I want to continue my tradition of reviewing the jigsaw puzzles I finished in the year before. So here’s a high five 🖐 for my fifth consecutive year!
I must say, 2024 was super busy for me travel- and life-wise, and ever since I started this blog, it’s the lowest number of finished puzzles in a year for me. But that’s okay, right? We all go through ups and downs.
When it comes to puzzles, I’m delighted to enjoy them in my free time. But that free time is scarce and there’s not much of it, so I don’t dedicate it solely to puzzles. That’s my way of doing things. And I still feel entitled to call myself the self-appointed Jigsaw Puzzle Queen! Hey, why not. 😉
Okay, so I solved… wait for it…
Six jigsaw puzzles in the year 2024! Six!
It’s the least in my history of ‘professional’ puzzling, i.e. ever since I’ve started this little blog of mine.
So today’s article is at least a short one.
If you’re new here and would like to check out my previous puzzle reviews, you can do so:
My Puzzles of 2020: A Year in Review
My Puzzles of 2021: Year Two in Review
My Puzzles of 2022: Third Year’s a Charm?
My Puzzle Review of 2023: The Tradition Continues
Last year, I mixed and matched new puzzles and those that I swapped with fellow puzzle nerds.
Read and see:
January: Fascination with Matterhorn by Clementoni
2,000 pieces
The first adventure of the year was tackling this large puzzle that I swapped with someone. It was almost massive for me, since my home setup doesn’t allow for such big puzzles. It took over our dining table and tested my patience in the best way.
When I started, I underestimated its size. My usual half-table setup wasn’t enough, so I had to get creative until I could claim the entire space for a proper puzzling session. Progress picked up once I finally did.
Life and travels kept me from working on it consistently, and the puzzle often stayed hidden under a tablecloth to make room for meals. Removing it felt like a chore when I only had short bursts of free time. Still, each piece brought joy.
The stunning Matterhorn scene—with its detailed blues, snowy peaks, and rocky textures—was tricky but rewarding. Every moment of frustration was worth the thrill of seeing the mountain come together.
After many satisfying hours, I placed the final piece at the end of March! The dining table was finally clear again.
Lovely puzzle of a superior quality with a difficult motif but rewarding as usual! I love nature scenes.
Check out this Clementoni puzzle on Amazon.
May: Cinque Terre by Blanc Puzzles (Buffalo Games)
1,000 pieces
If you’re wondering about the gap and why the heck I stopped puzzling after January, it wasn’t the large puzzle’s fault, but my travels took over. I went on an epic trip to the Himalayas so the prep took also a significant portion of my free time.
This puzzle was one I had been looking forward to for a few months. I purchased it at Target, while visiting family in North Carolina for Thanksgiving.
I picked the beautiful scene of Cinque Terre because I had gone there a year ago and loved the colorful little houses stacked on cliffs. What a sight!
Blanc Puzzles is owned by Buffalo Games, a famous American puzzle & toy manufacturer. However, the puzzles under the Blanc brand are made in China.
The quality of the pieces is great, though. Super-well cut, no puzzle dust, and all packed in a luxurious magnetic box. A poster comes included.
I loved putting this puzzle together. It went a little faster than I would have liked but that was just because I simply couldn’t put it down.
So – highly recommended!
I didn’t find this puzzle on Amazon to provide a link to it for you, but you may be able to find it on a shelf at Target or similar.
July: South Seas, Cook Islands, Aitutaki by Ravensburger
1,000 pieces
I found this puzzle in my cellar. I had no idea how it got there, I didn’t remember the image or storing the puzzle there, what a mystery!
This was an old puzzle but Ravensburger jigsaws don’t lose quality with age. 🙂 So the experience was still pleasant.
The blue sky was the worst part, of course. I nicknamed it the “blue hell”. And then I had two pieces missing, which never happens to me. So, slightly upsetting but what can one expect from a puzzle found in the cellar. :))
This puzzle is not available on Amazon anymore, but you may come across it in thrift stores or elsewhere.
October: London, England by Trefl
1,000 pieces
I puzzle less during the summer like probably everyone. 🙂 But I was looking forward to this lovely London puzzle, which I got for Christmas.
The image was busy enough to make the puzzling easy, and I just love travel motifs.
My experience with the Trefl brand has been okay… The puzzles are affordable, yet the pieces are still firm and cut well. Sometimes, however, a piece fits into more locations. At least that’s been my experience.
That happened with this London puzzle too, when a few pieces in the water fit where they shouldn’t have. 🙂 However, I wouldn’t say it’s something to worry about.
Generally speaking, if you have a detailed image on a Trefl puzzle, you’ll be fine.
You can find the London puzzle on Amazon here.
November: Chameleon by Cherry Pazzi
1,000 pieces
I got the Chameleon puzzle through a swap. Before, I’d never heard of the Cherry Pazzi brand. I was curious and loved the image, so I gave it a go.
The thickness of the puzzle pieces was surprising. I can hardly remember cardboard puzzles being this thick.
This brand seems to manufacture their puzzles in Poland, and the quality is amazing. The finish is slightly matte, so it makes for a perfect experience even in low-light conditions.
The highlight of the image is the illustration. The artist, Tim Jeffs, has a couple more illustrations with the Cherry Pazzi brand. There are a few other animals, including an iguana, for example.
Unfortunately, this jigsaw puzzle is not available on Amazon.
December: A Christmas Stroll by Clementoni
1,000 pieces
I always try to find a Christmas-themed puzzle for the end of the year, also to take a photo with a finished one and wish everyone Merry Christmas on my Instagram. 🙂
I looked around to swap one but didn’t find any great puzzles around me, so I went ahead and purchased this Clementoni one.
Clementoni puzzles are generally my second favorite after Ravensburger. This one was great, however the pieces didn’t fit as snug as I’m used to with this brand.
I wasn’t even sure if I could pick the finished puzzle up without it breaking but it did just fine.
Still, the puzzle quality was high, with nice and thick pieces.
The Christmas scene is lovely and offers plenty of detail that it’s easy to keep going.
A poster was included in the box. It was a great help because the box is a bit smaller. It makes for ideal stacking at home, though.
You can find the Christmas puzzle on Amazon. Here is another variation of it – the same image but a slightly modified box.
And that’s it for 2024!
As I’m writing this puzzle review of my last year, I’m working on a 3,000 piece puzzle I got for Christmas a year ago. It’s occupying our whole dining table again so I better move fast with it. 🙂 Let’s see. If you’re curious, you can follow my progress on Instagram or wait until the next yearly write up!
Till next time, puzzle friends!
Veronika
PS: Do let me know in the comments below what your favorite puzzle of last year was! I’d be curious to hear.