20 Most Challenging Puzzles for Adults

A Curated List of Brain Teasing Puzzles that Will Challenge Even The Most Experienced Puzzlers

For puzzle enthusiasts looking for their next challenge, the world of 1000-piece puzzles offer endless possibilities. Some of the designs push your skills to the limit and test your patience. If you are looking to step up your game, these curations will provide hours of entertainment and a true sense of accomplishment when completed. Here are some of our selections.

Beautiful Yet Challenging Puzzles

[1] Book Shelf Dam

Test your puzzle-solving ability with this vibrant underwater scene featuring intricately detailed tentacles of an octopus. Sometimes it will seem like the octopus’s tentacles are multiplying. Although some of the sections are exceptionally challenging with similar patterns and subtle differences, you’ll have the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction when completing the puzzle.

[3] Mandala Lotus Flower Papercut

This elegantly designed puzzle showcases a blooming flower with layers of delicate petals surrounded by smaller petals. It’s definitely a challenging design because everything is white and monotone, consisting of only papers and shadows. For those who are struggling, there is a letter that divide the back of puzzle into 6 parts so you get a hint where the piece is going to go.

[4] Water Lilies

This is a picture of an artwork painted by Claude Monet - Waterlilies, painted during the year 1916 - 1919. Once you finish the piece, you are going to get an elegant piece of artwork in your living room that you can also use as a home decor. The difficulty level is advanced since there are many similar colors and patterns in the picture. This too has an alphabet printed on the back to help you out.

[5] Almond Blossoms

This is a beautiful masterpiece of Almond Blossoms by Van Gogh may appear simple at first glance, but don’t be deceived. WIth only three main elements - sky, branches, and flowers - the seeming simplicity becomes a profound challenge. You will keep struggling to find where this particular piece of blue belongs. But once you finish the piece, it’s going to make a great piece of artwork.

[6] Cat library

If you love kitties, this is the ultimate cat library for you. The cats are in the cat section of the library because the title of the books all relate to cats. The books and all the bookshelves are only slightly different from each other, so it can take a long time to get done. But don’t worry. Alphabets in the back of the puzzle will help you out with this piece as well.

[7] Mount Fuji and Chureito Pagoda at sunset

This puzzle depicts a beautiful imagery of vivid colors of Mount Fuji. Challenging part of this puzzle would definitely be the section with the cherry blossoms and the repetitive patterns of the pagoda. Some buyers say that this puzzle is easier than it seems, so don’t worry. The puzzle is challenging enough to not be boring and well built. If you went on a trip to Japan, this puzzle will be the perfect reminder.

[8] Noel est de Retour

This beautiful art work of a French artist Michel Delacroix makes an ideal Christmas gift for puzzle lovers. Some buyers said that the puzzle is slightly more difficult than it seems, so be aware of the level of difficulty! The beautiful artwork will make a perfect winter decor once you finish and frame the puzzle.

[9] Apres Ski

This is another cute piece of artwork (painted by Michael Storring) suitable for a Christmas gift. The colors are cheerful and the scene is adorable. The white pieces and all the little ski people make the puzzle harder than it seems making it hard to determine where the pieces go. If you are a ski enthusiast, you will love the piece although it is a bit challenging.

[10] Pumpkin Patch

Another piece of artwork painted by Michal Storring, this puzzle features a day at the pumpkin patch, celebrating the bounty of the season. While ‘Apres Ski’ was perfect for winter puzzle session, this is perfect for a fall puzzle session. It depicts a pumpkin patch surrounded by flowers, corn mazes and fall foliage. Some say the puzzle is a bit too challenging and that it is very easy to get lost in the pumpkin patch.

[11] Garden with Courting Couples

This hard-looking piece of artwork is the artwork painted by Vincent Van Gogh. It is a painting of two couples outside with trees and a stone path during daylight. The painting itself is beautiful, but the puzzle can be quite challenging due to many pieces having similar patterns and colors.

Puzzles full of colors that will tease your brain

[1] Pixel Puzzle

For people who seeks challenge when putting together a puzzle, this eye-catching puzzle pushes the boundaries of color perception. If you try not to look at the alphabet hints at the back of the puzzle piece, you can take the challenge to the next level.

[2] Lego Rainbow Bricks

If you are a lego lover as well as a puzzle lover, you will be happy that you have bought this puzzle. The small circles on the Lego pieces make the puzzle harder than anticipated. Although it might be a bit challenging for beginners, the vibrant picture makes anyone who loves Lego want to try it out.

[3] Twisted 3D Colorful Puzzle

If you want a real brain teaser with colors, why don’t you try this puzzle? It’s a different type of puzzle where it has to be done in order, but you can also get help from the letters on the back of the puzzle pieces. Until you learn the pattern of the picture and what to look for, it can be a total chaos.

[1] Star Trail Puzzle

Ultimate Brain Teasers - For those who want more challenge

This puzzle shows a picture of a colorful star trail taken with a camera on a tripod. Once you get the tree, the camera, and the horizon, the flow of star trails will fall into place.

[2] All Black Puzzle

Do you have an experience of putting together a puzzle without looking at the picture? If you have not, you might want to put yourself into challenge with this piece. Without any picture hints, you have to rely only on the shape of the puzzle pieces, making it a true test of puzzling skill.

[3] Impossible Difficult Line Puzzle

Well yes, this puzzle does have a picture printed on it, but only to make it more confusing. With only black lines drawn on a white background, this puzzle will stimulate your brain for sure.

[4] The Mystical π Puzzle

If you have memorized Pi out to a few dozen digits, you might find this puzzle interesting. Coming in a circular shape, it’s a very intense puzzle to finish. You can’t sort the pieces by colors or by numbers. You have to find your own sorting method to figure out how to put it together.

[5] The Clearly Impossible Puzzle

As the name of this puzzle is already an ‘Impossible’ puzzle, it can be very challenging and unique even for puzzlers. One tip I can give you is that you have to sort out all the pieces well. Otherwise, it can be the most confusing puzzling experience for you.

[6] Black Box Puzzle

This unusual puzzle box takes the puzzling experience to another level by concealing the final image you are going to get when put together. There are no pictures and no hints. While the actual image isn’t particularly difficult, the lack of reference creates an entirely new kind of challenge.

Conclusion

These 20 puzzles represent some of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences available for puzzle lovers. Each puzzle offers a unique challenge that will test different aspects of your puzzle-solving abilities. Keep in mind that the greatest satisfaction often comes from completing what seems impossible at first glance. A little tip I can give you is that you should start off by sorting the pieces by shape or colors.