Previous Contest Puzzles (Solo)
Wondering what kinds of puzzles we use for our Speed Puzzling contests?
Months before an event, we test each potential contest puzzle for image, quality, fit, and speed.
Months before an event, we test each potential contest puzzle for image, quality, fit, and speed.
- Image: We look for originality, variety, contrast in colors and textures, and easily identified areas. We enjoy bright colors and puzzles which convey togetherness, positivity, etc. Scroll down for dozens of examples.
- Quality: Each puzzle should have minimal dust, minimal glare, and thick pieces. For a comparison of puzzle thickness, see here.
- Fit: There should be few-to-no false fits. In other words, one piece should only fit properly in its correct position. And preferably, each puzzle should pass the "pick-up challenge," meaning that once completed, it can be picked up without falling apart. At the very least, pieces should stay together once they are connected (even when gently bumped).
- Speed: We have time constraints associated with our contest schedules. Accordingly, most Solo speed puzzlers should be able to assemble a selected puzzle/image within the allotted time. As of 2023, our time limits are 1 hour for 300 pieces, 2 hours for 500 pieces, and 4 hours for 1000 pieces.
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1000 pieces
Super Fast
# 096: Re-marks "1950s"
Fastest 1:25:02, Median 2:28:49
# 061: Cloudberries "Pixels"
Fastest 1:35:15, Median 2:36:59
# 022: Buffalo Games "Pixels and Pizza"
Fastest 1:49:49, Median 2:42:18
# 081: Ravensburger "Vintage Posters"
Fastest 1:37:34, Median 2:47:51
# 050: PuzzleTwist "Garden Delights"
Fastest 2:01:30, Median 2:50:17
# 044: Playful Pastimes "Out for a Ride"
Fastest 2:04:50, Median 2:52:59
# 056: Ravensburger "Goofy"
Fastest 1:41:25, Median 2:53:40
# 088: White Mountain "Mystery Books"
Fastest 1:44:25, Median 2:54:19
# 074: Ravensburger "Rig Views"
Fastest 1:59:16, Median 2:54:34
# 066: Cobble Hill "Where to Next?"
Fastest 2:00:39, Median 2:59:46
# 100: MasterPieces Movie Posters
Fastest 1:44:22, Median 3:06:36
# 092: JaCaRou "Pop Art Inspiration"
Fastest 1:47:18, Median 3:12:08
Fast
# 084: Peter Pauper Press "Color Wheel"
Fastest 2:10:34, Median 3:18:57
# 069: Peter Pauper Press "Vintage Seed Packets"
Fastest 1:56:01, Median 3:22:07
# 077: Buffalo Games "Peach of a Day"
Fastest 2:09:19, Median 3:25:05
# 049: Cobble Hill "Classic Archie"
Fastest 2:29:37, Median 3:32:20
Average
# 053: Buffalo Games "Emojis"
Fastest 2:18:02, Median 3:58:09
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500 pieces
Super Fast
# 016: Ravensburger "Needlework Station"
Fastest 0:39:08, Median 0:52:21
# 032: Buffalo Games "Unusual Animals"
Fastest 0:34:39, Median 0:52:31
# 097: Buffalo Games "Colorful Diamonds"
Fastest 0:38:47, Median 0:54:44
# 085: Buffalo Games "Chunky Rainbow
Fastest 0:36:06, Median 0:56:04
# 033: Mudpuppy "Painted Safari"
Fastest 0:33:24, Median 0:56:10
# 017: Galison "Cakes"
Fastest 0:41:11, Median 0:57:31
# 064: eeBoo "Dogs of the World"
Fastest 0:37:01, Median 0:59:16
# 076: Mudpuppy "Little Park Ranger"
Fastest 0:41:55, Median 1:00:25
# 037: Re-Marks "Air Mail"
Fastest 0:36:40, Median 1:00:45
# 047: Mudpuppy "Jungle Illuminated"
Fastest 0:43:43, Median 1:02:37
# 026: Buffalo Games "Country Store"
Fastest 0:42:39, Median 1:03:48
# 102: Re-marks "Café"
Fastest 0:44:42, Median 1:04:06
# 093: MasterPieces "Corner Market"
Fastest 0:40:27, Median 1:05:02
# 030: Cobble Hill "Trolley Station"
Fastest 0:54:58, Median 1:07:43
# 068: Cobble Hill "Dachshund 'Round the World"
Fastest 0:44:22, Median 1:08:00
Fast
# 051: Ravensburger "The Music Room"
Fastest 0:47:37, Median 1:09:36
# 104: Springbok "Extraordinary Easter Eggs"
Fastest 0:46:47, Median 1:09:43
# 071: Cobble Hill "Country Truck in Spring"
Fastest 0:44:01, Median 1:10:09
# 039: White Mountain "Family Game Night"
Fastest 0:43:53, Median 1:11:05
# 036: Cobble Hill "Harvest Festival"
Fastest 0:42:23, Median 1:11:30
# 043: Peter Pauper Press "London"
Fastest 0:44:11, Median 1:11:47
