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Note: Some games may omit to mention all the game controls, so these are some commonly used game controls, although not all games will use them.
F1 for help, F4 switch between a window and fullscreen, F5 saves game, F6 load a saved game, Esc exit the game.


Rox v1.4

Rox is a primarily a puzzle game, but does require speed and dexterity on some levels.
You control a toothy character called Thresher, who munches his way through levels, looking for unids, once he has collected all the unids, he can exit the level via the portal.
Along the way Thresher has to negotiate falling rocks, explosives, spider like creatures and annoying gnats. There are also one way conduits, switches, keys and a discharger.
Thresher does get some help, with a selection of powerups, invulnerability (my favorite), freeze, missiles and explosives.

The graphics are pretty good, with some nice animations and effects, although I did find everything a bit on the dark side for my taste and found myself getting closer and closer to the screen (getting old).
The background music tracks (4 included, more on the web site) are quite catchy and there is the option to set the volume.

There are 69 levels in the standard game and there are hundreds of fan made levels available on the web site, simply unzip the level file and drop the .clvl file into the levels folder, then select your new levels using the "collection" option in the menu.
An easy to use level editor is included with the game, if you are inspired to try your hand at creating your own levels.

It takes a while to learn all the features of Rox. But once you have mastered useful techniques, such as pressing space and an arrow key to eat a nearby object without moving, the game becomes very interesting.
There is an excellent help file, which is accessible in-game, by pressing F1.

Rox is a very polished and entertaining (if somewhat frustrating) game and with the addition of fan levels will provide days, weeks (months, years!) of fun.

Freeware -- Download size 11.1MB -- Win 98, ME, 2000, XP.

http://www.bd-fans.com/RoX.html

Ray Stone.

Ray Stone (sounds like someones name!) is a puzzle game, with some original ideas. You must work your way through all twenty levels of a pyramid, completing each level, before you can move to the next.
To complete a level, you use mirrors to direct the light ray at each of the three jewels. Once you have all the jewels, the exit will appear and you then direct the light ray towards the exit. There are also bonus items to collect, which boost your final score.

Of course, just shining a light at jewels would be too easy, so the jewels aren't visible, unless the light beam passes closely by.
There are also locked blocks in the way, which aren't removed until you find the key. And ice blocks, which are melted, by shining the light ray through a lens.
Raised stone blocks allow the light to pass under them and any of the other objects, could be hiding beneath the raised blocks.

The graphics are very nice, with some simple, but excellent effects, the light ray itself, is particulary well made. The background music is pleasant and unobtrusive, as are the sound effects and both have a volume control in the options.

Menu system is easy to use and both menu and game control is with the mouse and works very well.
The game does have a couple of minor irritations, the help page, although useful, does not provide enough information, such as the goal of the game! Also, although your progress through the game is saved, if you complete a level, you must start the next level, before you go to the main menu, or the level you have just completed will not be added to your progress, which is a little irritating.

I found the early levels to be a bit too easy and the game doesn't really get under way, until about level ten. But after that, some of the levels are quite interesting and I played the game right to the end.
Ray Stone is a pretty good game, but it would be even better with a lot more puzzles. Also, I would prefer it if the jewels etc, were visible (except when under raised blocks), which would reduce the "luck" element and make the game more of a pure puzzle.

Freeware -- Download size 3.58MB -- Win 98SE,ME,2000,XP

Note: Does not require installing, just unzip and play.

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/launch/31191

Penguin Puzzle.

Penguin Puzzle is a tiny (23K zipped), but absorbing game. You control a penguin using the arrow keys and to complete a level, you must turn every square on the screen into a blue block, finishing at the exit.
Squares start as either red blocks, or grey blocks. Red blocks turn blue after one visit and grey squares after two.

Although simple, Penguin Puzzle is quite a tricky game and you need to plan your route in advance (trust me, winging it doesn't work!). I have no idea how many levels there are (the help is in Japanese), but I have reached level 15 so far.

