This totally amazing set of 24 octagonal tiles with all combinations of 3 colors on their edges has millions of solutions! Or only 2, or 8, depending on what you attempt. Notice how the centers are sometimes squares, sometimes diamonds. Such mixed solutions are much more challenging. Many ways to match edges: single edges, double-color edges, hybrids, even corners. A huge repertoire of cool figures will keep you enthralled, plus rules for two games of space ships on rescue missions — Space Tow^TM and Space Crossing^TM — played on a 3-part sectional engraved vinyl game grid. All acrylic tiles, hand-inlaid in your choice of colors, in white or black 14" frame. Easel and felt slipcase included. For 1 and 2 players, ages 8 to adult.$125

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This little brother to Multimatch II has just 9 corner-colored square tiles, each different. Surprisingly, the four colors are unequally distributed. This oddity allows successful solutions for both matching (just 2 solutions) and non-matching challenges (hundreds of solutions). In the non-matching design at left, each color has diagonal symmetry (tilt your head to the left to see). Many such neat and tricky patterns are possible. The booklet lists an unsolved challenge of forming 16 dominoes...that solution has now been found! In 5½" acrylic tray. Color mix may vary. For 1 player, ages 8 to adult. $32

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This very attractive filigree form of MiniMatch is even solvable by touch alone. Between matching and non-matching of the cut-out shapes, it offers plenty of easy and hard challenges. Six tiles have four different cut-outs, each in a different order. Three tiles have a duplicate shape in opposite corners. One of the four shapes has no duplicate, and therein lies the befuddlement. 5½" acrylic tray. For 1 or 2 players, ages 8 to adult, though younger kids enjoy just improvising with the pretty tiles. $21

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On Games 100 list for 2004, runner-up in Puzzles category. This enchanting set was designed and developed entirely by trans-Atlantic email between Mike Roberts and Kate Jones. The ideas and messages grew and flew feverishly for months, and at last we stopped at 101 beautiful and challenging figures formed by matching the boat-shaped tiles by color. The 36 tiles comprise all the ways 6 colors can be paired. Here's a sample tile. They're so nice to handle, all smooth and hand-inlaid acrylic in rainbow color mix. The 13 islands in the 11" tray are fixed in place. Outside the tray 100 other exquisite lattices await. Several competitive games are included. With display stand. For 1 to 4 players, ages 8 to adult.$85

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Sjaak designed these originally as a set of 12 jumbo-size wood coasters. The "coasters" were all symmetrical, all different permutations of curvy peaks on the outside or inside of a hexagon's edges. To make it a complete set, we added one more shape — the only non-symmetrical tile — and gave it its own color among the other three glowing transparent autumn hues. All acrylic, with display stand. The lovely 3-fold symmetry of the 11" tray was solved by Sjaak. Many other figures and color patterns make this a joyful puzzle to explore, a beautiful challenge for 1 or more players, ages 10 to adult. $59

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Beyond a doubt, Tri-Jazz is one of our most exquisite art pieces. Each tile is a parallelogram, both left and right tilt, made up of 3 kinds of triangles:  equilateral, isosceles, and a right triangle that is the size of the first two combined. The 54 tiles are hand-inlaid with every combination of three colors. Here's a sample tile. Three-fold symmetries, with both colormatching and non-matching, are so gorgeous that you won't mind the effort to coax them into existence. Countless patterns are waiting to be explored, both in and outside the 18" tray. You may request your preferred colors, frosted finish recommended, in white or black tray. Please see our palette of available colors. All acrylic, with display stand. For 1 or more players, ages 12 to adult. $275 (plus $15 oversize shipping surcharge)

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Originally designed for Kadon's 25th anniversary in 2005, the earliest sets had silver paths on black tiles. Based on the dissection of a pentagon, each arc is 72 degrees. The paths connect any of five points on one edge to any of five points on the other edge, an elegant 25-fold permutation. Five arcs can form a ring, and the whole set can make five separate 4" rings, with neatly matched paths. Or combine 15 arcs into a larger closed loop, or the full 25 into the largest closed loop (see also contest question at left). Lasercut acrylic, handpainted paths, with four little screens to hide your tiles when playing the game, all in drawstring pouch. A curvy challenge for 1 to 4 players, ages 8 to adult. $29