The best logic puzzle books out there are the ones that keep us wanting more puzzles, more challenges, and more enjoyment after solving each problem. While the best book may vary from person to person and very well based on puzzle experience – there is a puzzle book for everyone. [Read more…]
Best Sudoku Books – Beginner to Advanced
Depending on your skill level and experience, the best Sudoku books will be different for each puzzler. The perfect puzzle will be challenging but not too hard, and still take you a decent amount of time to get enjoyment out of it. That’s what I think at least. In this Sudoku book review post I’ll cover some really great options for puzzlers ranging from beginner to advanced, and also give you some tips and resources for solving your Sudoku’s.
What to look for in Sudoku books
So what makes a “good” Sudoku book? Let’s go over some characteristics:
- Difficulty – As mentioned briefly above, the best Sudoku books will challenge you and take you a good amount of time but not be overly difficult or too easy. There’s no other way to gauge the difficulty and your experience other than trying out a few puzzles to see where you stand.
- Length – In my opinion, the longer and more puzzles the book contains the better. Bonus points for if it has different difficulty puzzles in the same book so you get some variety and can change up how hard the puzzle you solve is. Also multi-difficulty books are great for books that are in shared households so that everyone has a Sudoku difficulty they can complete.
- Size – Typically as we get older, our vision decays and some may already have vision issues. Some Sudoku puzzles are smaller than others and not very friendly to those with vision problems. If this is an issue for you or whoever you’re buying a Sudoku puzzle for, be kind and buy them a larger book or one that isn’t super-small.
- Price – In a world so dominated by the dollar, how can we forget about price? We always want the best bang for our buck so the more puzzle per dollar the better.
- Materials & Sustainability – Finally we look at the materials the book is made up of, and how those materials were sourced. If you’re concerned with environmental sustainability then you could opt for book options that are conscious of those issues.
Best Sudoku Books Reviews
Sudoku Puzzle Book Volume 1 
(3.5 / 5)
This is one of the standard Sudoku puzzle books that I recommend to anyone with a bit of experience looking to get into solving Sudoku regularly. It has 50 of each difficulty including beginner, novice, moderate, and advanced. My only complaint with this book is that it’s a little bit small and tight for writing anything additional around the puzzle, and reading the puzzles reflects that. Overall a great Sudoku book with 200 puzzles that are fairly difficult for a few bucks.
Huge Book of Hard Sudoku 
(4 / 5)
Next up I have a slightly more difficult 300 puzzle book for you to check out. This is very similar in puzzle amount, and price to the Volume 1 above but the puzzles are a fair bit more difficult. If you feel you’re getting past the more tame puzzles commonly found in the news or simple books, then this would be a great option for you. All of the 300 puzzles in this book are rated “hard” and I found most of them quite enjoying as a novice-intermediate Sudoku solver. I would not recommend this for a fresh beginner.
Must Have 2016 Sudoku Puzzle Book 
(3 / 5)
This option is included on the list for it’s daily challenge appeal. With 366 puzzles it gives you a challenging Sudoku for each day of the year. Will you stay on track of fall behind? This type of book is great for engaging your brain every single day and a great gift. Of course in the end it’s still a book of puzzles so if you don’t do it on the specific day it’s not a great deal. I like this book because of the 5 ranges of difficulty, easy/moderate/nasty/cruel/deadly and it’s larger size. The puzzles are very comfortable on your eyes, and there’s plenty of room for notes and side-work. I would recommend this book for those with experience solving Sudoku’s, or as a gift for the puzzler in your family or friend group.
The Largest Sudoku Book in the History of the Universe (4 / 5)
This book makes the list for pure value. With 5 difficulties ranging from beginner to expert, this 2000 puzzle book gives you insane value with more puzzles per dollar than any other book I’ve found. The difficulties are spread out evenly and a beginner, intermediate, or expert can pick this book up and have fun. I recommend this book for a family of Sudoku solvers, or as a long-lasting gift for a beginner. With plenty of puzzles ready to solve in each category you’ll be Sudoku-ing forever! The font used is a nice size, and this book has a lot of room for solving which is great.
Beyond Black Belt Sudoku 
(5 / 5)
So you think you’re good at puzzles and Sudoku? Try this book and talk to me again. A lot of Sudoku books, including some on this list claim to be difficult but end up not being that hard in the end. The Beyond Black Belt Sudoku book delivers on this front, fantastically. I whole-heartedly agree that this is one of the most challenging Sudoku books ever printed and it definitely will not disappoint. The sizing is not great on this book but sacrifices must be made for top-tier difficulty puzzles, right?
Large Print Sudoku (3.5 / 5)
With a lot of complaints on the size of Sudoku books, numbers, and extra solution-space I’ve included this large print Sudoku book in my list. We also have to accept that as we age, eye-sight diminishes and so does our focus – this makes an excellent option for the older Sudoku-ist or anyone with vision problems. On each 8×10 page in this full-ring book there is just ONE Sudoku puzzle – amazing!!! The difficulty range of these puzzles would be great for someone with a bit of Sudoku experience, but they aren’t too hard to pick up and learn on the go as a beginner.
