Secret/ Puzzle Boxes

[KittyConCarne]

Please can anybody recommend any decent puzzle toys/ boxes/ code-cracking type things - stocking fillers up to decent money (like £50 tops lol).

My brother's had a rough year, and I'd really like to see him smile and get to act his old childish self, all excited for a bit.

He absolutely loves puzzle boxes that take a bit of thinking to get into- our mum had a beautiful wooden box from China that you had to slide certain ornate panels in a precise secret pattern to enable the box lid to open.

I managed to pick up a simple crate that has a secret drawer last year and he loved it.

This year I'd like to find as many small puzzle type things- mini rubix/ those cubey snake things I remember that you could infinitely move/ maybe key stones that hid a key in your rockery? Or those fake Heinz tins with a screw off lid?

So I'd like to get a treasure trove of lots of lovely little things (up to maybe £40 in total), and then once he's solved all those puzzles, I'll think of a final way that it releases a key to a final box.

This box is an ornate box that belonged to our Dad who passed last Xmas, that I know will mean a lot for my brother to be given, and it's a great size to put a nice card & message & a final present that's a nice UGears puzzle or something special/ pricy but something he'd want to display etc.

So any ideas or links would to escape room/ puzzle/ boxes/ secret stash items ect would be brilliant please!

No recommendations, I'm afraid, but I just wanted to say this is a lovely thoughtful gift. I hope you get some good tips on here!

Thanks LambChopsMcGee
It's secretly a little bit selfish on my part...feeling bit down recently and now realised apprehensive about our 1st Xmas post Dad rah lol...and looking for a nice hunting/ stalking the perfect gift to concentrate my brain on something fun and productive- my brother's brilliant and I love him even when he's an idiot (that's often lol)

Is this the sort of thing you’re after? www.happypuzzle.co.uk/family-puzzles-and-games/brainteasers/set-of-two-sherlock-holmes-puzzles

www.amazon.co.uk/Constantin-C5061-Puzzle-Natural/dp/B07BR236FB?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Sorry I don't know any but that's a very thoughtful gift. How lovely of you op!

The Huzzle puzzles are supposed to be very good. There's quite a few on Amazon.

Lovely idea for a gift OP

Huzzle puzzles are great. Usually around £12

Journal 29 is interactive puzzle book which is supposed to be really good.

Try Etsy. There are a few people selling handmade wooden rope and ring type puzzles on there, so there might be some compartment type ones too.

Following with interest. There's a series of games for Android that are mainly puzzle boxes, called The Room, which might be a good present for such a person.

They do Rubik's Magic knock offs on eBay, or they did a couple of years ago.

Cluckycluck Thanks for the Journal29 recommendation, that looks fun.

For the small puzzle things try Home Bargains, they have Rubik's cubes, a junior one in the shape of a bear, those puzzles you have to release untangled metal shapes from each other etc.

Or, what about a jigsaw? You could make it up and write a message/clue on the back, doesn't have to be a difficult one just a cheap kids one

It's a lovely idea, you sound like a brilliant sister.
The first Christmas without your parent is hard, I'm sorry 💐

Ebay has a number of Japanese puzzle boxes. We have some Karakuri Japanese Puzzle Boxes. I love the plain/undecorated ones. The maker of ours has retired unfortunately.

A large 6 move one makes a great jewellery box :)

But if you want a proper one, look for something with over 30 moves. Make sure it has written instructions though. Once you have learnt the moves though it is so therapeutic