ROSA GAMES / JOURNAL
Logic puzzles: numbers, matching and rearrangement
The word puzzle covers several different activities. To find one you enjoy, look at the kind of decision that leads towards a solution.
Numbers and constraints
A numerical puzzle is often about permitted values rather than arithmetic. Sudoku rules out repetitions; 2048 combines equal values while managing space. Similar visual ingredients can create very different decisions.
Matching and accessibility
Matching puzzles ask you to recognise pairs, sometimes with extra restrictions. In Mahjong Solitaire, matching pictures are not enough: both tiles must be free. Look at a symbol and at the neighbours that affect access to it.
Moving objects
Rearrangement puzzles build a solution from successive moves. Ask which space needs to be freed rather than simply which object can move now. To change the kind of thinking involved, try a different mechanic instead of only increasing the difficulty.