Gifts for Crossword and Puzzle Lovers

A good puzzle gift starts with the kind of problem they enjoy. Some people like a quiet crossword over breakfast; others would rather gather a quiz team or spread a jigsaw across the table. A gift that recognises that habit can be funny, personal or both.

Make their names into a crossword

The Family Crossword builds a grid around the names you enter. Longer names form the frame and shorter ones cross them. You can add clues too, so a family nickname or shared memory can sit alongside each answer. The words come from you, rather than a standard list.

Before starting, gather the names and check the spelling with someone who knows the family. Decide if you want clues: a straightforward description makes the grid easier to share, while an in-joke gives a keen solver something to work out. Keep a separate note of each name and its clue so you can check the artwork together before it is printed.

Choose a style, colourway and paper, then pick a poster or a white, black or wood frame. The print comes in three sizes. Measure the space where it might hang before deciding; a framed version is useful when you already know the room, while a poster leaves the recipient free to choose their own frame.

A word search with familiar names

The Family Word Search hides the names you supply in a grid. Choose a shape such as a heart, house or letter, along with the style and paper. A solution card comes with it, so nobody has to spend the evening arguing over the last name.

This is a different gift from a crossword: there are no clues to write, and the search itself is the activity. Check the names before ordering and think about which shape has meaning for the recipient. It also comes in three sizes, as a poster or with a white, black or wood frame. For more help with the words and shape, read our personalised word search gift guide.

For the daily solver

Crosswords - Reviews is for the person who cannot leave a stubborn clue alone. It makes a joke of the answer that follows them into the next day. Choose it when the habit matters more than a personalised family puzzle.

The design is available on a mug, tote bag, clothing and wall art. A mug suits the breakfast-table solver; a tote may be more useful for someone who carries a puzzle book on a journey. Check their usual clothing size before choosing a shirt or sweatshirt, and look at the available options on the design page.

Jigsaws, quizzes and chess

For someone who works through boxes of pieces, Jigsaw Puzzles - Reviews nods to a missing piece and the next challenge. The Pub Quiz - Reviews design is for the teammate still debating the deciding question after a close loss. Both give you a way to acknowledge the pastime without guessing which puzzle they have already completed.

Chess - Reviews takes a different route, looking back at the move spotted too late after a quick defeat. Consider a mug for the player who studies at home or a tote for someone who takes their board to a club. If you are buying for a group, choose the joke that everyone will recognise rather than trying to pick a difficulty level.