Puzzles have been passed down from Grandfathers and Fathers for hundreds of years; this Father's Day, we hope to help you start a fun tradition at home with a mechanical puzzle from Kubiya. Building or solving a puzzle with Dad is a great way to bond, especially for the Father who likes projects he can make with his hands. It’s difficult these days to find gift ideas that are unique, fun, and something that a Dad would actually use. A wooden, expertly crafted puzzle or game is the perfect gift for many reasons:
- Relaxation: solving a puzzle is a great activity to keep your brain distracted from the stress of everyday life.
- A New Hobby: Is Dad struggling to find a new hobby? Get him a mechanical puzzle! Chances are he’ll be hooked; then, you always have an endless supply of ideas for someone who might be tough to shop for otherwise.
- A Chance to Bond: We only get one Dad, and puzzles are a fun activity the two of you can do competitively, casually, and most importantly, together. Even from different states or countries, a mutual love of puzzling could be a great way to develop a closer bond with your Father.
- Unique: It’s very unlikely that someone else would think to buy him the same exact puzzle!
We’ve selected some great choices that we think Dads in particular will love, but feel free to browse the website as well if you’re stuck deciding.
Steuerrad Puzzle Box – Sequential Puzzle
This puzzle is a new release from Kubiya, and a great choice for a Dad who needs a challenge. Maybe he’s found some other puzzles to be too easy? Well, this may be one of the hardest sequential maze puzzles in the world. The challenge is the open the box, and it won’t be easy. Creative, outside the box thinking is a must for solving this puzzle. You might even tuck a special surprise inside of the box for when he solves it!
The Thinker Subscription Puzzle Box – For Masters
I love this option for a Father’s Day gift, because the Kubiya subscription puzzle boxes are a gift that keeps on giving for a full year! Sure, it may be a bit more of an investment, but it’s worth getting the subscription if you want your Father to have new puzzles to look forward to each month. There’s a 3-month, 6-month, and full year option to choose from. At the beginning of each month, he’ll receive a special package containing mechanical puzzles that we believe are worthy enough to be in any collection. Getting a subscription is a great way to introduce somebody to the world of puzzles, or as a way for veteran puzzle fans to stay current with the latest puzzling trends.
Japanese 10-Step Secret Puzzle Box – Himitsu Bako
These boxes are gorgeous, with multiple wood grain colors inlaid into the surface. There is no paint, just fine craftsmanship to make the wood colors stand out. The goal is to slide the pieces of wood around until the box is able to be opened, and there are 10 steps before you can get inside. Any Dad who likes to work with his hands will appreciate the time and effort that goes into making these historical pieces of art. Japanese puzzle boxes are a combination of a fun puzzle, a gorgeous cultural aesthetic, and a practical box that can be put to use. Maybe you could place candy inside, or a special note for when he misses you? Better yet, place an original, special secret of your own inside and wait for him to solve it!
Don’t Break It – Wine Bottle Puzzle
This puzzle is clearly for adults because of the boozy theme, and we recommend it for any Dad because of the unique social aspect. Not only is the puzzle challenging, but it can be played as a party game, or given as a gag gift. The goal is to free the bottle of your choosing from the tangle of strings so that the lid comes off. This could be a unique way to give your Father a bottle of his favorite wine/liquor, or a fun game to have out at parties while family friends try to free the bottle!
12 Puzzle Gift Set – Wooden Brain Teasers
This set is the perfect recommendation for Dads who can’t make up their minds, because it gives a taste of everything – with a gorgeous box to store them away. The 12-Set is great for all ages and skill levels, meaning it could definitely be shared among the family. Dad would love having these puzzles laid out on the coffee table to entertain guests who might drop by. The collection contains 12 of our most popular puzzles, with varying difficulty levels and puzzle types. If he gets too frustrated with one puzzle, just pick up another!
Nine Men’s Morris – Strategy Game
This English game reaches back to antiquity - evidence has been found for the game in ancient Rome and maybe even Ancient Egypt. More recently, references in the works of Shakespeare have given it the reputation of the archetypal medieval board game. In other words, a classic! Dad will appreciate the story behind this game, and it's a great game for travel because of the compact wooden box that it comes in. Like most universally loved games, the rules are simple: capture the opposing player's pieces by forming lines of 3. The opposing player "loses" a playing piece each time that a set of 3 is completed. I'd rank this game in the category of "easy to learn, tough to master," which makes it great for all skill levels, and perfect for a new game that Dad will enjoy getting better and better at.
Barricade Board Game – For the Family
This game beautifully captures the essence of a great strategy game, and any Dads out there who are addicted to the history channel will love the themes of war tactics that are used. Basically, each player (2 to 4 players total) is racing to get any of their own pieces to the end of the board before the other, navigating barricade pegs that are placed at strategic locations on the board. If you land on another player's game piece, you send them back to the start! Landing on a barricade also gives the player the option to move the barricade in another position to try blocking the other player. We highly recommend this game because of its uniqueness, strategy, and the ability to be shared with the whole family! And, chances are you probably don't already own it! Many people who had never heard of Barricade are now die-hard fans and swear by its enduring status as a classic game.
Among all these choices, a great Father is really the best gift out there. Move up a whole new level this year with a quality mechanical puzzle and give something back to Dad. He deserves it! We hope this selection of puzzles piqued your interest, and that you keep Kubiya in mind when you’re out shopping for Father’s Day. Who knows – maybe you’ll start a new family tradition? This year and all years, we celebrate the hard-working Dads and father figures out there who deserve a little peace and relaxation.
Happy Father’s Day to all, a big cheers to Dad, and keep on puzzling!