Maybe it was the pandemic. Maybe it’s the ongoing popularity of the Cottage Core, Hygge, and Coastal Granny aesthetics. Whatever the reason, it looks like the classic pastime of working puzzles around a table is here to stay.

If you have a puzzle aficionado on your list this year, check below for some of the best gifts for puzzle lovers. We have everything from a wine bottle that won’t open until you work a puzzle to a handy scoop that keeps puzzle pieces in the right place.

How to Choose the Best Presents for Puzzle Lovers

Choosing which puzzle to work is a highly-personal thing. Some puzzle lovers prefer nature scenes, others like large, graphic prints or classic artwork.

When in doubt, opt for a medium-difficulty scene with heavy duty pieces. Ravensburger puzzles tend to be the overall fan favorite for their high-quality pieces and true-to-picture prints, but Buffalo Games, Galison, Cobble Hill, White Mountain, and New York Puzzle Company are also solid contenders.

Alternatively, opt for a novelty puzzle, such as a custom picture puzzle, or puzzle-themed gift like a T-shirt, coffee mug, or tote along with a gift card for the recipient to choose their own puzzle.

Charlie Harper Art Puzzle

Charlie Harper is an American artist known for his ‘minimal realism’ – that is, his tendency to see nature not in the details, but in the exciting, playful combinations of shapes, colors, and patterns. While an official print or lithograph could set you back $300 or more, you can gift a whimsical Harper design to your favorite puzzle lover for less than $25! We call that a great deal! Choose one of his famous cardinals or any of his humorous takes on the natural world around us. Your favorite puzzle lover will appreciate the high-quality pieces from Pomegranate Puzzles and the dash of beauty and color.

101 Pooping Puppies

Does your gift recipient’s humor run a little less whimsical and a little more low-brow? That’s OK! We’ve got the perfect puzzle to mark off your gift list, too. This isn’t your grandmother’s scenic landscape or whimsical dreamland. Oh no! Dive into a world of chaos and frolicking furballs. The perfect gift for puzzle enthusiasts with a love for dogs and a quirky sense of humor, the 101 Pooping Puppies puzzle promises hours of giggles and “Oh, look at this one!” moments. Prepare for a tail-wagging, belly-laughing good time, because sometimes laughter truly is the best way to piece things together!

Puzzle Past My Bedtime Tee

Your gift recipient is sure to look “smart” in this funny T-shirt. Cheeky Tees make ideal gifts for jigsaw lovers – and for every thinker, strategist, and brain-teaser aficionado out there. They can wear it with some cozy pajama pants and sip a mug of tea while they work their favorite new puzzle for a perfect hygge weekend look. Pair it with a new puzzle or a coffee mug and some cocoa for the perfect holiday gift box.

Adjustable Jigsaw Puzzle Board

This may be the cadillac of presents for jigsaw puzzle lovers. Jigsaw puzzle boards have been on the market for a long time – and they are a convenient way to store puzzle pieces and easily move your puzzle off the table between puzzling sessions. This version, though. It has foldable, adjustable legs. It has drawers for puzzle pieces. It has three different adjustable angles, like a drafting table, to ease the puzzle worker’s neck tension. In short, it has it all and is sure to make the puzzle lover on your gift list very, very happy.

New York Times Birthday Puzzle

Here’s an easy, built-in birthday present idea for your favorite puzzle lover: A puzzle of the New York Times’ front page from the day they were born. They’ll have hours of fun trying to piece together this difficult puzzle while learning more about what (else) was going on in the world on their birthday. Also makes a unique gift for puzzle lovers on their anniversary, retirement, or any other milestone moment that you want to help them commemorate.

Wine Bottle Puzzle

If you’re looking for fun gifts for puzzle lovers, this wine bottle puzzle might fit the bill. With nearly 4,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, it’s clearly a crowd-pleaser. Transform the gift of a nice bottle of wine into a riddle that will make their cryptologist heart soar – or into a fun white elephant gift or drinking game. Perfect for the wine enthusiast who is also a puzzle lover or for the puzzle lover who likes to imbibe while piecing it all together. Cheers to the art of puzzling!

The Puzzle Scoop

In my family, my dad started the tradition of using a kitchen spatula to move puzzle pieces and sections of completed puzzle into their correct place on the puzzle table. If you don’t want to wrap up a spatula and have to explain this to your gift recipient, the Puzzle Scoop makes a thoughtful and unique gift for puzzle enthusiasts. Even better, the Puzzle Scoop has a 3X magnifying glass and an LED light built in to make finding the right piece a snap. Great stocking stuffer for puzzle lovers!

