is a great option. You’ll have plenty of puzzles in one place to really get those neurons firing. Here are 20 of the best puzzle books to challenge yourself with.

1. The Big Book of Brain Games by Ivan Moscovich

With 1000 puzzles across all kinds of categories, Ivan Moscovich’s Big Book of Brain Games has enough to keep even the most avid puzzle fan occupied for hours.

Puzzles are grouped into chapters including visual illusions, logical thinking, mathematical, wordplay, mixtures, ‘gotcha!’ and more. From mazes and word searches to pattern recognition and math puzzles, there’s something for every puzzler.

The huge number of varied puzzles means your skills will constantly be challenged in new ways. If you get stuck, all the answers are at the back. This monster puzzle book will provide endless hours of stimulating fun.

2. Perplexors: The Complete Book by Mike Shenk

Perplexors are number and logic puzzles that are deceptively simple but highly addictive. Mike Shenk’s Perplexors book contains 360 of these grid-based puzzles across four levels of difficulty.

Each Perplexor starts with a grid filled with numbers. By solving clues related to the rows and columns, you’ll deduce the values of the empty cells. The puzzles test logic and spur out-of-the box thinking.

Perplexors are an excellent brain workout. Starting simple and working up through the levels, you’ll get better and better at deducing the solutions. The puzzles are intriguing and satisfying to unravel. This is a great collection for number puzzle enthusiasts.

3. Super Genius Sudoku by Frank Longo

Sudoku puzzles need no introduction. The addictive Japanese number placements puzzles have taken the world by storm. In this book, puzzle master Frank Longo presents 140 fiendishly difficult Sudoku puzzles for advanced solvers.

Sudoku requires placing the numbers 1 to 9 in a 9×9 grid, with each number appearing once in every row, column and 3×3 box. This simple premise allows for complex, multilayered logic puzzles.

This collection contains some truly extreme puzzles, requiring advanced strategies and non-standard techniques. The hints provided offer just enough guidance without giving the game away. Prepare for many gratifying ‘Aha!’ moments as you work through this Sudoku challenge.

4. The Mammoth Book of Chess by Graham Burgess

Chess puzzles are a perfect way to sharpen your chess strategies and tactics. The Mammoth Book of Chess contains over 1000 chess puzzles from real games played by chess masters.

The puzzles cover all areas of chess, including mating patterns, tactical shots, positional play, openings, endgames and combinations. Helpful explanations accompany each puzzle.

Working through these instructive puzzles will hone your ability to find winning moves and punish errors. Your chess skills will undoubtedly improve as you encounter challenging positions and learn how the masters navigate them. This is a terrific compendium for novices and experienced players alike.

5. Extreme Mazes by Rolf Heimann

With over 125 colorful and highly complex mazes, Extreme Mazes is perfect for dedicated maze solvers looking for a serious challenge.

Rolf Heimann is an expert maze designer and his attention to detail is evident in this collection. The intricately winding paths, dead ends and false routes provide plenty of ‘a-ha’ moments as you work your way through the labyrinths.

With mazes covering two page spreads, folding out to four pages and even 16 pages, there’s ample space for convoluted pathways packed with possibilities. Whether you start from the inside and work out, or vice versa, be prepared to get lost in these spectacular mazes.

6. The Mammoth Book of Word Games by Richard Manchester

If you love Scrabble, crosswords, anagrams and other wordplay puzzles, The Mammoth Book of Word Games has over 400 puzzles to put your skills to the test.

This collection includes acrostics, code crackers, wordsearch puzzles, hangman, cryptic crossword-style clues, word ladders and much more. Hours of word-based fun awaits.

You’ll need to utilise language skills like vocabulary, spelling, anagramming and general knowledge to work through the puzzles. Rudimentary cryptology even comes into play. With varying levels from easy to expert, you can challenge yourself as much as you like. Play alone or pit yourselves against friends if you prefer a competitive element.

7. A Puzzle A Day by Dr Gareth Moore

If you like to start your morning with a brain-boosting puzzle, A Puzzle A Day is the perfect companion. As the name suggests, this book provides a puzzle for each day of the year.

The types of puzzles include memory tests, riddles, math, wordplay, logic, visual puzzles and more. They are quick 10-15 minute puzzles designed to stimulate thinking.

Working through them daily can become a rewarding habit to incorporate into your routine. The mental exercise will help sharpen your wits for the day ahead. The puzzles come in order of difficulty rather than theme, adding variety and an element of surprise. Set yourself the challenge of completing all 365!

