The Best One-Player Games

No Partner Necessary

Is one the loneliest number? Not when you are armed with the best one-player games. Whether you live on your own, or have a house full of family - everyone needs and deserves some time on their own to reflect, relax and recharge. There is no better way to unwind than to sit down with a puzzle, newspaper or deck of cards - and maybe a nice glass of wine.

Jigsaw Puzzles

The jigsaw puzzle was invented in the late 1700s by John Spilsbury in London. Spilsbury, a mapmaker, mounted a map on wood and cut it into different-shaped pieces using a jigsaw, hence the name. The map was then put back together and used as an educational tool for children learning geography.

Today, jigsaw puzzles are widely popular, in part due to their extreme versatility. You can find puzzles of varying difficulties - from as few as 3 pieces to as many as 24,000 (see link for info on world's largest jigsaw puzzle). It's really easy to find the perfect puzzle for you or for any member of your family - even younger kids who aren't walking or talking yet can benefit and learn from grasping large textured puzzle pieces and trying to make them fit in the board.

To enjoy working on a jigsaw puzzle, you will need a comfortable chair and a table large enough to hold the completed puzzle. If you plan to work on the puzzle for several days and need access to the space for other things - like eating or working - consider using a large board that you can pick up and move about without compromising your work-in-progress.

The pictures most commonly used for jigsaw puzzles are landscapes, maps, animals and abstract art. Using a picture or photograph of your own, you can make your own jigsaw puzzle or have a professional do it for you. A puzzle using a personal photo is a great and original gift idea for the puzzle-lover in your family.

What do you do now that you've finished that 1000 piece puzzle? If you don't have the heart to take it apart, your favorite jigsaw puzzles can be mounted and preserved so that you can enjoy this unique artwork for years to come. Or you can be like the thousands of puzzle lovers who, once completing an especially difficult puzzle, can't wait to take it apart and try it again and again.

The online jigsaw puzzle is gaining in popularity. Many sites like www.jigzone.com andwww.puzzlehouse.com offer huge assortments of puzzles varying by difficulty and theme. You can compete against other online players for the fastest assembly time.