Faced with the power and freedom of extra time at home, I’m always pursuing new ways to keep my brain and body active. Naturally, I seek refuge in my hobbies – little islands of calm in an ocean of chaos. Puzzles and games in particular have given me power to construct real works of art, stretch parts of my brain that had previously been collecting cob webs, and work steadily towards an end goal that I can take pride in. Lately, the most convenient and safest way to turn my ache for new hobbies into a lived reality is the Kubiya subscription puzzle box.
At the beginning of each month, Kubiya Games sends many customers a special package containing mechanical puzzles that we know are worthy enough to be in their collections. You can choose the 3-month, 6-month or 12-month subscription, and each option guarantees a thrilling ride into the puzzle world! Pre-requisites are simple and few: outside the box thinking and a true love of puzzling.
A Puzzle for EVERYONE
We don’t discriminate here at Kubiya; fun and learning should be accessible to all people, no matter what your relationship to puzzles or games may be. There are three levels of subscriptions to the puzzle boxes: The Player for beginners, The Explorer for experts, and The Thinker for masters. Each box comes with one or two mechanical puzzles—think mazes, locks, and cubes—along with a mini keychain puzzle, step-by-step solutions, and a sticker. You don’t have to commit upfront, and you can cancel or change your plan at any time. If you’re wondering which box might be the right choice for you, take a look:
The Player
This is the perfect box for beginners. Let’s face it, hobbies should not be stressful, and free time is precious. Kubiya has already done the work of selecting a wide variety of puzzles best suited for those looking to break their way into the world of puzzles. As the most universally appealing subscription offered, these selections will be perfect for anyone ages 7 and up, with puzzles averaging out to a difficulty of 3 (out of 5).
The Explorer
This option is an intermediate/expert level box that will offer puzzles at a medium level of challenge for the enthusiastic puzzler. If you’re not sure exactly where your skill level will be, but would like a bit of everything, this is a great choice for people looking to explore (well, of course!) the world of puzzles but who are not quite ready for the behemoth of a challenge that the tip-top level of puzzles presents.
The Thinker
Can you complete a Rubik’s Cube in record time? Laugh in the face of 2,000-piece puzzles? The Thinker Box is for “Masters,” meaning this is not your grandpa’s old wooden puzzle box (or maybe it is, if he was a savage puzzler). These puzzles are level 4-5 (out of 5) challenges made for the most committed players, chosen from Kubiya Games’ most popular wooden mechanical puzzles. I can tell you from personal experience that the difficulty is not exaggerated. At all. Brace yourself for some invigorating, deliciously maddening head scratchers.
Expand Your Mind, Don’t Sacrifice the Fun
These are weird times. Maintaining a positive outlook in 2021 means more than a bubbly temperament. Being a strong-willed thinker with hope for the future requires confidence in your actions, as well as the ability to self-supervise. Engineering and software companies (to name only a few!) are using literal mechanical puzzles and logic problems to weed out who among us is able to internalize this mentality of independent problem-solving. Teaching ourselves (and the youth!) to think critically and approach problems from unique angles in three dimensions, we are building the next generation of strong leaders and listeners who will work well with others because they are sure of their own skillsets.
Finally - alongside the academic perks of the individual puzzles themselves – it’s worth noting that the subscription box format is hot right now. Facts are facts, the sky is blue, and 2 + 2 makes 4. Monthly subscriptions are selling well for tangible reasons; people from all walks of life enjoy the suspense of looking forward to each month’s package and wondering what it might contain. Waiting for that shipment each month – not knowing what mysteries lie beneath the packaging but knowing the fun of a new puzzle is imminent – gives a special kind of adrenaline rush. And, buying the puzzles in subscription box format saves our subscribers about 20% of what they would normally pay through direct purchase! So, don’t fight the tide, why not treat yourself to a monthly birthday present? Time is relative, and standard gifting rules need not apply!
Thank you (yes, you) for reading, and please check out the links above if you’re feeling inspired. Then, feel free to browse the amazing Kubiya collection for a vast selection of trendy games and puzzles.
Most importantly - stay safe and healthy, and keep puzzling!