Astronaughty Monkeys
When our mate Allard asked us to help with an exchange puzzle for IPP 2024 in Houston, there was only one obvious theme. With us being practically on NASA’s doorstep, we knew exactly where this was going…
Astronaughty Monkeys was our first ever tray-packing puzzle, and timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the first mammal spaceflight by Albert II, a rhesus monkey. Where monkeys lead, others follow.
Your mission is simple: pack five simian astronauts — three stainless steel monkeys and two brass monkeys — into the four 3D printed trays, each with its own space-themed design.
Of course… “simple” is doing a lot of work there.
Each tray is a different challenge, each has a unique solution, and despite there being only five pieces, none are trivial. It’s the kind of puzzle that looks friendly… right up until it isn’t.
The puzzle comes presented in a turquoise sliding-lid tin. (Allard’s exchange versions came in orange, but are otherwise identical.)
We made these a while ago, and we’re not making them again — so if you want one, the time for lift-off is imminent. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven…