Thrift Treasure: Noodlers
I guess you could say I’ve been on a bit of a single-player puzzle kick lately. There are so many different brain-stumping challenges available, from Rubik’s Cubes to portable puzzles with increasingly difficult levels, there really is something for everyone (and every ability) out there.
We recently found a copy of Noodlers from MindWare at our local Goodwill for the hair-raising price of 88 cents. Much like many of the single-player puzzles we’ve highlighted in the past, this one also has different level cards that warm you up to the game before turning up the difficulty.
Your object is very simple. Using the included plastic sticks (leftovers from a game of pickup stix?) you place them on the cards separating the symbols so there is no more than one in a section. Sounds easy, right? The cards that required you to use three sticks proved challenging, but not hard. The ones that utilize more sticks was a different story.
This particular one with five sticks took a number of tries through trial-and-error to achieve. If this one mid-level challenge required 10+ minutes to solve, I have no chance of defeating the 6-stick versions. Fortunately each card has its corresponding solution printed on the back, if nothing else to prove that they are solvable and I’m an idiot.
It strikes me as odd, there are some puzzles I’m very good at. Last week’s 3-D Star-Art played right into my abilities. Give me a Rubik’s Cube and I’m all over it. But for whatever reason, Noodlers exposed a weakness in my brain’s abilities. I found these to be very tough for me, so much so that it became frustrating. There were many so-called “easy” ones that I could not solve no matter how long I stared at it.
This is not a fault of the product, but a fault of the user. There will be many people (maybe you) that this is perfect for. Maybe even too easy. But not for me. I know my weaknesses and have now discovered another.
Think Noodlers might be for you? You can find copies for under $15 on Amazon and on MindWare’s website. I think I’ll check out their other puzzle offerings by following them on Facebook and Twitter. After struggling with Noodlers, I think I’ll check out the Preschool Truck Puzzle!
Ha Ha Ha, that’s a really interesting concept for a game. I think my son would actually like that. He’s always against stepping on the sidewalk cracks .. ha ha This really seems up his alley.
Wow, I didn’t even consider a sidewalk crack analogy. That’s why I’m no good at this one – I stepped on the cracks on purpose! (sorry mom)
I love “do-it-yourself” puzzles, but I’ve never heard of Noodlers before. Gonna check it out! (And I would NEVER step on a sidewalk crack!) LOL!
Those certainly do look like pick up sticks which I was actually rather good at surprisingly enough!! Don’t know if I would be any good at this one but willing to give it a shot if I find it at a Goodwill or thrift store.
My kids would most likely love and be great at this, but I’m with you and would have to stick with a preschool version!
Great find for those that can do these easily, unfortunately am not one ☺ will keep in mind for the grandkids, tho.
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the review! Looks like fun 🙂
So funny – I was looking at your great images – and all of a sudden it pulled at me, I would love this one! I’ll have to look for it to have one to test out! Thank you
Love the inexpensive games that you post. I’d not seen this one before. The price is right for certain. Our kids need some travel games, too.
The boychild would love this, he is all about fun and new games.
I’d like to check out the preschool truck puzzle – that seems to be what my little likes. puzzles and games keep him busy.
This looks fun, but I think it would drive me crazy! $.88 was quite the bargain you got!!
I can see how this game would make your brain work on lots of different levels.
This looks like a fun game!! I love that it has different levels of difficult to change it up.
This sounds like a game that would frustrate me but my husband and son would be all over. I get frustrated very easily though.
This sounds so interesting.
It reminds me one of the puzzles on one of my video games, which I can never do and have to make my husband do. He’d probably enjoying doing some of these, I wouldn’t lol
Scott! I am gathering by your twitter handle, Iowa? Me too! So great to meet you! This is a great review!