The Trial of Camelot

Part brain teaser, part statement piece – the Trial of Camelot is a complete escape room in a box. Seven layered SD (sequential discovery) challenges await your lucky puzzle enthusiast for 3 to 4 hours of mind-bending, logic-twisting play. The piece is beautifully-crafted and makes a handsome addition to a bookshelf or coffee table once it has been solved. Or, it’s the ultimate regiftable puzzle present. The recipient can put the whole puzzle back together and pass along the enjoyment to someone else! As if the puzzle itself wasn’t enough of a gift, there is also enough space inside for money or a gift card, making it possible to turn this into a gift challenge box as well. Great gift for a recent graduate!

Wooden Sudoku Board

Do you have a number puzzle lover on your gift list? This elegant sudoku board will help them while away the hours – no pen, pencil, paper, or ipad required. The set comes with a booklet of 100 Sudoku challenges ranked from easiest to most difficult. Simply set up a game and get to solving! The number tiles are two-sided: Black for numbers you’re sure of and red for ones you’re still thinking about. .

Mystery of the Month (Or Other Subscription!)

Subscription boxes have become all the gifting rage in a number of industries, from clothing and makeup to snacks and household goods. Why should puzzles be any different? We like this Mystery of the Month subscription from Uncommon Goods, but there are also Puzzle of the Month clubs from most major puzzle manufacturers, and no shortage of Murder Mystery Subscriptions from known and trusted retailers such as CrateJoy. Whether your puzzle enthusiast is into logic puzzles, scientific mysteries, murder mysteries, escape rooms, or jigsaws, you should be able to find a subscription box that suits their tastes!

Puzzle Sorting Trays

At my house, we sort our puzzle pieces by shape. After working the border, we divide up the remaining pieces based on the number of “tabs” or knobs each piece has. Other puzzle lovers sort their pieces by color. The point is – every puzzle enthusiast loves to sort their puzzle pieces and has their own tried-and-true method for getting the job done. These stackable puzzle sorting trays will help the jigsaw lover on your gift list keep it all organized. The puzzle pieces stand out beautifully on the bright white tray!

Personalized Puzzle Gift

Another fun and unique present for puzzle lovers is a personalized puzzle. We love this design from Shutterfly that easily allows you to create a full photo gallery instead of just one large picture – what a great way to commemorate a vacation, a kid’s graduation, or milestones from the previous year! Think of it as the puzzle version of the traditional Christmas letter. Of course, there are other customizable puzzles available as well. Snapfish and PuzzleYou both have solid, easy-to-use interfaces. Or, for something a little different, consider a personalized puzzle map of your recipient’s childhood home.

Presto Puzzle Saver

Easiest stocking stuffer or present topper in the world. The Puzzle Presto Peel & Stick Puzzle Saver by Buffalo Games does away with the mess of liquid puzzle glue. Simply peel the backing from the adhesive sheets, stick, and preserve your masterpiece. Pair a couple packages of Presto Puzzle Saver with a gorgeous art puzzle and your thoughtful gift is ready to go. (Or maybe your gift recipient wants to preserve the Pooping Puppies puzzle and make it part of their bathroom decor – we’re not here to judge! We’re only here to help.)

Puzzle Advent Calendar

What better way to count down to the holidays than by working a 50-piece mini puzzle every day of advent? This is a great present for kids (though they may prefer candy?) and adults alike. At the end of the countdown, the mini puzzles fit together to create one beautiful Christmas scene.

Double-Sided Puzzle

Here’s a unique concept that will thrill people with puzzle-loving minds. A double-sided Frank Lloyd Wright puzzle from Galison! On one side is a stunning image of the iconic Fallingwater House. On the other side, the architectural blueprint for the house and the grounds. One side is glossy and the other side is matte to make it easier to distinguish between the two. Work one side, then immediately break it apart and work the other!

Crazy Shapes Puzzle

The Crazy Shapes puzzle series from Trefl is for only the most hard-core, extreme puzzle fans out there. Does this describe your puzzle enthusiast? Are they always looking for the biggest, most challenging puzzle available? Then this puzzle might suit them perfectly. Each piece has a “crazy” unusual shape – there are no straight lines in this puzzle. Even the border is twisted and irregular. The Crazy Shapes series forces puzzle fans to rely more heavily on color and pattern recognition, making for the ultimate challenge.

