FAQs
WHAT MAKES A MOWENS PUZZLE?
To put it simply, each one of my designs is a take-apart challenge. You start with a complete object, then slowly remove piece by piece until there’s nothing left. And every puzzle includes a reward or two as the cherry on top!
But on a deeper level, I think of my puzzles as little mechanical ecosystems. Every piece is packed with interesting features, and each of those features serve a role. They play together to create interactions between pieces: limiting range, forcing movement, etc. And while each of these interactions is relatively simple on its own, they all work together, overlapping and intertwining, to create a intricate web of mechanisms.
So your goal as the solver is to untangle that web! As you remove each piece you’ll find new possibilities unlocked—new movements available, new tools to use, and ultimately new pieces to remove.
WHERE DO I START?
Just jump in! While my puzzles have plenty of pieces and dozens of moves, the best way to begin is just to poke and prod until something gives. You’ll find that every puzzle has a starting point, a single move that begins to unlock more possibilities.
Once you’ve found that first step, I recommend “following the gap.” Whenever a piece moves, it leaves some space where it previously sat, and this space is your best clue on where to go next! Check adjacent pieces to see if they can use the space, or peek inside to gain some idea of what’s happening.
As you progress and remove pieces, don’t worry if you lose the trail. Things get hectic, and it can be hard to keep track of all the moving pieces. Take your time, and take note of how things interact.
Think about it like a jigsaw puzzle. You won’t always make progress, but stick with it and slowly everything falls into place. While the goal is completion, the journey is just as much fun.
DO I NEED TO BE GENTLE?
Not really, no! Yes all my puzzles are plastic, but they can take a beating. Knock them around a bit, pound them on the table or drop them on the ground and they’ll barely feel it.
Don’t take that as a challenge though: pieces (especially small ones) can and will snap if you try hard enough. The general rule is “if something’s bending, stop doing what you’re doing.”
But don’t panic if a piece does break—most of my puzzles come with spare parts in case the worst happens, and if you go through those too, Replacement Parts are available for free!
So have fun and don’t worry, I’ve got you covered :)
IT’S SOLVED, NOW WHAT?
Now it’s time to put it back together! Luckily you have a couple of options—you can either muddle through it by yourself, or you can check out one of the free assembly guides I’ve created for each puzzle!
If you’re debating whether to use the guide, I’d suggest giving it a try yourself first. While difficult and frustrating at times, a blind reassembly is not only satisfying, but also the best way to really understand the puzzle and all its mechanisms.
Or if you’d still like a few hints, the second page of each guide lists all the pieces in order of assembly. Keeping that handy will ensure you stay on the right path, and if a certain piece is giving you trouble, you can always flip to the corresponding page.
DESIGN PROCESS
All of my puzzles start with some sort of a theme. It can be a hobby of mine (Piano), or a puzzle mechanic I want to explore (Gravity), or even just an object with compelling features (Dice). Honestly, the hardest part is picking a single theme to pursue.
But once the theme is nailed down, I start modeling from the outside in. My first design is always a single solid piece, a slab of marble that I then begin to carve pieces out of. Fundamental pieces come first, things like piano keys, or the roof of a castle.
Then the fun part—the mechanisms! This is when I start crafting the path through the puzzle. I pick the first piece to move and give it some freedom to do so. From there it’s a cycle of adding features to one section and cutting away from others until every piece is locked in place by its predecessor. This is where all the auxiliary pieces are made—sliders, switches, spinners, anything that can help tie one piece to another.
Of course it doesn’t stop there, instead the endless refinement cycle begins. This involves printing, testing and polishing mechanisms, integrating new ideas, and finding any wasted space to exploit.
But all things come to an end, and eventually every puzzle becomes ready for release!
For anyone interested in a deeper look, consider checking out the Design Lab! There you can find file sets for older versions of puzzles, rewards, alternate pieces and more!