Why Shared Pieces Create Stronger Connections

Most puzzlers I know — including myself — tend to gravitate toward puzzling alone. There’s something comforting about spreading out the pieces, taking a deep breath, and settling into that quiet rhythm. For years, puzzling was my solo ritual at the end of a long day — a moment of calm that belonged only to me.

But over the past few years, something shifted. I started puzzling with others more often, and I discovered just how special it can be to share that experience, especially as we move into a season that’s both nostalgic and overwhelming.

Mom and I puzzling Beach Holiday by Buffalo Games - Artwork by Jeff Haynie

The nights grow longer, the schedules get fuller, and the holidays always seem to race by faster than we expect. In all that busyness, puzzling with someone else has become one of the easiest ways for me to slow down and reconnect.

My First Puzzle Event (and What It Taught Me)

Back in 2021, I went to my very first puzzle event. I was incredibly nervous, as I challenged myself to go alone. Not knowing anyone there I walked into a the convention hall and met a puzzle community for the first time. It was the first time I had ever puzzled with people outside my immediate family, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. Would I be too slow? Would I know what I was doing? Would everyone else be seasoned pros? How would I make conversation? I am a true introvert and it was very much outside my comfort zone.

I met my friend Laura at my first puzzle event in 2021, Puzzle was by Educa,

What actually happened was that I learned more in a single day than I had in years of puzzling alone.

I saw how differently people sorted their pieces, how everyone had their own rhythm and method they swore by. I got my first taste of speed puzzling (chaotic, hilarious, and humbling), and I met some amazing puzzle friends — people I still talk to today and often see at other events.

Laura was my pairs parter at Nationals in 2024 - Artwork by Demelsa Haughton

That one event opened a door for me. It wasn’t just about puzzling anymore — it was about community.

Events, Gatherings, and Puzzle Nights at Home

Since that first event, I’ve been grateful to attend all kinds of puzzle gatherings. Some are big events far from home; others are smaller meetups or even puzzle nights right in my own living room.

What I love most is how puzzling becomes a backdrop for real connection.

My team at Winter Carnival 2024. Puzzle shown - Cycling Cities by Puzzle Twist

You’re surrounded by people who get excited about piece shapes, artists, brands, and strategy ideas that your regular friends and family might not understand. And even though you start by talking about puzzles, the conversations eventually drift into life — work, family, hobbies, challenges, and hopes.

That’s the beauty of puzzling with others: you’re doing something together without the pressure of constant conversation, and before you know it, you’re forming genuine friendships.

Puzzle friends at home. Puzzle by artist Rose Kahn.

During the holiday season, this feels even more meaningful. This is a time when we crave nostalgia and connection, yet everything is moving a million miles an hour. A puzzle becomes a reason to slow down, sit around a table, share a warm drink, and actually be present with each other. If the long nights and holiday nostalgia have you craving something festive to work on together, you can explore this collection of holiday-themed puzzles.

Puzzling With Family Has Its Own Kind of Magic

While I’ve loved discovering the puzzle community, puzzling with family has brought joy in a completely different way.

Dave and I have been doing this more often, and it’s become a simple, grounding ritual we both look forward to. We put our phones away, turn on some music or a cozy show in the background, and just work on a puzzle together. No distractions. No pressure. No need to multitask. Especially on these long winter nights, when it gets dark so early, it feels nice to settle into something that encourages you to slow down. It’s almost nostalgic — like the way winter used to feel when we were kids and time seemed to stretch more.

Santorini Sunset with Mom - Artwork by Nancy Wernersbach

One of my favorite surprises from the past few years has been how fun puzzles can be at family gatherings, especially around the holidays. Not everyone in my family is a big puzzler, but when you bring out something lighthearted or a little competitive, everyone gets involved.

Recently, we set up a small puzzle chess tournament at a family party, and it was such a hit. People who normally never touch puzzles were suddenly laughing, strategizing, and getting way more competitive than I expected. It ended up being one of the highlights of the night.

Puzzles are an easy, low-pressure activity to add to any get-together. You can create a simple challenge table, do team-versus-team rounds, or just leave a puzzle out for guests to pick at throughout the evening. It gives everyone something fun to gather around and enjoy at their own pace.

Family playing puzzle chess

I don’t have children myself, but I know many families who puzzle with their kids, and they talk about how good it is for development: increased patience, problem solving, pattern recognition, fine motor skills, and focus. But even beyond the learning aspect, it’s simply a chance to be together in a world that doesn’t give us many slow moments anymore. For families puzzling together this season, here’s a curated list of family-friendly puzzles that work well for mixed ages.

Why Shared Puzzling Hits Differently (Especially Right Now)

Puzzling alone will always have its place — I’ll never give that up. But puzzling with someone else offers something unique, and this time of year makes that feeling even stronger.

Calm Campsite by Ravensburger

Here are a few reasons shared puzzling feels so special:

• It slows the season down. The holidays always move fast, but puzzling creates stillness in the best way.
• It gives you something to gather around. A puzzle on the table has a way of pulling people in — friends, family, visitors, anyone passing by.
• It creates easy, pressure-free connection. No scripted conversations or big plans. Just quiet togetherness.
• It’s grounding on long, dark nights. Puzzling becomes the warm “inside” activity that makes early sunsets feel cozy instead of gloomy.
• It creates shared memories. That finished puzzle becomes a snapshot of the time you spent together.

A Season Made for Slowing Down

This time of year can bring joy, stress, nostalgia, excitement, and overwhelm — sometimes all at once. And sometimes the most meaningful moments are the simple ones: sitting at a table, hands hovering over the same pieces, sharing warmth and quiet with someone you care about.

Aztec Sun Stone with Jeanne Roiter - Artwork by Michael Angulo.

If you haven’t puzzled with others before, the holiday season is a perfect time to try it. Invite a friend over, start a family puzzle night, or bring one to a gathering. Turn down the noise, settle into the moment, and let the puzzle become the reason you pause.

Because sometimes, slowing down together is the best gift we can give each other.