8. The Little Book of Big Brain Games by Ivan Moscovich

The Little Book of Big Brain Games packs 558 mind-bending puzzles into a pocket-sized book you can take anywhere. Created by master puzzler Ivan Moscovich, the book brings together conundrums and puzzles from many disciplines.

You’ll encounter word ladders, convoluted mazes, math problems, visual illusions, tricky riddles and simple logical tests that turn out to be deceptively complex. The variety ensures boredom never sets in.

The puzzles start off gently and become fiendishly difficult by the end, providing the perfect difficulty curve. Work through this little book one puzzle at a time or dive in at random spots. Either way, it’s sure to give your grey matter a vigorous work-out.

9. Puzzle Baron’s Big Book of Puzzles by Puzzle Baron

The Big Book of Puzzles from Puzzle Baron contains an astounding 500 puzzles of all types. The hefty tome brings together a huge assortment of word searches, crosswords, logic puzzles, Sudoku, word scrambles and more.

With puzzles carefully ordered from easy to medium to hard, you can work your way up at your own pace. The progression provides a satisfying challenge as you go along.

The Puzzle Baron really ups the ante with the most difficult puzzles reserved for the end. Take the full challenge or dip in for a quick puzzling fix – the wide variety ensures there’s always something appealing within reach. Perfect for lovers of word and number puzzles.

10. The Original Area Mazes by Naoki Inaba

For maze enthusiasts seeking a special challenge, The Original Area Mazes offer something a little different. In these mazes, you need to cover a specified area proportion of the puzzle, navigating the paths efficiently.

You must take the most accurate route to cover the required area. The task involves spatial reasoning and visual logic skills as you traverse the maze back and forth in the optimal way.

With 100 area mazes ranging from 20% up to 90% area requirements, you’ll be tested but never frustrated. Hints and an index of solutions are provided. If you tire of standard mazes, these area maze puzzles will intrigue and delight.

11. The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Puzzles by Dr Gareth Moore

Fans of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes will get a kick out of this puzzle book starring the famous sleuth. With over 200 Holmes-themed puzzles, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous stories.

The puzzle types are very much rooted in the Holmes mysteries. You’ll find cyphers and codes to break, riddles and logic puzzles to unravel, anatomical quizzes, cryptograms, word games, anagrams and more.

Immerse yourself in the engrossing challenges. How many can you solve before Holmes cracks the case? The book adds background on the puzzles from their appearances in the original tales. A must-have for Sherlock devotees!

12. Kakuro by Nikoli

Kakuro is a highly addictive logic puzzle from Japan that combines elements of Sudoku and crossword solving. The Nikoli publishing company are the creators of the puzzle which also goes by the name “Cross Sums”.

The Kakuro grids contain clues for Across and Down sums which indicate how many contiguous cells sum to that number. By using logic, you deduce the numbers.

This book contains 360 Kakuro puzzles spanning easy, medium and difficult levels. Meeting the interlocking constraints of the Across and Down sums provides plenty of “Aha!” moments as you work through them. If you like Japanese logic puzzles or Sudoku, Kakuro will fast become a new favourite.

13. The Illustrated Bible Verses Wall Calendar 2023 – Words from the Word in Pictures by Workman Publishing

Sometimes a mental break is in order, and puzzles don’t always have to be brain-wracking logic problems or math teasers. This calendar features illustrated visualisations of Bible verses in beautiful scenes.

Each month has an accompanying picture with thought-provoking interpretations of passages from the scriptures. Biblical quotes on faith, love and inspiration are brought to life through uplifting designs.

The illustrations provide a contemplative puzzle as you figure out how the image represents the verse. Uplift your spirits while exercising your spiritual contemplation. This art calendar adds colour while nourishing the soul.

14. Math Puzzles Volume 3 by Dr Gareth Moore

The third book in Gareth Moore’s popular Math Puzzles series delivers another 300 puzzles to challenge your computational skills. Covering a wide range of math topics, you’ll need sharp arithmetic, algebra, geometry and statistics knowledge to solve them all.

The large format allows room to work through the calculations. Hints are provided if you need a nudge in the right direction. Topics include primes and factors, Fibonacci numbers, percentages, algebras, probability, trigonometry and more.

If you like keeping your math skills sharp, the increasing level of difficulty will push you further. Make sure to keep a pencil and paper handy for working through these brain-stretching math puzzles.

15. The Total Brain Workout by Marcel Danesi

For a comprehensive mental workout that hits all parts of your grey matter, The Total Brain Workout is an excellent all-rounder. This chunky volume packs in 500 puzzles covering language, logic, visual, mathematical, memory and more.