The controls are:
Arrow keys to move your penguin.
Space key to restart a level.
Esc to exit.

There doesn't seem to be any way of saving your progress, which is unfortunate. But the game should be of interest to keen puzzlers, who have an hour, or so to spare.

Freeware -- Download size 23K -- Tested on XP.

Note: Does not require installing, just unzip and play.

Download Penguin Puzzle

Block Manoeuvers v2.0

Block Manoeuvers is a puzzle game. Your task is to complete all fifty levels by collecting the strawberries (if there are any) and reaching the exit.
To accomplish this task, you can push blocks and boulders out of the way and use them to bridge water, or as numbered keys in later levels. There are also pop up walls, rolling balls of flame and flamethrowers.

Level 29 completed, that was a lot of block pushing.

The graphics are very basic and a bit too small for my tastes, but they do the job. Sound effects are minimal, which is sensible with a puzzle game and the background music tracks are quite good (you get more tracks, as you progress through the game).

The help file is very basic, but there are additional comments as new objects are introduced. Your progress is auto saved and you can skip levels by pressing "S".

The games learning curve is perhaps a little too long and the puzzles don't become taxing until around the twentieth level (depends how good you are at puzzles). But the later levels are varied and challenging and gave the grey cells a good workout.

Freeware -- Download size 3.02MB -- Win 2000, XP, Vista

http://www.geocities.com/shooeymooey/index.html

Touch Puf v1.5.5

Touch Puf is a puzzle game. The concept is quite simple, you must destroy all the coloured blocks on each level, by sliding blocks of the same colour together.
However, it isn't quite that easy, as you are playing against the clock and have to use, or avoid, arrow blocks, that move you in one direction, coloured lock blocks, that can only be destroyed by blocks of matching colour, colour changers and gates (teleporters).

Blocks are moved by clicking on them and then clicking in the direction you want them to move. Matching blocks are only destroyed if the blocks are adjacent, when they come to rest, just passing by, isn't good enough.

The graphics are simple, without many effects, but work well enough for a puzzle. Likewise, the background music and sound effects are inoffensive and can be disabled if you wish.

While the game playing controls are simple, the menu system is rather a mess, with a main menu, a file menu and what looks like music player controls (actually controls for the current game) at the bottom of the window.
Not all the controls work all the time and it takes a bit of clicking about, to find what does what and when.

After the first half a dozen easy levels, I found Touch Puf to be quite an absorbing game. Your progress through the game is auto saved and you can save a log of your solution to a level and replay it.
The passwords to the first 100 levels are available on the web site, but a better option (IMOP), is to download the log solutions to the first 100 levels. Then if you get stuck, you can turn on the log system and get some clues, without spoiling the game.
If you get really addicted to Touch Puf, a level editor is included, so that you can make your own levels.
A pretty good help file is included, to help you find your way around the game and use the level editor..

Freeware -- Download size 7.43MB -- Win 95/98/ME/2000/XP

http://www.touchpuf.com

Karoshi.

Karoshi is a puzzle game with a twist. With most games, you complete each level by rescuing your character from death, or a fate worse than death (is there a fate worse than death?). But in Karoshi, the aim of the game, is to kill your character in each of the twentyfive levels.
You can achieve this in a variety ways, including dropping a safe on yourself, shooting yourself (harder than it sounds), or impaling yourself on spikes.

The graphics are quite "blocky", but I liked them, especially the electrocution effect (I electrocuted myself several times, just for fun).
Sound effects are quite sparse, limited to a few beeps and squishing noises, but the background music is nice, very Miami Vice.

The help file is limited to just the key controls, with no explanation of the game which is rather poor. But on the bright side, the menu system is good, with the options to disable the music and play in a window, or fullscreen. Your progress through the game is auto saved, with new levels being unlocked as you solve the puzzles.

I enjoyed Karoshi and played it right the way through. The difficulty of the puzzles is somewhat variable and some levels hardly qualify as puzzles. But overall the game is fun and entertaining.
I have included some hints and solutions to some of the trickiest levels below, just highlight the panel with the mouse to see them.

