What Is a Mechanical Puzzle? Parts, Kinds and Why They Get Hard
A mechanical puzzle is an object you solve by moving or fitting its parts. Its parts, kinds, rules and why half of a sliding tray's positions are unreachable.
Riddle10 blog
Articles about sliding puzzles
Types of Mechanical Puzzles: Slide, Jump, Pack, Cut, Match, Twist
The six types of mechanical puzzles, sorted by what your hands do: slide, jump, pack, cut and rearrange, colour-match and twist, with how to start each.
What Makes a Puzzle Hard? Search, Outcomes and Hidden Rules
Four things make a puzzle hard: a huge search, tests that reveal little, long solutions and hidden constraints. What the research shows for each.
How to Solve a Sliding Tile Puzzle, Step by Step
Top row first, then the left column, then repeat. A clear method for the 8-puzzle, the 15-puzzle and larger trays, with the trick for the last two tiles.