The article discusses the writer’s initial dislike for jigsaw puzzles, viewing them as frustrating and time-consuming. However, a new perspective was offered by the writer’s spouse, who highlighted the calming and satisfying nature of methodically sorting and assembling puzzle pieces over time.

The developers of “Wilmot Works It Out,” a newly released puzzle game, recognize this appeal. The game is crafted to make puzzle-solving enjoyable and engaging. Players control a character named Wilmot, a cheerful white square who subscribes to a puzzle-by-mail service. Wilmot is familiar to players from “Wilmot’s Warehouse,” a 2019 game by creators Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg, published by Finji. In the game, each new delivery presents players with a jumble of puzzle pieces that must be assembled into a cohesive image.

After successfully completing a puzzle, Wilmot is visited by Sam, a mail carrier friend, who brings a new set of pieces to sort through. As players progress and complete several puzzles, they move through different “seasons,” each increasing in complexity.

“Wilmot Works It Out” incorporates innovative features to streamline the puzzle-solving process. Unlike traditional jigsaw puzzles, all pieces in the game are square, eliminating the need for rotation and making it simpler to align pieces side by side. A correct match is indicated by a visual and auditory cue, enhancing the assembly experience.

The game’s design encourages strategic thinking by including puzzle packages with pieces that do not immediately fit into any visible puzzle, prompting players to decide what can be solved presently and what must be reserved for future use. Initially, this aspect is not particularly challenging, but as the game progresses to more advanced levels, it becomes increasingly complex, requiring players to decipher intricate puzzles.

One example from a later season involved pieces that suggested the formation of a peacock, only to later reveal parts of an owl. The player initially attempted to connect the peacock and owl into a single image before realizing they were separate pictures.

Overall, “Wilmot Works It Out” successfully addresses common issues with physical jigsaw puzzles, such as long completion times and messiness, by offering a virtual platform that maintains the essentials of puzzle-solving while eliminating the associated drawbacks. The game, available on PC and Mac, effectively captures the charm of traditional puzzles in a more convenient and enjoyable format.

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