Freeware -- Download size 4.1MB -- Win 2000, XP, Vista

Note: the game isn't on the authors web site yet, but this is a direct link:
http://www.venbrux.com/karoshi/karoshi.zip


Authors web site: http://www.venbrux.com/

Castle of Elite.

Castle of Elite is a puzzle game set in a castle. To complete all fiftythree levels, your character must solve puzzles and collect coins, by placing, or destroying blocks and tripping switches, while avoiding traps and dangerous creatures.
The graphics are simple, but nicely drawn and animated and you have a choice of characters. The background music is pleasant, but can be turned down, or off, in the options, as can the sound effects.

Your characters movement is controlled by the keyboard and blocks are placed, or destroyed with the mouse. I found the controls to be very good, with the exception of the right mouse button, which seemed to have a slight delay, when destroying blocks.
The first twelve levels are tutorial levels with helpful hints, the following levels get progressively harder, with medium, hard and elite levels. Completing half the levels in a section, unlocks the next section, completing all the levels in a section unlocks a secret level. An easy to use level editor is included, to allow you to create your own levels.
I found the medium levels to be fairly tricky and the hard levels are very difficult.
Update: I have just managed to solve all the hard levels and unlocked the extremely tricky elite levels (Hurrah).
Castle of Elite is very well made, with some excellent puzzles, a comprehensive help file (press F1) and good menu, with useful options.

Freeware -- Download size 1.59MB -- Win 98SE,ME,2000,XP, possibly Vista.
Note: Does not need installing, just unzip and play.

http://www.remar.se/daniel/castle.php

Piramidka v1.0

Piramidka is a solitaire type game, played with dominos. You start with twentyeight dominos arranged in a pyramid. The uppermost domino and the bottom row of dominos are showing their faces. You must match pairs of dominos, whose face value totals twelve. The matched dominos are then removed and any face down dominos that no longer have either a domino above, or below them, can be turned over.
You win if you remove all the dominos, you lose if you get stuck, with no more matches.

You can change the appearance of the game, with a selection of backgrounds and domino styles, including a couple with numbers rather than spots.

If you enjoy the solitaire game that comes with Windows, you will probably like Piramidka. It is quite hard to win and I played about fifteen games before I succeeded (I was beginning to wonder if it was possible). A good help file is included, with tips on game strategy, which I suggest you read, if you ever want to win!
Overall, a nice little game and adding up the spots should help children, with their mental arithmetic skills.

Free (postcardware) -- Download size 491K -- Win 95,98,ME,NT,2000,XP

http://programyaionela.republika.pl/english/piramid.htm

No Friction.

No Friction is a very tricky, twenty level, puzzle game.
Each level is completed by guiding your ball to the hole, which is protected by force fields, which you disable, by collecting all the green dots.
Once the ball (controlled by the arrow keys) is set in motion, it will continue until it meets an obstacle. If the ball collides with a spike, or force field, the level restarts. Your progress can be saved with the F3 key.
When you complete all five levels, of each of the four difficulty sections, you are given a quarter of the solution to the fiendishly difficult level X.

The graphics are simple, but suit the gameplay, making it easy to see what is happening. The music is terribly annoying (particularly the title screen music) and there is no off switch, so either turn off your speakers, or plug your ears!

When I played the first five levels of No Friction, I thought it was rather too easy, but it soon gets very difficult, with some well designed levels.
If you enjoy puzzles No Friction is definitely worth trying, it's just a shame about that music..........

Freeware -- Download size 751KB -- Win 98SE,ME,2000,XP

Note: Does not need installing, just unzip and play.

http://www.remar.se/daniel/friction.php

Open source (free) game -- Project Sokoban v3.0.

This is an OS version of the popular sokoban game. The object of the game, is to push the boxes (or crates, marbles, balls etc) into marked positions on each level, only one box can be pushed at a time and boxes cannot be pulled. Once each box is in position the level is complete.
It sounds easy, but can be extremely difficult and is very absorbing for puzzle fans. Levels often look impossible, but with time and perseverance they can be solved.