# 060: Buffalo Games "America's Main Street"
Fastest 0:46:56, Median 1:13:31
# 080: Cobble Hill "Papel Picado"
Fastest 0:43:11, Median 1:13:51
# 024: Cobble Hill "Origami Animals"
Fastest 0:42:19, Median 1:14:11
# 055: Playful Pastimes "Attic Hideaway"
Fastest 0:52:03, Median 1:14:28
# 031: Ravensburger "Scenic Overlook"
Fastest 0:45:11, Median 1:15:01
# 029: Buffalo Games "The Wild North"
Fastest 0:49:45, Median 1:16:21
# 010: Galison "Vintage Library"
Fastest 0:49:18, Median 1:17:57
# 101: Eurographics "Honey for Sale"
Fastest 0:52:43, Median 1:19:12
# 015: Aquarius "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"
Fastest 0:55:52, Median 1:19:23
# 028: Cobble Hill "Island Paradise"
Fastest 0:58:50, Median 1:22:31
Average
# 006: Ravensburger "Brilliant Balloons"
Fastest 0:53:58, Median 1:25:26
# 018: SunsOut "The Junction Express"
Fastest 0:47:40, Median 1:28:39
# 027: Puzzledly "Geometrical Rainbow"
Fastest 0:57:20, Median 1:30:51
# 023: Springbok "Looney Labels"
Fastest 0:51:58, Median 1:31:02
# 025: Cobble Hill "Apple Pie Kitchen"
Fastest 1:13:06, Median 1:33:50
# 009: Ravensburger "Tropical Waters"
Fastest 0:53:00, Median 1:35:15
# 014: Springbok "Sweet Tooth"
Fastest 1:12:14, Median 1:39:45
# 089: Art & Fable "Tailor"
Fastest 0:53:14, Median 1:39:51
Slow
# 038: Puzzledly "Everything Wavy"
Fastest 1:11:59, Median 1:43:53
# 019: Ravensburger "Typefaces"
Fastest 0:52:56, Median 1:47:59
# 040: Anatolian "Three Owls"
Fastest 1:26:28, Median 2:06:58
# 012: Ravensburger "Rockefeller Christmas"
Fastest 1:14:02, Median 2:08:12
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300 pieces
Super Fast
# 083: Mudpuppy "My Hair, My Crown"
Fastest: 0:21:18, Median 0:31:41
# 079: Buffalo Games "Boo Collage"
Fastest 0:20:16, Median 0:32:17
Fast
# 091: Re-marks "Garden"
Fastest 0:20:40, Median 0:33:58
# 095: Eurographics "Delicious Goodies"
Fastest 0:20:09, Median 0:34:21
# 059: Pomegranate "Gorman Heritage Farm"
Fastest 0:21:59, Median 0:34:42
# 021: Bits and Pieces "Watering Hole"
Fastest 0:26:14, Median 0:34:57
# 063: Ravensburger "Summer at the Lake"
Fastest 0:21:32, Median 0:35:09
# 099: Buffalo Games "Colorful Destinations
Fastest 0:22:12, Median 0:35:29
# 042: White Mountain "Baking"
Fastest 0:26:38, Median 0:36:12
# 046: Galison "Vintage Toy Trains"
Fastest 0:21:01, Median 0:36:32
# 054: White Mountain "Movie Classics"
Fastest 0:26:42, Median 0:38:03
# 067: The Puzzled Co. Acrylic 324-piece "Together"
Fastest 0:25:31, Median 0:38:59
Average
# 033: Ravensburger "Calm Campsite"
Fastest 0:24:44, Median 0:40:24
# 011: Bits and Pieces "Heartfelt Memories
Fastest 0:29:40, Median 0:42:05
# 075: Ravensburger "Mountain Quiltscape"
Fastest 0:30:29, Median 0:42:18
# 087: MasterPieces "Away in a Manger"
Fastest 0:24:39, Median 0:42:25
# 052: Calm "Foggy Mountains"
Fastest 0:24:25, Median 0:43:31
# 071: Ravensburger 200-piece "Cosmic Exploration" (Ages 12 & under)
Fastest 0:34:28, Median 44:48
# 001: Ravensburger "Laundry Day"
Fastest 0:22:53, Median 0:45:12
# 013: Bits and Pieces "Frozen Fun"
Fastest 0:31:22, Median 0:46:23
Slow
# 007: Ravensburger "Big Five Babies"
Fastest 0:29:51, Median 0:47:26
# 103: Galison "Japanese Tea Garden"
Fastest 0:31:30, Median 0:49:06
# 008: Bits and Pieces "Summer Outing"
Fastest 0:31:20, Median 0:50:48
# 016: Ravensburger "Animal Buddies"
Fastest 0:34:34, Median 0:51:15
# 073: Buffalo Games "Mandala Stones"
Fastest 0:29:28, Median 0:52:48
# 021: MicroPuzzles 150-piece each, "MOM" and "1767 John Spilsbury"
Fastest 0:37:48, Median 0:58:48
Super Slow
# 020: Artifact Wooden Puzzles 261-piece "Pooh Sticks"
Fastest 0:28:50, Median 1:00:09
# 057: Artifact Wooden Puzzles 216-piece "Forest Dreams"
Fastest 0:26:52, Median 1:00:21
# 090: Anthology 291-piece "Retro Christmas Fun"
Fastest 0:32:24, Median 1:03:52
# 071: Ravensburger "Pharaoh's Legacy" (Ages 13-17)
Fastest 0:45:09, Median 1:05:38
# 041: Anthology Puzzles Wooden 277-piece "Christmas Joy"
Fastest 0:47:38, Median 1:08:33
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