NOVELTIES

This puzzle’s in our pocket, and yes, we’re excited to see it. You will be, too, because it will help you finally memorize the symbols for all of the lanthanides and actinides. Imagine a very detailed, full-color periodic table composed of (150) pieces, each of which would just about cover the thumbnail of an adult copywriter. Assembled, it’ll measure approx 6" x 4". Also comes with a 4-1/2" x 3-1/8" periodic table chart, and it all travels nicely in a clear 6” x 1” tube with a screwcap.

Imagine a game app, but in wood. Measures 6” x 3-1/4” x 3/8”, like an iPhone 6-Plus, but you never have to charge it and there’s no glass to break. Has (42) colorful geometric shapes in a wooden frame, and all you have to do is take the shapes out and try to fit them back in again, which is harder than it sounds, but that’s what puzzles are for.

Poker gets art-directed. Our each is a stack of (100) stackable poker chips, none of them red, green or yellow. You’ll get (25) each in maroon and midnight blue, plus (50) in a nice pale gray. Makes you want to dress a little better on game night.

A culinary version of poker dice for a new generation. These dice games come in replicas of standard spice bottles. The Coffee Break game, for 2-4 players comes with (5) dice with coffee symbols and (40) little coffee beans to keep score of who can shout out a coffee order first; the Sugar Cubes game, for 2-6 players, has (8) dice and an hourglass timer, the object being to make the longest sentence in 20 seconds or less. More fun than this sounds like, actually. We’ll pick one because we know best.

Yes, boys and girls, Fluxx, the card game with the rules that keep changing, now adds the Doctor (Who?) version, and they were made for each other. Includes, of course, plenty of time-travel and regenerations of the Doctor, K9, and Gallifreyan technology, but beware of Cybermen, Daleks, Weeping Angels and the Master. Includes the standard 100-card deck, and instructions for 2-6 players ages 8+.

Fluxx, the card game with the rules that keeps changing, is now available in an anatomical version, with (100) cards depicting bones, blood vessels, brains, hearts, lungs--all of your favorite organs and more. For ages 12+ and especially for medical and nursing students.

Then you might love these Pentomino and Tangram wooden STEM puzzles, or they might drive you mad. You pick the (12)-piece that fits in a 2-3/4” square and will reconfigure into (40) combinations, including a giraffe, elephant and butterfly; or the simple-appearing (7)-piece, also 2-3/4” square, that has (40) solutions including a swan, rabbit and dancing man. To save you from madness, they come with challenge cards that include solutions.

New Sudokun hope for the English major or art student in your life. This clever, non-numeric Sudoku puzzle uses colors instead of numbers on the (9) 2” cubes with 1/2” squares. Position them in the tray so that no two colors are adjacent, and you win. Has two trillion (2,000,000,000,000) combinations and over 500,000 solutions. For ages 8 to adult, but frankly we don’t know why. From ThinkFun®.

We had some great games back when TV was black-and-white, but now that it’s in color the venerable Pressman® toy company has updated those games in their Then & Now series. In one set you’ll get (30) wooden Pick-Up Sticks and (30) of the more modern plastic, bent Squiggle Sticks™, all in assorted colors. In the other set you’ll get (20) plastic, assorted-color Tiddly Winks at 7/8" dia and 5/8" dia, and (4) pieces of launching felt; and (20) glittery winks, which are part of the Cat-A-Winks™ game, in which you launch winks using the (4) included catapults instead of your fingers. All winks fly into a 2-3/8” dia bowl, included. Ages 6+.

Numerate, are you? Find out with these Ninja Assassin Sudoku books of (248) puzzles--(2) per page, plus solutions--in 176-page paperbacks. You pick the White Belt (entry-level to medium), Yellow Belt (easy to easy-medium), or Green Belt (easy-medium to hard-medium). By Frank Longo from Puzzle Wright Press. Best part is you can ignore the $6.95 cover price.

A "Beam-Bending logic game," The Laser Maze™ is from the same madmen who created laser chess. You get a 25-position game-board with (5) target mirrors, (2) beam splitters, a double mirror and a cell blocker. Includes (60) challenge cards with puzzle solutions and a symbols key card, plus instructions. Fosters strategic thinking, problem-solving and logic. For ages 8 to adult--basically anyone who likes to watch beams bounce around trying to hit a target. Runs on (2) button-cell batteries, included.

Think playing  cards for the Fourth of July poker game. This double deck of standard-sized cards, in a plastic case, is from Hoyle, the company that literally wrote the rule book. Features a waving flag on the back of one deck, and the Statue of Liberty on the other. Bonus: the wackiest-looking joker we’ve seen since Jack Nicholson.

Fluxx®, the card game with rules that change while you play, has gone chemical. Cards feature your favorite elements, released from their table at last, plus sundry lab items. Includes our new favorite rule: draw the Helium card and you must speak in a falsetto voice. Ages 12+.

Big Peanuts® puzzles, 2-ft x 3-ft, with (48) big, thick pieces for easy handling by little fingers. Particularly nice depictions of the characters, with some perspective. We’ll pick a puzzle from the group, which includes: Snoopy as a flying ace; Woodstock and bird buddies; Franklin; Lucy; Linus; Peppermint Patty; Marcy; and Sally. For ages 5+.

One thousand pieces these puzzles have. From the Star Wars Collectors Edition they are and inches 12-1/2 X 15 when finished they will measure. The Mandalorian, a Storm Trooper, Finn and Darth Vader the completed pictures are of, and two different puzzles will you get for your earth money. For Jedis, padawans and smarter droids are they suitable and at twice the price bargains they would be.

Note: We only have Finn and Stormtroopers remaining.

What if you crossed Boris Spassky with Han Solo? Checkmate with a beam of light. This is the former KHET 2.0, now updated to a space chess theme. Includes (26) game pieces, including kings, switches, defenders, deflectors and lasers, all on an 8 x 10 grid game board that measures 12” x 9-3/4”. Features (5) distinct board set-ups, and is a two-player game for ages 8+. Trust us--it’s a blast. Includes replaceable button-cell batteries, too.

That’s probably what’s causing that wobbly feeling in your stomach. Also, evidenced by this Star Trek™ Fluxx® card game, the game that keeps changing while you play. Comes with (100) cards featuring Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest of the original crew battling Romulans and Klingons. For 2-6 players, ages 8+. Imported especially for us by the Ferengi.

Put an arcade in your pocket with this tiny pinball game. Has (3) teensy BBs, a plunger, spinners, ledges and variable point scores, all in a 3-3/8” x 2-1/4” x 3/8” thick plastic housing. We’ll pick two different with a jungle hunt, Indy 500, space race or cowboy theme because we’ve played ’em all, from Soho down to Brighton.