Sudoku Variants (3.5 / 5)
This is my one fun inclusion on the list, Sudoku variants! So you’ve been doing the same format Sudoku puzzle and you’re looking for a fun new game that uses the similar principles. This book of Sudoku variants has different grid variations, funky shapes, and difficulties for every puzzler. Pick up this book for a fresh style of puzzle that will keep you guessing at every turn of the page. This book is an excellent gift for the un-expecting puzzler in your life who you know loves Sudoku or other paper puzzles.
Sudoku Resources
If you’re into Sudoku or know anyone who is, there certainly isn’t a shortage of Sudoku and number-based puzzle resources out there. Here are some of my favorites:
- Sudoku Wiki
- Resources for Sudoku designers – Great for anyone interested in designing their own puzzles or gaining game-design insights
- Daily online Sudoku – A really great option for solving a Sudoku each day online and having access to reviews, solutions, the whole shebang. You can even design and submit your own puzzles and share them with friends – awesome.
Any who, Sudoku is a really great game and I hope that my reviews of the best Sudoku books will help you pick the right book for you or as a gift for a loved one if that’s your intent. Happy puzzling :)!
Best Hanayama Puzzles to Train Your Mind
Hanayama is a Japanese toy company that was founded in 1972 – they’re famous for their zinc cast disentanglement-style puzzles that come in a range of difficulty levels from 1 to 6.
The best Hanayama puzzles for one person may not be the best puzzles for another, and for that reason I’ve tried to include a variety of difficulty levels in this list of Hanayama puzzles. [Read more…]
What is the Best Pyraminx? Speed Cube Reviews
If you want to know what is the best Pyraminx on the market right now then you probably know what it is, but if not then I’ll do a quick introduction for this fun and exciting twisty puzzle.
The Pyraminx is a tetrahedron puzzle similar to the standard 3×3 Rubik’s cube. It was patented by the same guy who brought you the Megaminx, and Skewb, Uwe Mèffert in 1981. [Read more…]
What is the Best Megaminx? | Speed Cube Reviews
If you’re interested in toying with a Megaminx for the first time, or have a bit of experience and are looking to hit your PB on a solve with a faster turning puzzle, check this list of the best megaminx cubes.
Best Megaminx Reviews
| Megaminx | The Cube | Our Rating | PuzzleDude's Review | Get it here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shengshou Megaminx |  | (3.5 / 5) | Best budget Megaminx | (paid link) |
| Dayan Megaminx |  |  (4.5 / 5) | Best overall Megaminx | (paid link) |
| YJ Moyu Yuhu Megaminx |  | (4.5 / 5) | Best speed competition Megaminx (fastest) | (paid link) |
The Megaminx is a twisty puzzle similar to a Rubik’s cube that has 12 different faces and 50 movable pieces (known as a dodecahedron), so prepare for a challenge as it can take quite a bit longer to solve.
Click to learn how to solve a Megaminx
This puzzle is also known as the Magic Dodecahedron, the Hungarian Supernova, or can be called a Megaminx cube.
What is the best Megaminx?
If you’re an experienced speed cuber, or just looking for a new puzzle to test your mind with then the Megaminx is an excellent option. There’s widespread information available online to help you solve it, and it’s a longer lasting solve than a regular Rubik’s or smaller so it can keep you entertained for longer. So what is the best Megaminx?
This isn’t a super straightforward question as there are a few things to consider when picking the right Megaminx for you. Here’s what you should consider when picking one:
- Budget – Not all Megaminx are made equally, choosing one based on your budget is valid and there are options for both ends of the spectrum.
- Speed! – Just like not every Megaminx is made equally, not every cuber is equal either. Some cubers are faster than others, and some may take their time solving the Megaminx. Some puzzles turn faster than others so this is another important option to consider.
- Stickered or stickerless – A common question when it comes to any type of twisty puzzle… to sticker or not to sticker? That is the question. Some like the look of stickered puzzles and also the puzzles offer a white or black background which can have a cool style. Others like the stickerless appeal because you never have to resticker or worry about it getting dirty or damaged.
- Brand – Hello brand loyalty! If you’re a cuber with brand preferences already, this may outright answer your question for you. You’ll probably see some familiar brands in this list so you know what to expect if you’ve tried out their other cubes.
So now that we have a good idea of some of the options to be aware of when looking at a Megaminx, let’s check out some of the more popular ones!