Project Sokoban lacks the sound and visual effects of many sokoban remakes, but it scores highly in game play.
There are over 600 hundred levels (split into several level sets), which should keep the most enthusiastic puzzler occupied for some time.
You can control your block pusher with the arrow keys, or the mouse. There is a pathfinding feature when using the mouse, click on your destination and providing the path is clear, the pusher will move there.
You can undo your moves if you make a mistake, or redo them if you change your mind again, if you are really stuck you can reset the level.
Unlike many sokoban games, you can play any level you want, simply load a level set and choose your level, there is even a level thumbnail viewer to aid your selection.
You can customise the games appearance, with a selection of skins (I'm using heavy metal) and with a little time and effort you can even make your own skin.

Project Sokoban is one of the best versions of sokoban that I have played, it lacks fancy frills, but the game play is solid, with loads of levels and useful features. There is no help file, but the controls are self-explanatory.

Open Source (free) -- Download size 918k -- No spec given, tested on XP.
Note: Does not need installing, unzip and click Sokoban to run (all settings are contained within the folder, so can be used as a portable app).

http://home.versatel.nl/benruyl/sokoban.html

WinLems v1.24 by Warren Galyen

WinLems is a remake of the classic Lemmings game. You are in charge of a group of lemmings, who have no concept of personal safety and will walk into any deadly hazard. Your task is to help them reach safety by ordering them to dig, build, climb, or parachute, around obstacles.

For each level you are given a variety of skills that you can bestow on a lemming. Choose a skill, for example building and click on a lemming, he will now start building a short set of steps. By using a variety of skills you can make a safe path through the level.
Each level is different and you will be given a number of lemmings and the percentage that you need to save. The number of available skills will also vary, as will the number of times you can assign that skill.

There are over a hundred levels, from very easy, to extremely difficult. You can choose individual levels to play, but new levels only become available when you have completed the previous level.
A level editor is included so that you make your own levels. Note that the levels need to be saved with the file suffix .dat, so that they are recognised.

WinLems is a pretty good remake of the original, the graphics aren't quite as good as the non-freeware Psygnosis version that I've got, but the gameplay is just as good.
One area where WinLems does fall down, is the complete lack of a help file, so here are a few of the controls:

Move left and right through a level, using the A and Z keys, or the mouse on the map.
The plus and minus signs speed up, or slow down the rate at which lemmings drop through the trap door.
The atomic bomb logo, will explode all the lemmings on a level, use it to clear blockers at the end of a level, so that the level will finish.
S key = sound on/off
M key = music on/off
V key = visual effects on/off (only turn off if you have a very, very, very old computer)
F key = speed up lemmings (useful at the end of a level)

If you have never played before, Wikipedia has a good section, describing all you need to know about saving lemmings.

Freeware -- Download size 750k -- Win 95,98,NT4,Me,2000,XP

http://www.wildfiredesign.net/software/winlems/index.html

Linx V1.00 by Maurice Zarzycki and Cage

Linx is a logic puzzle game, you must connect all bases of the same colour together, but the paths you create to connect the bases, must not cross paths of a different colour.
The game has forty built in levels and a level editor is included, so that you can create your own levels.
For a puzzle game, Linx has some very slick graphics and effects. The background music is quite catchy and the sound effects work fairly well. Sensibly both the music and sound effects can be turned off in the options, or with the M key (music), F key (sound effects).

Linx is an easy game to learn and play. Click on a base and hold the mouse button down while dragging, to create an appropriately coloured path, when all the bases of the same colour are connected, a tick appears in them. When every base, of every colour has a tick, the level is complete.
You can delete paths with the right mouse button, or simply build your new path over them. Change path colours by clicking on a different base.
If there is only a single base of one colour, you must connect it, to itself, by running a path to two different faces.
The amount of paths available for a level, is shown on the top left of the window.
The main campaign game comprises forty levels and your progress is automatically saved, early levels are easy, but later levels can get quite tricky, but all levels are solvable.
The custom levels are mainly simple tutorial levels at the moment, but new levels are being created and uploaded to the authors web site.

