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.

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.

Wee-gee, like the photographer, is the most common way and no, we won’t get into where it comes from, although oui (yes) + ja (yes) is an old wives’ tale, and those are just a bad as old husbands’ tales. Just be grateful that there’s a way to communicate with another dimension, and that you could own a thing called a planchette. So take this 15" x 10" laminated board and the aforementioned 5-3/4" x 4-1/4" planchette and wait for your nervous system to spell out something. Guaranteed to be even more accurate than a magic eight ball and not to lead to demonic possession. For soothsayers 8 years and older.

It's nice to know that some things don't change. One is the Jacob's Ladder. Still made with (6) slabs of wood, each about 2" x 2" x 1/2", each a bright combination of colors, and all connected by a contrasting ribbon. Hold one end up and let the string of slabs dangle. When you flop the top block end for end, each lower slab in turn will flop end for end. Fascinating. Particularly if you are about 5 to 9 years old.

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.

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.

Before there were video games, people jump-started their synapses with these old-time puzzles. Find out if you’re smarter than your grandparents with this boxed set of (60) brain-teasers. Called Puzzling Obscurities, it has (7) wood/bead puzzles; (3) wire puzzles; and (50) matchstick challenge games with solutions. Play your kids double-or-nothing for their allowances and watch ’em get smarter before your eyes.

Wireless, too. Return with us now to the thrilling games of yesteryear, when children tested the steadiness of their hands and eyes by moving BBs around in hand-held mazes. These are the upgraded versions, where the mazes themselves also move to make you extra-crazy. Our each is (2) maddeningly difficult BB (or dice) maze games, approx 3-1/4” square. Ages 6+.

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®.

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.