Flat Apple's Family Tree: The Fascinating History of Solid Color Field Puzzles
The Peacock Theory, introduced by A.J. Jacobs in The Puzzler, says, we like puzzles because their completion shows everyone how smart we are. But, everyone has a different answer to this question: why do you like puzzles? More specifically, what is so compelling about enduring a flat color puzzle.
Maddening may be a strong word. Until you complete a solid color puzzle, however, you may not understand the feeling. Different from other color-themed puzzles, like, say, gradients, the total seamlessness of every piece makes it a grueling challenge to find each matching piece. Flat color puzzles are notoriously difficult, even if their size and shape give the illusion of ease. A great and painful problem arises that puzzlers of all expertise can dive into.
Recently, Le Puzz released a new 81-piece puzzle, Flat Apple. Despite its miniature size, the almost one-color puzzle is a difficult, but not impossible challenge. A painful but fascinating, thrilling and inzainy, work of art, this unique little gem is not the first flat-color puzzle. We’re here to use our fascination with vintage puzzles to give you a nearly chronological list of every solid color puzzle we could find that made Flat Apple possible.
Above: A detail of the Flat Apple puzzle.
Above: In 1964 in collaboration with Serendipty 3 of New York City, Springbok released 3 500 piece solid color puzzles. Little Red Riding Hood’s Hood, Snow White without the Seven Dwarfs, and Close-up of the Three Bears. Eventually rereleased in 1969 and 1970, Little Red Riding Hood’s Hood, specifically, was rereleased in collaboration with other companies like Life Magazine. The re release featured a Spot Life logo at the center.
Red Menace and Green Gruesome were advertised as a “nightmare”
Try Flat AppleLittle Boy Blue Coming Home, was released in 1965 by Springbok and, in the same fashion, was a solid baby blue circular puzzle composed of 500 pieces. Incredibly rare, this puzzle has become difficult to get your hands on.
Springbok also released Enchantment Magic Mirror in 1972. Like the four solid color puzzles that preceded it, it was a 500-piece circular puzzle. Due to the silver and reflective color, it made the process of putting the pieces together even more difficult.
In 1977 Bits and Pieces released Red Menace and followed up in 1978 with Green Gruesome. Red Menace and Green Gruesome were advertised as a “nightmare” in a catalog feature. Green Gruesome’s box design was more in line with a horror theme. Later in 1991 came Purple Passion that was also released in 2023 creating more colorful fun for all who take on the challenge.
Greatly inspiring Le Puzz’s Flat Apple, Springbok dropped Flat Banana in 1979. Listed on the box as having “over 500 pieces” this strictly yellow puzzle features a history of the flat banana on the inside. The only slightly helpful component of this puzzle is the Dole label in the top left corner.
Also in the 1970s Synergistic released a wet paint puzzle. Each puzzle was 350 pieces and could be purchased in either a red, blue, or yellow color. The puzzles when completed looked like a fresh can of paint that had just spilled over your entire puzzle station.
Later, in the 80s, Synergistic would also release a Spilt Milk puzzle in similar fashion featuring both regular and chocolate milk. These puzzles were originally pitched to be printed double-sided creating a ridiculously difficult, but incredibly fun challenge.
In 2008 The White Album, by the Beatles was released as a 500-piece puzzle. Advertised as double-sided with one side featuring the white album cover, and the other featuring images of the record.
Ravensburger released a Silver, Gold, Black, and Pink puzzle in 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2021 respectively. Each puzzle cut uniquely with whacky pieces of varying eccentric shapes, guarantees a strange and distinct challenge to all who attempt to solve them.
Worth mentioning, but perhaps not worth trying, Heniz released a limited edition ketchup red puzzle in 2020. Though there was potential for a quirky merch moment, Karen Puzzles who received the puzzle posted her review on youtube showing that virtually every piece fit together. Lacking distinct and unique pieces it was impossible to finish, and not in the fun way.
Blue Kazoo released a series of impossible puzzles which were solid red, black, and white in 2021. The good news was that they come in both 250 pieces and 1000 for those looking to work their way up from impossible, to more impossible.
Simone Giertz created a puzzle nightmare you never knew could exist. Incomplete White Puzzle is exactly what it sounds like. A 500 piece puzzle of solid white, with only 499 pieces in the box. Not only will you never really finish it, it will be an extreme challenge to get to that never finished finish line.
Does it count if it’s clear? We’re saying yes. The Clearly Impossible Puzzle made in 2021 comes in 100, 200, 500, 1000 pieces. If that’s not enough editions of a no image puzzle, then you’re in luck. There’s also the Broken Glass puzzle made of 161 pieces replicating, well, broken glass with transparent pieces.
This brings us to the apple of our eye, Flat Apple by Le Puzz. Just launched at 81 pieces this puzzle is almost entirely red aside from our flat apple logo. While this puzzle may be hard, it isn’t impossible. Don’t take our word for it, try it yourself.
Check out another deep dive into the most challenging puzzles on the market by Krystal Cotriss for Medium.
