These Jigsaw Puzzles Will Give Your Brain A Serious Boost

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Some games come and go, but jigsaw puzzles are here to stay. If anything, puzzles have gotten, dare I say it, ~trendy~ over the years—and for good reason: They whip your brain into high gear.

You can't just piece together the same picture over and over, though. The key is mixing it up, says Craig Stark, PhD, research fellow for the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at University of California-Irvine. You have to "challenge yourself to learn and do something new," he explains. The result? "Memory gets better, new neurons are born into parts of the hippocampus, and there is neurotrophic growth."

When picking the ideal puzzle for your noggin, your best choice (according to science) is simply "the one you're not already doing," says Stark. "It's that constant state of learning something new that's driving these effects."

Luckily, there are tons of options out there, from pop culture-inspired puzzles to products for art lovers, cat ladies (and gents), and puzzlers with green thumbs. (If you're looking for more of a brain teaser, there's even Puzzmo, a collaborative puzzle games platform!)

So with all of this in mind (ha, get it?), here are the 22 best puzzles for you to try now, according to top reviewers.

'House Plants' 1,000 Piece Puzzle

You don’t need a green thumb to enjoy putting together this 1,000-piece puzzle from Cavallini & Co. Along with lovely vintage images, it features several educational facts about how to properly care for houseplants, so new and experienced growers alike are sure to learn something new along the way.

Rave Review: “I bought this earlier this week and it was the first puzzle I’ve done in years! Challenging but highly satisfying. Overall it took me about nine hours to complete and I can’t wait to get started on the next one! Will be modge-podging and adding to the room as decor! Beautiful design and insightful information! Highly recommend!”

'The Cosy Shed' 1,000 Piece Puzzle

Cozy comforts like this 1,000-piece puzzle are an at-home essential for the fall and winter seasons. You’ll feel the warmth emanating from this calming jigsaw that captures cuddly pets, crackling firewood, knitted socks, and so much more. It makes a wonderful gift for any puzzle lover—even if that person is yourself!

Rave Review: “This was a fun and relaxing puzzle to work on. The scene is lovely. It did have a lot of dark sections, which made it a little more challenging for me. Overall, a high-quality puzzle which I found to be very enjoyable. Five stars!”

'The Music Room' 500 Piece Puzzle

Tune into some major puzzling fun with this 500-piece jigsaw that captures a vibrant room full of brass, woodwind, string, and percussion instruments. The intricate colors and details will definitely stimulate your brain as you picture yourself relaxing in a music lover’s dream.

Rave Review: “As a musician, I love this puzzle. Ravensburger puzzles are the best. The pieces fit together beautifully. High quality. Beautiful colors.”

'Great Paintings' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

This stunning puzzle highlights the incredible beauty of some of the most iconic paintings ever made. Plus, once you’re done, consider gluing the pieces together and hanging up your completed jigsaw; you’ll feel like you’re visiting an art museum without leaving home.

Rave Review: “I loved doing this puzzle because of the way it was designed. I don't like easy puzzles, yet some look like I would need a decade to finish it. This one was just fun. Challenging for sure, but I like a challenge, especially with some of the most famous paintings in the world like pictured here. The quality of the puzzle pieces is top notch & the necessary poster was great. This was one of my favorites I've ever done.”

'House of Astrology' 500 Piece Foil Puzzle

This 500-piece puzzle consists of 12 beautifully illustrated vignettes for each zodiac sign. The gold foil accent helps bring the puzzle to life as you slowly watch it come together. It even comes with an insert that you can refer back to whenever you get stuck. Gift this to the astrology lover in your life, and they’ll appreciate the brain-boosting activity.

Rave Review: “Love the picture, each sign is so detailed! There are also really cute gold touches to the picture. The quality of the pieces are top-notch with very little puzzle dust.”

'Where's Waldo' 3,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

If you’re searching for a serious brain exercise, look no further than this 3,000-piece puzzle of Where’s Waldo. Get started solo, or invite a few friends over for an intense (but exciting!) game night. Plus, once you’ve finally solved the jigsaw, the next challenge will be to find Waldo!

Rave Review: “My daughter and I really enjoyed putting together this puzzle. We spent many hours working on it after work and school. It took us two months to finish it, but we had many talks, laughs, and just silence trying to concentrate on finding that important piece we were looking for.”

'Disney-Pixar: Toy Store' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Full of beloved characters from your favorite Disney-Pixar films, this jigsaw puzzle will definitely evoke some serious childhood nostalgia. It even makes a great gift for the kids! With more than 1,400 five-star ratings, you can shop confidently knowing that superb quality (and a fun time) are practically guaranteed.

