Hanayama Huzzle Cast UFO Puzzle

It’s shaped exactly like a tiny flying saucer, about 1.9 inches across, and the whole job is to take it apart and then put it back together. Hanayama sums up the mission for this one in two words: take off. The Huzzle Cast UFO was designed by Finnish puzzle designer Vesa Timonen and is rated Hard, a 4 on Hanayama’s 6-level difficulty scale.

Hanayama says its Huzzle puzzles are solved with a blend of inspiration and logic, and this one also takes some dexterity, so it’s as much about fingers as brains. There are no batteries, no app and no screen, which is a large part of the charm. It’s small enough to ride around in a pocket or sit on a desk, waiting for whoever picks it up next. Hanayama also pitches it as a coffee-table game for home or the office.

It suits the teen who likes riddles and speed cubes, or who can’t stop fidgeting with whatever is on the table. It’s also an easy add-on to a bigger gift, or a stocking stuffer with more staying power than candy.

The catch: Hard means hard. A 4 out of 6 can stall a first-time puzzler for a long while, and at under two inches wide, the pieces are easy to lose between couch cushions.