To create your own level, go to "custom levels" in the menu, then select "create your levels" a playing area will open.
The editor controls are listed in the help section.
When you are happy with your level (remember it must be solvable!), click S to save it.
Levels are saved as simple text files, which can be uploaded to the authors web site if you want to share them. Downloaded levels can be imported into the custom levels, identical levels are not imported, which I felt was a nice feature.

Overall I thought that Linx was very good, it does have a few flaws, the help file could be better (read both the readme txt and the built in help), the levels fade out too quickly after you have completed them and the menu font is hard to read. But the game itself is very playable and polished, well worth downloading.

Note: Linx runs in a window, rather than fullscreen, which is why it looks slightly odd, if you are running at 800*600, like me.

Freeware -- Download size 2.18Mb -- Win 98SE,ME,2000,XP

http://www.mauft.i365.pl/games/index.php?page=13

Freeware game -- Winsoko.

Winsoko is a version of the puzzle game Sokoban.
The object of the game is to push the crates onto the green blobs, once all the crates are in position, the level is complete, simple eh......
There are over 500 rooms, that can be played in any order, the difficulty ranges from fairly easy, to very hard. I managed to complete quite a few of the small rooms, but none of the large rooms (but I presume they are all solvable).
You can undo moves and when you complete a room, you can save the solution and then replay it. If you are particularly intelligent you can create your own levels using notepad.
Although Winsoko has very basic graphics, it does have some nice features and enough rooms, to keep Sokoban fans occupied for some time.

Note: The program shortcut is installed in the start menu, under games.

Freeware -- Download size 246k -- Win 95,98,Me,NT,2000,XP

http://www.mtg.sk/rva/

Click 'N Slide.

Click 'N Slide is a straightforward puzzle game, rearrange the jumbled pieces of the image, to create the original picture.

There is a choice of twelve different pictures and you can set the puzzle difficulty, from an easy 3 x 3 grid, up to a tricky 6 x 6 grid. The time taken to complete the puzzle is shown, along with how many moves you have made and the percentage of completed puzzle.

This is a nicely made version of the standard click and slide puzzle, with a good selection of pictures.


Freeware -- Download size 537k -- Tested on Win 98, XP
No install needed, just unzip, click and play.

Click 'N Slide

Adjunct Blaster by Brandon Staggs.

Adjunct Blaster is a Tetris style game. As pairs of coloured blocks fall down the screen, you must align four or more blocks, of the same colour, into a group, horizontally, or vertically, the blocks will then vanish. There are a couple of special blocks to help (or hinder) you, the mystery block, that doesn't reveal its colour, until placed and the very useful Blaster Blocks, creating a group of four, destroys every block to the left and right, of themselves.
When the stack of blocks reaches the top of the game area, the game is over.

The game has a nice colourful display and some pleasing graphic effects. The sound effects are simple and well chosen.
The game is easy to play and starts quite slowly, but it took me quite a while to get used to the controls, the Up arrow key drops the blocks right down the screen, which seemed a bit unnatural, it can also repeat rather to quickly, dropping a second pair.
But once you get used to the controls, the game is fun and making vertical stacks of Blaster Blocks becomes the top priority.
The game speeds up as each level is completed and extra blocks are added to the bottom of your stack.
The game doesn't have any options, but there is a very good help file and an attractive high score table.

If you enjoy Tetris style games, you should find Adjunct Blaster fun, with its attractive appearance and Blaster Blocks feature.

Freeware -- Download size 1.2Mb -- Win 98 or better.

http://www.studylamp.com/adjunctblaster.html

Blocco by Darren McLeod.

Blocco is a fairly straightforward push the blocks type puzzle. Blocco must escape each room, by pressing all the switches, to open the door. But he must avoid falling into holes, or being shot by the four-way lasers. He can fill holes and block lasers, by pushing blocks about.

