The Joy of Thinking

A Gamepuzzle, according to Kadon Enterprises, "is Kadon's trademark name for its product line of original tiling sets and strategy games. The sets are uniquely designed to include both solo solving (puzzles) and interactive, competitive play (games)."

Kadon's trademarked slogan is: "for the joy of thinking." Excuse me, I have to say that again, slowly, the j o y of t h i n k i n g. What a concept! What a wonderful thing to remind people of - the sheer, delightful, intrinsic fun of just thinking. Thinking alone. Thinking together.

And they do this through "Gamepuzzles" - puzzles that are at least as much fun thinking about by yourself as they are thinking about with others. Games that bridge two very different human experiences. Bridge, as in: connect, allow for migration between, create union. Between social and solitary thought. Not in any way to detract from the actual playworthiness of Kadon's Gamepuzzle concept. Merely to comment on the near Einsteinian accomplishment of Kadon's grand, unified theory of fun.

Kadon has been around since 1980, offering the public a growing collection of "enchanting original playthings in lasercut acrylic and handcrafted wood, for minds of all ages. So beautiful, they're art." Which is a conclusion you'd draw yourself just from looking at the gamepuzzle of Penrose Kites and Darts. Which is only one of 223 games and puzzles in Kadon's catalogue.

The Gamepuzzles site is rich and generous. There's even a free, virtual Puzzle Parlor, and dozens of other playable surprises hidden throughout the site, which, as the Kadon people promise, deliver instant gratification for those who appreciate "the joy of thinking."