The ‘Impossible’ Ice Puzzle

If the Crazy Shapes series just isn’t enough of a challenge for your favorite puzzle lover, maybe take the next step and buy them this “Impossible Puzzle” instead. The Impossible Ice Puzzle is composed of completely clear pieces in crazy shapes. They’ll either love you or hate you for this gift – but they won’t feel neutral about it! Choose from 108 pieces (if you’re feeling nice) all the way up to 1000 pieces (if you really want to drive your puzzle lover crazy!) You can also customize the sturdy wooden gift box with a personal message.

Wobble Cushion for Puzzling

If you want to think outside the box (literally!), here are some unique gift ideas for puzzle lovers. Having a more sedentary hobby can be relaxing, brain-stimulating, stress-reducing – but it can also lead to back and neck pain! An inflatable wobble cushion for your favorite puzzle fan to use while enjoying their hobby is just the ticket. Maybe make it a double gift and get them a high-quality under desk elliptical trainer too!

Mind-bending Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

This puzzle may only be 200 pieces, but don’t let that fool you! It’s one of the most challenging puzzles available anywhere. Your gift recipient will love spending hours trying to make all of the precision laser-cut pieces fit. Or maybe they’ll give up and flip the puzzle off the table in a fit of rage. Either way, this gift will make an impression!

Lego Wall Art

This is another present option that may not be about puzzles, per se, but is sure to please and tickle the same part of the brain. Everyone is familiar with Legos, of course – but did you know that you can get a 3D Lego Art set for adults? Your delighted gift recipient will spend hours painstakingly crafting a work of art out of teeny tiny Legos. Each Lego Art kit also comes with a QR code playlist of carefully curated music to complete the experience. There are lots of masterpieces to choose from, including Starry Night by Van Gogh and even pop culture kits like Stan Lee’s Batman print, Any Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe, and the Harry Potter Hogwart’s Crest.

A Luxury Pen

If your gift recipient is the type of puzzle enthusiast who prefers crosswords, logic puzzles, or Sudoku puzzles to jigsaw, consider getting them a luxury pen set. A high-quality pen is an affordable splurge that most people don’t get for themselves but greatly appreciate. This option from Scriveiner is under $50, while a slightly elevated option from Bastion will set you back less than $75. Create a gift box with a nice pen and a collection of difficult crossword puzzles, logic puzzles, or number puzzles (or a combo of all three!) and you’re all set.

Cryptex Puzzle Boxes

The Cryptex Da Vinci Code Puzzle Box brings a little mystery and romance to the world of puzzles. This puzzle gift box allows you to set your own passcode and create your own clues for your gift recipient. Choose something meaningful to the two of you and clues that only the two of you would know – a great way to propose, to start a Valentine’s scavenger hunt, or celebrate a milestone anniversary! Pair it with a personalized Where We Met puzzle for the ultimate romantic gift for puzzle enthusiasts.

Puzzle Lover Mug

For every enthusiast who thrills at the click of a jigsaw piece finding its mate, we’ve got the perfect brew companion! This mug, designed specifically for puzzle lovers, offers a delightful sip of inspiration for those long puzzle-solving sessions. Just like every piece of a puzzle holds a special place in the big picture, this mug holds a special place in the heart of a puzzler. Gift it to your favorite jigsaw junkie, and they’ll be reminded of their cherished hobby with every warming sip. Pair it with this delightful Teapots Puzzle for a complete gift set.

Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle

What could be better than two puzzles in one?! These mysterious jigsaw puzzles begin with a narrative to help your gift recipient work the puzzle – by the end of the experience, they should have also collected all the clues they need to solve the murder mystery. It’s double the flavor, double the fun!

DIY Book Nook Kit

This next gift idea is a little tough to categorize. It’s kind of a 3D wooden puzzle, kind of a model, kind of a craft kit – but it’s definitely a whole lot of intricate building fun. Pop out the wooden pieces and assemble according to the instructions to create a beautiful lighted bookend for your shelves or mantel. The kit even includes an LED light. So pretty! Make sure you look at the entire Rolife collection to find the Book Nook that best fits your puzzle lover’s style.

Puzzle King Tee

For the die-hard puzzle enthusiast in your life, comes the crowning glory: the Puzzle King T-shirt! No longer will their unmatched jigsaw prowess go unnoticed. When they don this regal tee, the world will know they’re royalty in the realm of riddles. Crafted for comfort and designed to celebrate their dedication, it’s the perfect piece for every puzzle master. Gift it, and watch them wear their title with pride. Also available in Puzzle Queen!