Sarah M.
Denver, CO
Puzzling Panthers
My kitchen table
Grew up doing puzzles with my grandma
Solving a 1,000-piece puzzle of Venice in one weekend
The friendly competition and great beer
Landscapes
200+
5
$100
Divide and conquer: one person on edges, one sorting colors, one assembling sections.
43 minutes – a puzzle of a sunflower field
Tony R.
Atlanta, GA
Piece Keepers
Local coffee shop
Bought a puzzle during quarantine, and I got hooked.
Winning our first Puzzle Buzz event with 10 seconds to spare
The energy in the room and meeting other puzzling fans
Abstract art
50ish
3
$50
We sort pieces by color immediately and communicate constantly to avoid duplicating efforts.
37 minutes – a puzzle of city skyscrapers
Melissa D.
Austin, TX
Puzzle Pirates
Outdoors on a picnic blanket
My best friend introduced me to puzzling in college.
Completing a puzzle of a world map with my dad—it took weeks!
Trying different strategies each time and the team vibe
Maps and geography
100+
4
$75
Everyone claims a section of the puzzle; one person manages the edges while the others focus on the interior.
52 minutes – a puzzle of a tropical beach
Jamie L.
Charleston, SC
Edge Hunters
A brewery with friends
Stumbled into a Puzzle Buzz event and got hooked!
Solving a puzzle upside-down as a challenge at an event
The adrenaline rush and celebrating our team’s progress
Animals
30
2
$25
We rotate roles halfway through the event to keep it fresh—edges first, then details.
48 minutes – a puzzle of a jungle safari
Kevin T.
Pittsburgh, PA
Puzzle Sharks
Living room floor
Always loved puzzles as a kid, picked it back up recently
Finishing my first 2,000-piece puzzle solo during a snowstorm
Seeing how competitive my friends get—it’s hilarious
Nature scenes
75
3
$75
We start by building the edges together, then divide into quadrants for efficiency.
45 minutes – a puzzle of a mountain landscape
Amanda C.
Mobile, AL
Piece Pros
My office desk
Started as a way to unwind after work
Hosting a puzzle night for my birthday—it became a tradition
The relaxed vibe and friendly competition
Food puzzles
40
2
$30
One person focuses entirely on sorting, while the others piece together sections.
50 minutes – a puzzle of a giant pizza slice
Ryan S.
Austin, TX
Puzzle Hustlers
At the brewery
Joined a puzzle event at Zilker Brewing by chance
Winning a $100 prize at our first Puzzle Buzz event
The blend of socializing and competition
Vintage travel posters
60
4
$100
We alternate roles and work in pairs, always double-checking progress as we go.
41 minutes – a puzzle of Paris landmarks
Laura G.
New Orleans, LA
The Puzzle Posse
A cozy corner in my living room
A neighbor gifted me a puzzle during a rainy weekend
Completing a glow-in-the-dark puzzle with my nieces—it was magical
Meeting people from all walks of life who love puzzles too
Glow-in-the-dark
90
5
$50
We work in sections, assigning roles based on our strengths, and cheer each other on nonstop.
47 minutes – a puzzle of a haunted house
Ethan W.
Charleston, SC
Jigsaw Jammers
At the park on a picnic table
Saw a speed puzzling video online and thought, “I could do that!”
Setting a personal record with my team at Indigo Reef Brewing
Testing our speed and laughing at all the team banter
Animals
100+
6
$75
We use a “divide and conquer” approach, one person tackling edges, others focusing on large color blocks like sky or grass.
39 minutes – a puzzle of a lion in the savannah