The graphics are quite cute, with an animated Blocco, although the orange background in the second world is rather bright.
The short loop of background music will drive you to distraction after a short while and there is no option to turn it off, I had to turn my speakers off.

The levels on Blocco get progressively harder and by the second world the game is quite tricky and I kept getting shot through lack of concentration.
If you get stuck in a room, you can press Return to restart the room, but you lose a life. (which is a bit harsh)
You can't save your progress in each room, but once you complete a world, the next is unlocked and you can restart the game on that world.

Presentation is good, with an animated title screen and short but informative help file.
Sadly the game has a few minus points, it lacks any options and the only way to exit the game from a room, is to deliberately kill off Blocco. There also appears to be a bug, that crashes the game if you return to the menu and then try to restart a world.

Overall quite a good game, with some challenging puzzles (in the later levels), but allow yourself at least half an hours playing time, so that you can finish a world and save your progress.

Freeware -- Download size 1.31Mb -- Win 95, 98, NT, 2k, ME, XP

Note: You will also need to download the file cncs232.dll (130k) from the site, unzip it and put it in the game folder.

http://www.acoders.com/acsite/viewsoftware.php?id=27

Photoscramble v2.0 by Bas de Reuver.

Photoscramble is a remake of the famous 15 puzzle. The puzzle consists of puzzle tiles which need to be shuffled around to reconstruct the original picture.

You can slide the tiles using the cursor keys or by clicking the mouse.Select any bmp or jpg pictures as puzzle background. Simply choose 'Open picture' from the 'Game' menu or drag-and-drop the image file onto the program. Press PageUp or PageDown keys to cycle through all pictures located in the same folder as the opened picture. From the 'Zoom' menu, you can increase or decrease the picture size by selecting a zoom factor other than 100%. This can come in handy when the picture is too big or too small. Select 100% for normal picture size.

On the 'settings' menu you can adjust the grid size and border size. You can toggle the grid, tilenumbers, time display and moves display on or off. When tilenumbers are displayed, the tiles are numbered ascending from the top-left corner downto the bottom-right corner.

Freeware -- Download size 290k

http://members.home.nl/bas.de.reuver/files.html

Snake Slider by Bas de Reuver.

Snake Slider is a puzzle game in the same vein as the classic Rush Hour, but instead of maneuvering cars about, you must guide a green snake head first to the exit. Blocking the path of the green snake is one, or more yellow snakes and in later games, items such as blocks, locks, keys, apples and mushrooms, help and hinder your snakes progress.

The game has twentyfive normal puzzles, which just feature snakes and twentyfive extra puzzles, which contain snakes and hazards. There is also a level editor so that you can create your own puzzles.

The game is easy to control, just drag the snake of your choice by his head or tail. Yellow snakes can't go past the exit, but they can move blocks and eat apples and mushrooms.
I completed most of the levels, but you can skip a level if you are having problems, I found that the solutions to seemingly unsolvable levels often turned out to be very simple. (after a lot of thought)

A very good game, in my opinion better than the original Rush Hour game, the puzzles are excellent and graphics are nice.

Freeware -- Download size 240k.
Note: There is an extra 5k file on the web page that contains lots more puzzles.

http://members.home.nl/bas.de.reuver/files.html

LaserTank.

Despite the arcade sounding name, this is actually an excellent puzzle game, with 2030 levels!!! You play a small tank and you have to capture the flag, moving a space at a time and avoiding obstacles and destroying enemy guns.

The game has a lot of options and you can even create and submit your own levels, there is a choice of downloads, but I would choose the newest, version 4.0.

Freeware -- Download size 560k -- Win 95 or better.

http://www.jccontrols.net/laser/

Acidbomb v.1.0 by David Galindo.

Acidbomb is an original puzzle game, featuring fifty levels. You must defuse a variety of bomb types, each with their own characteristics, before the time runs out. As you progress you can unlock a Virtual Bomb Simulator, which enables you to create your own bombs and a mini game called Ac!drop.