The wide variety prevents any chance of going stale. You’ll constantly be challenged in new ways as you work through the book. Marcel Danesi is a professor of puzzles and brainteasers, and his expertise shines through in this collection.

The puzzles are cleverly crafted. Hints are subtle without giving away answers if you need a nudge. Tackle a couple at a time or go through methodically. Either way, it’s guaranteed to stimulate your brain cells.

16. BrainGames – Sticker by Number: Under the Sea by Editors of Publications International Ltd.

Here’s a wonderfully relaxing yet still engaging puzzle book option. Sticker by Number applies the paint by numbers concept to stickers.

Each numbered grid outlines spaces for the corresponding stickers to fill in. As you place the correct stickers in sequence, a full colour image emerges. This book contains 28 marine life images to bring to life.

The sticker placing adds a tactile element that sets it apart from standard logic puzzles. Watching the images come together is very satisfying. With easy to moderate difficulty levels, it’s great for unwinding while still exercising your mind. A great twist on colour by number for puzzle fans of all ages.

17. The Official SCRABBLE Puzzle Book by Joe Edley

SCRABBLE fans will delight in this authorized collection of puzzles based on the classic word game. Taking inspiration from actual game play, the book features several puzzle types to test your word skills.

You’ll find word searches with bonus squares, anagram puzzles, crosswords with SCRABBLE scoring, tile-based word puzzles and more. The familiar game elements utilise the vocabulary you’ve built up through SCRABBLE with fun variations.

Additionally, tips on strategy are provided to boost your game. With easy to challenging levels, this is sure to appeal to die-hard SCRABBLE lovers. The wordplay puzzles will help tune your skills whether for fun or competitive play.

18. Brain Games – Criminal Mind Puzzles: Unsolved True Crime Cases by Editors of Publications International Ltd.

For some puzzling with a dark side, this book focuses on unsolved true crime cases. The collection of over 70 puzzles relates to real criminal cases that baffled investigators and remain mysteries.

The puzzles allow you to turn detective and see if you can deduce the culprit or crack the case where others failed. With missing information that needs working out, puzzlers can examine crime scene evidence and details.

Some famous cases featured include Black Dahlia, Zodiac Killer and JonBenét Ramsey. If you fancy some armchair sleuthing, these engrossing puzzles allow you to try your hand at solving uncracked criminal investigations. Just don’t get too carried away playing PI!

19. 400 Brain Games for Smart Kids by George T. Boeree

Kids need plenty of mental stimulation too, and this book provides it through 400 clever puzzles spanning Logic, Visual, Math, Memory and Verbal categories.

With increasing levels of difficulty, the book allows progress at an individual pace. The comprehensive variety prevents any gaps in learning.

Created with kids 6 and up in mind, the puzzles encourage fundamental thinking skills. Critical thinking abilities can be improved through regular play. With parental guidance, the activities can be adapted for younger ages too.

Ranging from simple to challenging, the puzzles will intrigue kids and provide a screen-free activity to engage their budding minds. Great for independent play or joint parent-child fun.

20. 100 Math Brainteasers by Zbigniew Romanowicz

Last but not least, here’s a collection perfect for math lovers. This book gathers 100 ingenious math brainteasers that require deduction, lateral thinking and plenty of mental math.

The puzzles include riddles, sequences, psychometric tests and more. You’ll need a solid grasp of arithmetic, algebra and geometry concepts to work through them all. They encourage mathematical thinking beyond rote formulas.

Make sure to have pen and paper handy for workings things out step-by-step. Helpful explanations of the methodology are provided if you need a hint. The high level of difficulty makes this one for advanced math puzzle solvers looking to sharpen their skills.

Conclusion

That concludes our list of the top 20 best puzzle books to delight, challenge and boggle your mind. With so many options out there, a book is the perfect format to provide a collection of puzzles suitable for your tastes.

The regular mental workout from doing puzzles brings benefits for memory, concentration, problem-solving and strategic thinking abilities. Keeping your brain active with puzzles is a great way to exercise your grey matter.

The collections here span all types from logic and math to visual puzzles, sudoku, mazes, word games and more. With easy to difficult levels, you can challenge yourself as much as you want. Dip in for a quick puzzling fix or spend hours immersed in the mind-bending challenges.

So grab one of these puzzle books for your favorite mind-stretching pastime and get ready to flex those mental muscles! Enjoy the journey.