Rave Review: “This puzzle is amazing. The image is so cute and different from a lot of other puzzles I’ve done in the past. The quality of the pieces is amazing. They’re so sturdy and fit together very well, which made the puzzle even better. I’ll definitely be ordering from Ravensburger again in the future!”

'You Wild Animal' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Animal and nature lovers alike will adore this cute A to Z guide of both recognizable and lesser-known critters from around the world. With more than 50 different creatures, this puzzle is more challenging than it appears, yet still very doable.

Rave Review: “My husband and I have done over a dozen Ravensburger puzzles over the last 18 months. This was our favorite. More challenging than we thought it would be. The animals came alive and we learned the names of a few we didn't know existed. Ravensburger puzzles are the best. Highly recommend!”

'Michael Storrings St. Patrick’s Cathedral' 1,000 Piece Puzzle

Transport yourself to the heart of winter in the Big Apple with this stunning puzzle of New York City landmark St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Perfect for the holiday season, you’ll want to take it apart and complete it again for endless, brain-boosting fun.

Rave review: “I like the Michael Storrings images of New York so much that I have three of them framed on the wall of my living room and have just completed this one. I have never been to New York and I still love them. He makes the big city feel like a true community: kids, dogs, bicycles, musicians, food, taxis, and something going on. The puzzles are challenging. I found this one a bit slower going once I got to the Cathedral itself. It's a charming image, a satisfying final result, and one more work of art for my house.”

'Krystol's Palace' 750 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

While living in this enchanting palace would be the ultimate reward for finishing this 750-piece puzzle, just being able to take in all its technicolor beauty is a pretty solid second choice. Don't be intimidated by the intricacy—it comes with a bonus poster that you can refer back to whenever you need a bit of help. (Phew!)

Rave Review: “My father and I do a puzzle together for fun and we have come across some good ones and not-so-good ones. This puzzle is really pretty with lots of color and texture with just enough challenge. There’s enough similarity in the image to throw you off but it’s not too hard to find your way again. We're enjoying this one!”

'Cinque Terre' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

This vibrant puzzle—with more than 500 five-star reviews on Amazon—captures the beauty of one of Italy's most romantic coastal towns, Cinque Terre, in 1,ooo pieces. In other words, it's challenging... but totally doable. Once you're done flexing those mental muscles, you can use puzzle glue to turn the jigsaw into a frame-able and hangable work of art.

Rave Review: "AMAZING puzzle. Extremely good quality construction and feel, crisp interaction between pieces, beautiful color reproduction and detail. It's harder than expected, too; some of the pieces have VERY subtle differences, so be prepared to stop and recheck your previous work when you find a piece that just won't fit, because it probably belongs where you placed another piece already and didn't notice it not fitting together exactly right. This is the best puzzle I've worked on in a long time."

Star Wars 'The Mandalorian' 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

The one surefire way to make a great puzzle even better? Put Baby Yoda (a.k.a. "The Child" in Disney Plus' The Mandalorian) on it. Star Wars fans of all ages will love working on this 500-piece puzzle celebrating the most adorable being in a galaxy far, far away.

Rave Review: "Great puzzle. My kids and I put it together in a few hours and enjoyed it. Fun to have some Baby Yoda around the house!"

'Canoe Lake' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

You might not be able to spend a weekend away in a serene, lakeside cabin (complete with a canoe, because of course), but you can spend a weekend having fun putting together this colorful puzzle. It might even be a good way to let your S.O. know you're in the mood for a mini vacay. But don't just take my word for it—hear from this happy puzzler:

Rave Review: "It was a very fun puzzle. It had its easy parts, and it had its very hard parts. A nice variety of challenges and rewards. The theme elicited many fun conversations with my wife, my co-puzzler, even to the extent of probably doing a mini-vacation this spring in a similar setting. The puzzle pieces were durable, only fit well when correct, with many 'almost correct but not' pieces, and stayed together better than many other brands."

'The Movies' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Pop culture buffs and puzzle aficionados, unite! This 1000-piece puzzle is basically a who's-who of all the biggest names in film history, making it the perfect mental challenge for any movie trivia lover. Best part? It's an instant conversation starter anytime guests come over.

Rave Review: "This is SUCH a fun puzzle! It's big enough to be challenging, but there are a ton of little 'micro scenes' that can be pieced together and then added to the larger whole. So it is still digestible. A 5-year-old even helped us with it!...I highly recommend this puzzle for anyone who likes them!"

'Tiny Bubbles' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Real talk: This turtle definitely seems like it's looking into your soul. If you're a fan of that, or just a fan of Crush from Finding Nemo, then this bold and bright jigsaw puzzle is the one for you. With so many colors, it's challenging without being totally overwhelming.

