The Best Puzzles for Adults Who Want a Challenge

Cha-ching! It's time to rake in the cash by completing this QR code puzzle by MSCHF. Once you finish building simply scan the QR code into your phone and wait to learn about your prize. But, don't be fooled as this puzzle isn't for the faint of heart.

One GH analyst said that this 500 piece puzzle was the hardest puzzle they've ever done before, but luckily, the website notes that the QR code will still scan even if you are missing a few pieces. While putting this together, she only won $1, but hey, that's one more dollar than we've ever won with any other puzzle.

You may not live in a castle, but you can bring the castle to your home when you build this 3D version of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, a.k.a. the inspiration behind the classic Disney Castle. We found this castle to be a great group project, and particularly liked how thick and sturdy the pieces were and how well they seemed to fit together. Plus, once you're done, you can put it on display for years to come.

New Yorkers and classic magazine lovers will appreciate this line of gorgeous New Yorker-themed puzzles from the New York Puzzle Company. You can choose between your favorite art of the city, or pick the perfect puzzle for you based on a date that's meaningful to your family. While this 1,000-piece puzzle might be a bit much for a beginner, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction you'll get from putting together the iconic magazine logo.

Unique puzzle piece shapes, rich colors and high-quality wooden pieces come together to create this breathtaking wooden puzzle that is fun for the whole family. This 100-piece puzzle is great for beginners and kids, so even the littlest ones can join in on the fun. With pieces in the shape of various other sea creatures like crabs and seahorses, putting this puzzle together is just as magical as the finished product.

What do you get when you combine the fun of puzzle making with the mystique of an escape room? The Sherlock Holmes Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle, of course. No longer do you have to leave your home to experience all the excitement an escape room has to offer.

Once you complete this jigsaw puzzle, the fun has only just begun. Players can uncover the hidden clues in the 1,000-piece puzzle to help Sherlock Holmes solve the mystery and bring the criminal to justice. Once you've solved this mystery, check out their other fun mystery puzzles like Murder on the Titanic or Death on the Istanbul Express.

Don't think your puzzles are challenging enough? This double sided jigsaw will definitely be a head scratcher for even the best puzzlers out there. Not only do many of the sand pieces look very similar, making it incredibly challenging (in a good way), but once you flip the pieces over you'll get a whole new image. Luckily, one puzzler we spoke with found that one side of the puzzle is matte while the other is glossy to help keep it from being impossible to build.

Spring has certainly sprung at any time of year with this pretty 1,000-piece puzzle by eeBoo. One of our editors appreciates that the puzzles from this woman-owned brand are made of high-quality pieces from recycled materials, according to the brand, and they found the art to be colorful and beautiful. "The puzzles are hard enough to be challenging, but not impossible," she said. "I love how the artists use different textures within similar colors so you can really start to see the patterns."

If you thought you couldn't get enough of the TV show, this puzzle proudly displays the famous four — Dorothy, Rose, Sophia, and Blanche — smiling sweetly or hilariously posing all across the puzzle.

Build this epic 266-piece 3D puzzle of the Titanic. Complete with light strings that make this puzzle light up, this completed piece will certainly catch the eye of anyone who enters your home. One of our editors found this puzzle to be "absolutely gorgeous" and noted that it's great for teens and adults alike. Measuring close to 35 inches long, just make sure you have enough space in your room to keep it on display.

What happens when you complete your puzzle and are ready for the next one? You could simply put the pieces back in the box and store the box in the closet, but there's only so many puzzle boxes one can keep at a time.

This subscription box service from Completing the Puzzle is great for extreme puzzlers who want to keep the new puzzles coming, but don't want to store them all in their house. Once you complete each puzzle, you can send it back to the company to be sanitized and sent to another person. It's sustainable, easy to use and keeps clutter at a minimum.

For those who long for distant horizons but can't always travel as much as they'd like to, this beautiful 1,000-piece puzzle by EuroGraphics can take you there the instant you finish it. You can also take a look at some of the brand's other travel-inspired puzzles like the giant panoramic Czech Republic or the tulip fields in The Netherlands.

One GH editor and self-proclaimed puzzle lover particularly likes the Barcelona views, noting that while the picture quality is a little less clear than some other options, the quality of the pieces are great with no lifting or tearing while putting pieces together or taking them apart.

Cherish your favorite memories forever when you turn them into a puzzle for the whole family. With a wide variety of customization options you can pick from 24-piece puzzles all the way up to 2,000-piece puzzles with your favorite meaningful picture on it.

We love how easy it is to make these puzzles in a few simple steps, according to the website, and appreciate that you can choose from creating a single image puzzle or make a collage of all your favorite pics.

Turn your favorite puzzle into wall art when you snag one of these gorgeous pieces from Jiggy. Not only do they come in the cutest packaging — a stylish reusable glass jar for storing the pieces — but each kit comes with a tube of glue so you can glue your puzzle together once you finish it and display it on your wall. One GH editor loves that these puzzles have beautiful, unique art that can be made permanent if desired. They also make great gifts for friends and family!

Think this one's easy? Think again. If you're in the market for a challenging puzzle you can really dig into, try this gradient piece. It features a duotone finish, available in a variety of colors. We recommend doing this puzzle in a bright room with great lighting since the nuances between each piece can be hard to spot. It makes a pretty work of art once completed, and is a great gift for the artist in your life who likes all things creative.

This double-sided puzzle from Galiston is great for the artist in your life who adores Impressionism. With 500 pieces, this puzzle is a bit easier than some of the 1.000-piece ones on our list, but still challenging enough to make it interesting.

We appreciate that one side of the puzzle is matte while the other is glossy to prevent any issues while putting it together, and one of our experts found that this puzzle has the most beautiful picture quality. Aside from being bright and colorful, "the clarity of the print makes for a fun process," notes one GH analyst.

Ahoy matey! No need to walk the plank if your brain gets twisted trying to figure out this 3D crystal pirate ship puzzle. It makes a nice change from flat jigsaw puzzles and may even entice kids who think they don't enjoy puzzling. With 101 pieces, this one is rated for kids ages 12 and older, but younger children may be able to enjoy it with a grown up's help.

Transport yourself to somewhere over the rainbow when you create this unique 750-piece rainbow hand puzzle. Not only is this puzzle bright and colorful, but it's an especially unique shape that is fun to build. If you're used to traditional puzzles and want to add a little twist to them, look no further. Since there isn't a lot of detail aside from the colors, this puzzle can be a bit more challenging to put together, but online reviewers found it to be worth the extra time.

This whopping 3000-piece puzzle will take quite some time to finish, but once you get there, it will all be worth it. As the largest puzzle on this list in terms of how many pieces it contains, it's definitely for veterans who aren't afraid of a challenge. Music lovers will enjoy this Beatles-themed piece that features a ton of colors and details. One thing to keep in mind is that this puzzle is giant, so make sure you have enough room on the table (or floor) before you take it on.

Accio Harry Potter puzzle! This collectible puzzle helps bring the magic of Hogwarts to your living room when you build the classic Sorcerer's Stone scene where Harry and his friends first see the breathtaking castle. While this puzzle is only 550 pieces, it features a nighttime scene and the dark colors make it a bit more challenging to piece together. Overall, online reviewers found the quality to be great and the project to be fun for groups.

All 750 pieces of this puzzle are cute as a button, and once they come together they create the most adorable scene of cats wrecking havoc in a living room. Fun for the whole family, this puzzle is as hilarious to put together as it is to look at. Online reviewers note that the picture quality is nice and clear and the puzzle overall is challenging but not too difficult for the whole family to join in on the fun.