Gift Guide for Kids: Best Single Player Logic Games

There is no greater gift you can give parents than a single player logic game for their kids.

I'm serious.

Single player logic games do the following:

1. Increase kids' brain power; and
2. Keep the quietly busy for house of independent play.

Convinced, yet? I thought so.

We happen to have a rather larger than average collection of solitary logic games for kids for precisely the reasons I outlined above. (Also because we are game addicts.) Today I'm sharing a gift guide list of awesome games. Each of these brain teasing logic puzzle games makes kids smarter and has been a quality investment in my children's future and my sanity.

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Best Single Player Logic Games

Here are some of the best single player logic games, all of which my kids and I love:

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Find it: ThinkFun Rush Hour | Rush Hour, Jr. | Extra challenge cards

Rush Hour has long been my top game recommendation for kids. I've bought it, or the version for younger kids, Rush Hour, Jr., for more birthday presents I can count. Challenge cards in several levels each have a puzzle that kids solve by rearranging the vehicles to drive the red truck off the board. Splendid. Ages 4 and up for Rush Hour, Jr. Ages 7 and up for Rush Hour.

UPDATE: ThinkFun now has My First Rush Hour for preschoolers! It's so great it was featured as a game of the month.

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Find it: Balance Beans

Balance Beans is a math game that uses challenge cards. Each card displays a puzzle to solve and there are different skill levels. Each puzzle involves setting up the red beans and then figuring out which beans to add to the see-saw in order to make it balance. It is actually more challenging than it sounds. But the thing that sold me is that each puzzle can also be solved by algebra. That's right! Algebra! Which is why my 11 year old math nerd enjoyed it so much. Although older sibling may enjoy the game, stick to ages 5-10 for gift giving.

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Find it: Colorku | Expansion packs

Colorku is a colorful, oversized version of Sudoku. We have gotten so much mileage out of this game. Even though it was pricey, it was totally worth it. My son has spent many hours improving his thinking skills in independent play with this game over the years. The wooden board and marbles are a pleasure to use. Challenge cards come in different levels and expansion packs are available.

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Find it: Katamino

If you are looking for an heirloom quality game that will continue to be a fun challenge into their adult years, look no further. This puzzle game can be played as a single player game or with 2 players, making it very versatile.

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Find it: Camelot, Jr. 

This one player logic game has wooden pieces that are lovely for little hands to hold. Challenge cards contain puzzles that kids solve by creating pathways between the princess and prince. Bonus: kids can use the blocks as part of their pretend play. Ages 4 and up.

For a similar game, try Castle Logix, which we featured as a game of the month

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Find it: Code Master

This single player game consists of an avatar game piece with 4  crystals, a book of guide scrolls, colored tokens and a map book. The player choses a skill level and a map and attempts to navigate the map by creating a sequence of actions based on placement of tokens. The object of each challenge is to collect the required crystals and land on the end portal.  Code Master is excellent for developing visual perception and deductive reasoning skills. Ages 8 and up.

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Find it: Little Red Riding Hood | Three Little Piggies

merges storytelling and a logic game! (Winner 2016 ASTRA Best Toy) The game includes a story book, plus 48 puzzles. Kids strive to get Little Red to grandma's house before the wolf gets there! Ages 4 and up. Not a fan of Little Red Riding Hood? Three Little Piggies is a very similar game.

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Find it: Simon Electric Memory Game | Simon Travel Version

Do you remember this marvelous game? I love leaving it out to be rediscovered by the kids on a rainy day. They always rise to the challenge and although it's not silent, it sure keeps them occupied. And I know they are stretching their memory, visual perception and attention skills. Win-win!

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Find it: Block by Block 

Block by Block is an excellent logic game to take on your travels. It is a 3D puzzle game. Kids must solve puzzles by arranging the blocks in the formations illustrated on the challenge cards. Also check out the colorful version this game: Shape by Shape. Ages 7 and up.

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Find it: SET

SET is a family card game, but it is very versatile and can also be enjoyed by a single player. The player aims to gather "sets" of cards based on logical rules. We featured it as a game of the month, so hop over there to learn more if you want! Ages 6 and up.

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Find it: Logic Links 

Logic links is a great hands on single player logic game in which kids exercise spatial and logical deductive reasoning skills and they solve clues in order to put colored discs in the right order. We got so much use out of this game and it really stretches those thinking skills! Ages 6 and up.

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Find it: IQ Link | IQ Twist | IQ Focus

When you want a portable puzzle that will work those thinking muscles on the go and which doesn't use a screen to entertain, these two logic games are exactly what you need. From personal experience I know the IQ family of games will also keep kids busy on long trips! Games are played by solving puzzles by fitting irregularly shaped pieces on the game board.