Rave Review: "This beautiful puzzle is made with high-quality cardboard, the good thick stuff that doesn't bend easily and stays stuck together after connecting. You can actually pick up the puzzle once it's done and it stays together. Although, it's kind of a pain to take it apart, but in a good way. Highly recommend if you enjoy bright, vibrant ocean-animal scenes!"

'Moonlight Lodge' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Brb, jumping into this puzzle's picturesque scene. Or at least, that's what you'll want to do after unboxing this baby. It's vibrant, but with enough large areas of similar colors that you'll likely spend some QT figuring out exactly what goes where (the point of puzzling!). Don't worry if you get stumped; it comes with a bonus poster that can help you stay on the right track.

Rave Review: "My husband and I puzzle a lot of evenings, and I've become a fan of Darrell Bush [the artist] as well as the manufacturer of this puzzle. We love that it comes with a poster so that two of us can be looking at the picture at once, the pieces are sturdy and lock together well (although it's tricky! you must look at the detail), and the price was right (we do a lot of puzzles). There are some tough sections in this puzzle (specifically the sky), but we felt accomplished when we finished."

'Raining in Paris' 750 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Paris is always a good idea. With bright colors and an oh-so-romantic scene, it's a great gift for your S.O. that doubles as a date night activity (not that you need to finish it right then and there...).

Rave Review: "Thoroughly enjoyed putting this together. Just be aware of some funky shapes, edge pieces that don't look like traditional edge pieces, and a few that are almost identical and fit together until you are left thinking they must have left out a piece or two. After vigilant inspection, found the pieces I had made mistakes putting together. Nevertheless, such great quality and beautifully cut pieces."

'Hummingbird Garden' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Bird and butterfly lovers alike will want to immerse themselves in this dynamic puzzle that can't help but draw the eye. Plus, with nearly 250 five-star reviews on Amazon, you can shop confidently knowing that quality is practically guaranteed.

Rave Review: "We have a place in the mountains where we often entertain family. I had been thinking about getting a puzzle for the cold, rainy days and decided to buy this one a couple of weeks ago. I've never completed a puzzle as an adult, so I had no idea if I would enjoy it or how challenging I'd find it. I started it by myself one night hoping my family would be interested in helping me the next day. Well five adults ended up addicted to this for the better part of the weekend! We had so much fun and found it challenging but still doable, and we didn't stop until we finished it!"

'Readers Paradise' 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Book worms of all ages will delight in challenging their noggin with this puzzle showcasing their happy place. Almost 200 five-star reviews can't be wrong, after all. Gift this and a new book to the reader in your life, and they'll def appreciate the brain-boosting prezzies.

Rave Review: "My husband and I both do a lot of jigsaw puzzles. I got this for him for Christmas, but we both worked on it. This is a fun and fabulous puzzle. The pieces are high-quality and snap in nicely. All the different books were absolutely amazing! There were a few hidden animals too. The puzzle was challenging but so unique and so much fun. We both agreed that it's probably the best puzzle we've ever done. Highly recommend!"

'The Cats of Charles Wyoscki' 750 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

All cat ladies—and gents!—will love this puzzle showing a sleepy kitty surrounded by feline-friendly titles. Plus, with more than 400 five-star reviews, you can trust they'll have as good a time putting this together as they do just looking at that cute little face.

Rave Review: "I bought this puzzle as a gift for my CEO and he LOVED IT!!! He even texted me a photo partway through telling me how much he loves it and then showed me another photo when he was done. He said it was a lot of fun because of the different colors and it's just a nice puzzle in general. He also said it was so addicting, he was up until 3 a.m. one night (which explains why he didn't come into the office until late that day)!"

'The Eighties' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Both fans of the latest Stranger Things season and those who actually lived during the '80s will love this puzzle that puts all the best nostalgia in one place. Need something everyone at your next family gathering can agree upon? You just found it. After all, more than 250 five-star reviews can't be wrong.

Rave Review: "This is the best puzzle I've ever done. Growing up in the 80s/90s, I felt nostalgic putting the pieces together. I really enjoyed seeing popular faces, innovative electronics, and cultural events. I finished this puzzle by myself on a weekend (Friday night to Sunday night) and willingly spent 13 hours doing so...Each piece has just enough details to let you figure out where it goes on a board, unlike trees or water in other puzzles. The renderings are also very nice."

'Cottage By The Sea' 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Airbnbs, eat your heart out. This picturesque cottage by the sea is what vacation dreams were made of. Luckily, you can travel to it anytime in the form of this 1,000-piece puzzle. Or you can go to a real one and pack this for a cozy night in with friends or family.

Rave Review: "This puzzle had many irregular shaped pieces; it was pleasantly difficult for a thousand piece, I was impressed. I love the picture, and I look forward to doing more from this brand."

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