Although the playing area is fairly simple, the game graphics are quite impressive, everything fits together seamlessly and there are lots of special effects.
The game comes in two versions, one with music, one without, I tried the version without, because the music adds 10Mb to the download, but the music has had some very positive mentions in the GM forum, so if possible try the with music version. The varied sound effects added to the tension, when the bomb timer gets to the last few seconds.

The principle of the game is quite simple, you have two, or three, detector beams (SDU's), these can detect how many pistons (triggers) exist in a row of tiles. But the beams cant tell you the position of the tiles, this you must deduce by moving the beams back and forth. The position where beams intersect can be very useful, as although two beams cross a single tile, only one piston will register on the detector.
You can mark the position of pistons with an exclamation mark, clear tiles with a cross and possible pistons with a question mark.
Once you think that you have found all the pistons for a bomb, you can detonate the bomb to see if you are correct. (seems to be rather a hazardous method of testing )
I found the game rather difficult, but with practice you develop techniques for detecting the pistons and you can attempt to defuse each bomb multiple times, the position of the pistons change with each fresh attempt, to add replay value to the game.

Presentation is excellent, with a Pdf manual and animated tutorial, pressing F1 brings up the game controls and you can visit the bomb disposal school, for brief reminders of individual bomb characteristics. You can choose between three game slots and your progress is saved automatically.

To conclude, a very good puzzle game and quite original, it reminded me of Suduko, but with some rather large differences. It should keep even expert puzzlers entertained for quite some time.

Freeware -- Download size 2.83Mb, + music 12Mb -- Win 98SE,ME,XP,2000

http://www.vertigogaming.net/

Note: If you enjoy puzzles you might also like to try Liquisity, from the same author.

Jigsaw Puzzle Lite.

This is a feature limited, but still playable Jigsaw puzzle. It comes with a small selection of puzzle pictures, but these are limited to a very small number of puzzle pieces, unless you purchase the full version of the program. However, you can add your own pictures, which enables you to use all the program features.
There is no help file, but most of the options are simple enough. Choose "user" from the puzzle packs along the top of the window and then "create" to browse for a bmp, or jpg picture on your computer, you then select the number of pieces and whether they are randomly rotated, or in the correct orientation.

Large pictures are resized to fit the playing area and you can choose how you would like the pieces arranged on the board. There is the option to have a "ghost" image, or resizable (and moveable) thumbnail of the picture.
As with all computer based jigsaw puzzles there is a lack of space to spread out the pieces, but there are four slide out draws to help and usefully you can assemble pieces in the draws, as well as store them.
The time taken to complete a puzzle is recorded and partly completed puzzles are automatically saved for later.

I quite enjoyed playing with the jigsaws, the mouse control is positive and creating and modifying your puzzles is very easy. It is a shame that you can't modify the pictures that come with the program, but it's simple enough to Google for images on the internet, or use pictures from your camera, or phone.
As the program is essentially an advert for their other programs, it does install quite a few menu shortcuts, but there is no intrusive advertising and the program is well behaved.

Note: The Jigsaw Puzzle Lite uninstaller does not remove the start menu shortcuts that promote other KraiSoft products, you will need to manually delete these. If you have no other KraiSoft products installed, you can also remove the KraiSoft folder, located at:
C:\Program Files\KraiSoft
If you are not sure how to do this, don't worry, leaving it will do no harm.

Freeware (feature limited) -- Download size 8.62Mb -- Win98/ME/2000/XP

http://www.kraisoft.com/puzzle-games/jigsaw/

Lab Escape by Vexblackheart.

This is the first game by Vexblackheart, which makes it an outstanding effort, the basic idea is quite simple, you are a mouse trying to escape from the lab and you must reach the staircase to get to the next level of the lab.

