Klotski 

Klotski and sliding puzzles

In klotski you don't turn layers. Instead, you slide blocks around a board that has one or more empty spaces. The best-known example is the 15 puzzle, a 4x4 board with numbers from 1 to 15. In this category you'll also find smaller and larger formats, classic puzzles with blocks of different sizes and a game for two players. Most models are klotski puzzles from QiYi, alongside puzzles from MoYu, Z-cube and ShengShou.

Number sliding puzzles from 3x3 to 7x7

The QiYi Magnetic Number sliding Klotski series covers boards from 3x3 (8 tiles) through 4x4, 5x5 and 6x6 up to 7x7 (48 tiles). The size mainly determines how long a solve takes. The 3x3 board works well as a child's first puzzle and makes the idea easy to grasp. The 4x4 is the size most often used for timed solves. With 6x6 and 7x7 you need to plan longer move sequences and be patient. Magnetic 15 puzzles are also available from MoYu (this series also includes a smaller 8 version) and ShengShou. You can also choose the Metallic 15 Numbers Klotski Puzzle.

What to look for when choosing

• Magnets: in magnetic models the tiles stay on the board and clearly snap into their positions. This makes the movement more step-like. Some find this helpful for fast solving, while others prefer smoother sliding.
• Standard or Lite version: the QiYi 15 Klotski Puzzle comes in both versions. The Lite is noticeably lighter and has plastic tiles that move fast but are louder. It has rubber pads on the bottom that keep it steady on the table.
• Type of challenge: number sliding puzzles are about solving against the clock and practising patterns. Puzzles with blocks of different sizes, on the other hand, require you to find the right sequence of moves, and speed matters less.

Classic Huarong Dao, themed versions and a game for two players

QiYi The Three Kingdom Klotski is based on the Chinese puzzle Huarong Dao. The blocks come in different sizes, and the goal is to guide the largest one out through the opening in the frame. Puzzles with an unusual form include the QiYi Hexagonal Klotski, while themed designs include the QiYi Magnetic Puzzle Cat, Magnetic Puzzle Dog and Magnetic Klotski Halloween Escape. The Z-cube Cubic Klotski and Cubic Digital Klotski have cube-shaped blocks that look like a 3x3 cube once solved.

QiYi Magnetic Klotski Battle is above all a game of quick reflexes. Two players roll nine dice and race to be the first to recreate the resulting pattern in the central 3x3 area of their 5x5 board. The board has magnets, so the tiles don't slide on their own during play.