Mechanical Puzzle Classification

by Jerry Slocum

Used with permission

Mechanical Puzzle Types (Example name is bold)

1. Put -Together Puzzles-Putting the object together is the puzzle.



1. 2 Dimensional assembly puzzles ( Tangrams, Anchor, T, jigsaw,etc.)
2. 3 Dimensional assembly puzzles -Non-Interlocking (Soma,etc.)
3. Miscellaneous put-together-(Instant Insanity, puzzle rings, etc.)
4. Matchstick puzzles
2. Take -Apart Puzzles-Taking the object apart or open is the puzzle.
1. Trick or secret opening puzzles -(Puzzle boxes, etc.)
2. Secret compartment puzzles (Slopes, coins, etc.)
3. Trick locks & keys
4. Trick matchboxes (matchsafes )
5. Trick knives
3. Interlocking Solid Puzzles-Disassembly & assembly to solve puzzle.
1. Figural (Animals, objects, etc.)
2. Geometric objects (Cube, etc. )
3. 3-D jigsaw puzzles
4. Burr puzzles
5. Keychain puzzles
6. Miscellaneous interlocking solid puzzles
4. Disentanglement Puzzles-Disentanglement & entanglement to solve puzzle.
1. Cast Iron & sheet metal puzzles
2. Wire puzzles (Chinese Rings, etc.)
3. String puzzles ( Non-rigid disentanglement )
4. Miscellaneous disentanglement puzzles
5. Sequential Movement Puzzles-Moving parts of object to a goal is the puzzle.
1. Solitaire puzzles (Remove pegs, counters, etc. by jumping )
2. Counter puzzles (Rearrange counters, pegs, etc. by jumping )
3. Sliding piece puzzles (2D & 3D )
4. Rotating piece puzzles (3D-Rubik’s cube ,etc. )
5. Maze & route puzzles
6. Miscellaneous sequential movement puzzles (Tower of Hanoi, etc.)
7. Mazes and Labyrinths for People
6. Dexterity Puzzles-Manual dexterity is primary to solve puzzle .
1. Throw & catch (Cup & ball, etc. )
2. Rolling ball puzzles
3. Maze dexterity puzzles
4. Miscellaneous dexterity puzzles
7.  Puzzle Vessels – Drinking without spilling, or filling a vessel is the puzzle.
   (Puzzle Jugs, Bottom fill wine & tea pots, Pitchers, etc. )
8. Vanish Puzzles – The puzzle is to explain a vanished or changed image.
   (Loyd’s Get Off the Earth, etc.)
9. Folding Puzzles – The puzzle is to fold a paper or hinged object, to form a specifi ed pattern. (2D & 3D)
   (Fifth Pig Puzzle, etc.)
10. Impossible Puzzles – The puzzle is to explain how an object was made or why it behaves in a seemingly impossible way. (Arrow thru bottle, celt, etc.)