Pinwheel Paint-doku Paperback – April 5, 2016

I purchased this expecting it to be paint-duko with the traditional grids with number clues (nongrams, hanjie). These pinwheel designs are more like solving nurikabe puzzles. Still a visual logic/spatial logic puzzle experience, where you shouldn't have to make blind guesses. But they do require a different mental flexibility than nonograms.You start off with a blank grid with white and black dots scattered across the puzzle. The rules are simple: each dot is a center of a rotationally symmetrical piece of any number of blocks in size. You begin drawing in the boundaries that are most obvious, and continue reworking different sections of the puzzle until you have enough logical information to complete the board. I found it helpful to use a single cross hatch through boxes occupied by white pieces so it's easier to tell resolved versus unresolved spaces.I'm attaching a picture of one of the early/simpler puzzles that shows a puzzle near completion. I've let my pencil point at a large pinwheel design that hasn't been filled in yet just to show you how large and complex the pinwheels can be. You can also see what parts of the puzzle are unresolved because they are blank without set boundaries.So, while this was purchased in error, I am very glad I did. I would buy more puzzles like this in the future. This company has made good designs, on good paper, with spiral binding, for very affordable prices. I can't complain at all. I will say my only difficulty with these puzzles is that it is much harder to check your answers/a portion of the puzzle against the answers in the back just because of the puzzle design. There aren't thick grid lines every 5 lines like most nonograms to help you find your spot. (I recommend taking a picture of the answer on your phone/tablet and then zooming in to see better). So pencils not pens for these. Also notice that the last few puzzles in each section of puzzle sizes get very difficult, so if you hit a wall, skip ahead to the next size of puzzles and you'll be back in puzzles you can solve. But try them.

I bought this book because I love Conceptis puzzles; I do not think that they have published one puzzle book that I have not purchased more than once and enjoyed every time. Because this was a new style of puzzle, I honestly let it sit in a drawer for about a month after I bought it. When I finally tried it, I messed up A LOT --- I used the instructions (which I NEVER do as I am do-er not a reader-er when it comes to things like this) and finally got the hang of it about 5 small puzzles in. Once I understood the way to solve it, puzzles got easier and easier to actually complete and the errors got fewer and fewer between. Once I got the hang of it, I absolutely LOVE these puzzles. They are very different from the Paint-Doku that I normally buy (and have bought 10+ of each Paint-Doku book I can find at a minimum) and LOVE but in a very interesting and fun way. It was a nice change of pace to try something new that still requires concentration, logic, and problem solving. The puzzles range from quite simple to difficult, though none are impossible or so difficult it is frustrating. The pictures that you make are cute and interesting as well, not so boring as some of the early Conceptis Paint-Doku books were. Overall, I highly recommend Pinwheel Paint-Doku to ALL original Paint-Doku fans, Conceptis fans, and in general for those that enjoy a little difficulty and problem solving in their puzzle books or those who are new to Paint-Doku and just want something to try out.

No effort required for great mindless fun. Relaxing.

We all love these puzzles. Got this for my son for his 7th birthday and it was a huge hit. My only problem with it is that the pictures that you make are rather boring and particularly lacking in appeal for children. I did one and it ended up being chicken legs with an egg under them. I can't see anyone getting excited about that picture. So, the puzzles get a 5, but the pictures get a generous 3. I hope that they make more of these books, preferably with more appealing pictures. It would also be cool if the dots were colored to make more interesting finished products. Best puzzle idea I've tried in a long time though, I'm totally addicted (but I don't even bother to fill in the pics anymore, they are too boring!)

I'm really enjoying the challenge of these puzzles. I have 3 different "paint-doku" style books from Conceptis Puzzles. I find this one requires the most focused thinking, which for me translates to fun. Good quality paper and binding. Highly recommended!

This is a fantastic new take on picture logic puzzles. I applaud Conceptis for trying something new and different. I am really enjoying solving these new type of puzzles. Give it a try! You will enjoy it!! I am.

I love this and want more like it!!! I cannot seem to find another puzzle book like it

Great way to relax.

OK but I preferred paint-doku

Ich hatte mich sehr gefreut, dass es neues Paint-Doku Spiralbuch gibt, ich liebe diese (vermeintliche) Rätselart. Auch hat mich die Qualität dieser Bücher immer sehr überzeugt.Doch dieses Mal habe ich nicht gründlich geschaut, es handelt sich NICHT um herkömmliche Paint-Doku-Rätsel, sondern eben um "Pinwheel"-Rätsel. Die Seiten übersät mit schwarzen und weißen Kreisen, die Vorgehensweise erschliesst sich mir nicht einmal im Ansatz...Ich werde mich also belesen - gekauft ist gekauft - aber ich bin enttäuscht!Wer allerdings "Pinwheel"-Rätsel sucht, der wird bestimmt zufrieden sein.