Look, I’m a homebody and I live in the Midwest — of course I do puzzles. I probably complete a few each year, mostly in the winter when it’s time to hibernate. They help with anxiety and they’re just a cozy, fun thing to do.
In the past few years, I’ve only bought one brand of puzzle: Magic Puzzle Company. I love that they’re all original artwork, and they’re eye-catching and a little bit silly, kind of like a Where’s Waldo book. I’ve ended up collecting almost all the puzzles the company has made, which is about a dozen so far.
There are still a couple I haven’t gotten yet, though, and I’m ordering them ASAP because they’re currently half price for Black Friday. That’s the cheapest I’ve ever seen them, by far. If you’re buying a gift for a puzzle enthusiast, or you want one yourself, now’s the time to get one of these Magic Puzzles that all have a clever twist at the end.
What’s So ‘Magic’ About These Puzzles?
Just when you think you’ve completed a Magic Puzzle, there’s actually more puzzle to do.
Each puzzle comes in two paper bags, and one is clearly marked “do not open” until the main puzzle is complete. Once it’s done, you actually shift blocks of completed puzzle around, creating a new hole in the middle when you’ll fill in the remaining puzzle with the pieces in the second paper bag.
The picture tells a story, and you only get the very ending of the story once you shift things around to finish the puzzle completely, making for a more interactive and dynamic experience than most puzzles.
How Many Pieces Is It?
Each Magic Puzzle is 1,000 pieces. They take me and my puzzle partner a week or two to complete if we work a little bit each day. If you’re a pro puzzler (which we are not), you could probably finish it in eight hours or less. They’re definitely on the fun side of things for adults, and less on the pull-your-hair-out difficult side.
A really cool feature of these puzzles is that some of the pieces are shaped in clever ways. A piece that has a grilling sausage on it, for example, is shaped like a cartoon sausage. There are many adorable examples like this in each puzzle.
Are They Good for Kids?
Magic Puzzles are great for older kids, probably 10 and up. They can be a little more of a challenge to put together than a standard 1,000-piece puzzle, but a determined kid could do it.
The pictures are fantastic for kids, but also keep adults occupied and looking at something new for hours. Each puzzle also comes with a hide-and-seek type list of Easter eggs to find in the picture, like 8 dinosaur bones or 11 gemstones. Once you’ve put the puzzle together, there’s still more to explore.
Where Can I Get Them for Half Price?
Magic Puzzle Company puzzles are sold on Amazon and at Target, and both have some of them marked at 50% off right now.
Target carries them in-store and online, giving you some options for shopping if you don’t want to ship them. They’re currently $12.50 each, which is a real steal for a high quality game.
On Amazon, only one of the most recent puzzles is half price. The Awakened Artifacts (with a natural history museum theme) is currently $12.49 with free shipping for orders over $35 or for Prime members.
If you’re on the fence about getting one, you don’t have to take just my word for it. Magic Puzzles have a following, and Redditors in r/Jigsawpuzzles are thrilled about this deal. “Holy heck, what a steal!” said one Redditor. “For the deal conscious especially this is great… Got all the ones I’ve been wanting save one.”
More Black Friday Deals on Cheapism
- 8 Retailers Offering the Biggest Discounts on Black Friday This Year — A new report aims to help shoppers find retailers offering the most significant Black Friday discounts.
- 15 Early Black Friday Finds at Costco You Don’t Want to Miss — From blenders to home security, here are some deals that we thought are worth grabbing.
- Amazon’s Black Friday Starts Early: 8 Deals That Are Actually Worth the Fuss — We sifted through what’s available to bring you the Amazon Black Friday deals that are worth checking out.