Megaminx Speed Cube Reviews
Shengshou Megaminx Review (3.5 / 5)
The Shengshou Megaminx is the most budget friendly option on the list, but that doesn’t make it a bad cube. In fact the Shengshou is the first Megaminx I ever got and I still use it to this day. Shengshou cubes aren’t expensive but they’re solid to use after they’re broken in and properly set up. Here’s some more info about the Shengshou Megaminx:
- Costs around $5 (Makes getting into a Megaminx pretty easy)
- Available in white or black with stickers
- Solid option for speed cubing/solving
- Has good forward corner cutting and back cutting
- Doesn’t pop or lock
- 12 Color scheme
- Puzzle Dude’s rating (3.5 / 5) – Best budget Megaminx!
Dayan Megaminx Review (4.5 / 5)
If you’re a cuber, I’m sure you’ve heard of Dayan before as their Zhanchi stickerless cube has been one of the most popular options for a long time. When you buy Dayan, you know what you’re getting and this cube is no exception. If you like stickerless, this is a great middle-of-the-pack price cube with a great color scheme. This Megaminx has a ridged option that makes holding, spinning, and rotating the cube a breeze without obstructing your control. Try it you’ll like it! I think that this is the best overall Megaminx with it’s control, corner cutting, and the ridge option
- Costs $10-15 (Average price for a Megaminx)
- Available in stickerless, or stickerless with ridges, and black stickered with ridges
- Great corner cutting
- Doesn’t pop or lock
- Ridge option is really cool/unique
- 12 Color scheme
- Puzzle Dude’s rating (4.5 / 5) – Best overall Megaminx!!
YJ Moyu Yuhu Megaminx (4.5 / 5)
This right here is the fastest Megaminx on the list, and in my opinion the best Megaminx for the speed cuber out there. It has the best corner cutting, fastest spinning, and it’s the easiest to break in and set up. I also think that it has the most appealing color scheme out of them all if that’s your thing.
- Costs around $15
- Available in stickerless, black stickered, and white stickered
- Great looking 12 color scheme, colors are easily identifiable
- Best corner cutting, and speed out of the box
- Never locks or pops
- Puzzle Dude’s rating (4.5 / 5) – Best Megaminx speed cube !!
Other Megaminx Options
There are other Megaminx out there, but I don’t like to list them off for no apparent reason. I believe that you can find the best Megaminx for you within this list of three with all of their various options. Really it boils down to:
- Are you on a budget? Get the Shengshou. You have black or white stickered options here.
- If you’re not on a budget, are you a speed cuber? If so you can choose between the Dayan or the Moyu, I think that the Moyu is the fastest cube but the Dayan could make you faster with superior control by the ridges.
- If you’re a beginner and not on a budget, I would get the Dayan ridged version as it offers the best control and you won’t out-solve the speed for a while (if ever).
How to Solve a Megaminx
If you’ve never touched a Megaminx before it’s a good idea to move it around on your own for awhile without looking up any algorithms. This gives your mind a chance to grasp the Megaminx solution on its own — it is difficult but possible to solve without looking up how to do it!
But if you’ve already exhausted yourself trying to figure it out and are ready for some help, here are some youtube guides on how to solve a Megaminx depending on your current skill level:
- What is a Megaminx?
- This youtube video will go step by step through solving a megaminx with the algorithms to take you from the first to last layer.
- If you’re already familiar with the solve and would like to learn more about how to speed solve a megaminx you can check out this video.
- Megaminx tutorial with algorithms and videos – Great resource for recognizing the Megaminx patterns
Cool Megaminx Facts
You’ve made it this far! Here are some cool Megaminx facts you might not know, I certainly didn’t know them before researching.
- It was designed by Uwe Mèffert. He also designed the Skewb.
- There are two options of the Megaminx, 6 color or 12 color. The 12 color is preferred due to less chance for a parity in the solution (otherwise identical pieces in the wrong spot).
- The number of combinations of this puzzle is…
100 669 616 553 523 347 122 516 032 313 645 505 168 688 116 411 019 768 627 200 000 000 000
- Roughly 101 unvigintillion, whatever that means.
- The current Megaminx world record solve is in 29.93 seconds by Juan Pablo Huanqui of Peru in the LatAm Tour – Santiago 2017 competition.
- The world record for 5 average solve is 35.15s set by Juan Pablo Huanqui in the same competition as well.
Megaminx Variations
Just like the Rubik’s cube (3x3x3) has variations like the 4x4x4, 5x5x5, 6x6x6 etc. there are Megaminx variations. The Megaminx is the base size with additional layers, here are the others:
- Kilominx (2 different layers)
- Master Kilominx (4)
- Gigaminx (5)
- Teraminx (7)
- Petaminx (9)
- Zetaminx (13)
- Yottaminx (15) – this thing costs like $4000!
Anywho fellow Puzzlers, I hope you enjoyed reading this guide to getting the best Megaminx for you as much as I enjoyed writing it. The Megaminx really is a great puzzle that you can get for not much more than a regular 3×3 cube so snatch it up and have some fun!
Share your favorite Megaminx below 🙂