Of course nothing is ever that simple, your mouse must collect gems as he goes along, these unlock the gate blocking the stairs, he must also avoid the moving hazards. (Not sure what they are supposed to be, but avoid them nonetheless. )
As well as this your mouse has to make use of wooden platforms that he can move to span gaps, a nice touch that I haven't seen in this kind of game before, is that the mouse can run over the blocks when they are pushed against a wall.
Further obstacles are arrow tiles which only allow him to move in one direction and teleporters that jump him to a different part of the room. (There is a very good teleporter level, which has lots of separate sections and is quite puzzling.)

I haven't got all that far in the game yet, so there are probably some obstacles I have yet to see. There are at least thirtyfive levels so the game should keep even a keen puzzler busy for quite a while.
It is possible to restart a level by pressing R, but this costs you one life and one hundred points, a serious omission is the inability to save the game, this is rather a nuisance, particularly if like me you like to play a few levels and then return to the game later.

The controls are the arrow keys and the author has made good use of the snap to grid system, to give your mouse very positive control, the graphics are cute if not outstanding, they are a bit on the small size, but this is to allow the use of larger rooms later on. The background music is quite nice and the author has wisely refrained from using intrusive sound effects, that only get irritating in a puzzle game.
Overall a nice little game, very playable and an excellent first game, a sign of brilliance to follow perhaps.

Freeware -- Download size 2.9Mb -- Win 98,ME,XP,NT4,2000

http://mirrorofchaos.tripod.com/games/

Warehouse by Jaron.

This is a push the blocks type puzzle, but with a couple of twists, firstly you are driving a little forklift and secondly the game is done with an isometric view.
There are twentyone levels which get progressively more difficult with a combination of more blocks and increasingly complex layouts. The levels are done very well and are quite hard, several times I thought I had the levels solved, just to run into problems at the end.

Although the game seems bug free, it is let down rather badly by the choice of the key pad keys for control, the arrow keys would have been a better choice, I found myself going the wrong direction time and time again.
Fortunately Jaron has included an undo feature so you can rectify accidental mistakes, you can also skip levels with the shift key if you get stuck.

The games biggest attraction is the graphics, they are excellent, with the isometric view giving a very good 3D effect, I particularly like how the boxes sit with a little gap between them, rather than butting up against each other, excellent use of the depth control.
Sadly there is no sound in the game, I don't really miss having music, that is very much a personal choice, but a few mild sound effects would have been nice and they were notable by their absence.

So in conclusion a visually excellent game with very good puzzles, but the game play is rather let down by the awkward controls and lack of sounds. The addition of a title screen would be a nice touch and further utilize Jarons obvious artistic talents.

Freeware -- Download size 752k -- Win 98,ME,XP,NT4,2000

http://home.worldonline.co.za/~20022694/games.html

While you are at Jarons site you might like to try his puzzle game Milo & Spot. This is a fairly simple puzzle game suitable for younger children, who will enjoy making the little dog run through the one hundred and thirty levels collecting bones, newspapers and tennis balls.

Rush hour by Magnitude.

A classic game, your car is blocked in by other vehicles, move them to escape and progress to the next level.

The game is mouse controlled and this works well enough, providing you move the cars in a positive manner.
The graphics are quite nice, with a slight 3D effect and I liked the little car that moved across the screen when you solved a level.
I found the music very annoying, very quickly and as there is no off button, I had to turn the speakers off, which is always irritating.

The game was quite nice to play and as you finished each level, you moved to the next with a minimum of drama. I would have liked a reset button for when I really messed up a level, but your progress is saved every five levels and you can have multiple save files.
The puzzle difficulty increases quite slowly and there are forty levels.

The presentation was not bad, with a very nice title screen, I liked the background effect. But the help file was a bit too sparse and the background made it hard to read.
To sum up, a pretty good puzzle game, it kept me occupied for quite a while, although some more options would have been nice and the music is not needed in a puzzle game and just adds to the download size.

Freeware -- Download size 1.4Mb -- Win 98,ME,XP,NT4,2000

http://www.freewebs.com/themagnitude/

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