Handheld puzzle games are both an entertaining and educational option.
Handheld puzzle games are available in a number of difficulty levels, and feature a variety of play styles. These puzzle games are a way to learn new concepts, all while being entertained. Some handheld electronic puzzle games are only available on handhelds designed for educational gaming, while others are available for phones or game consoles.
Educational Handhelds
Two handheld gaming platforms intended for educational gaming are the MobiGo system from Vtech, and the line of Leapster handheld consoles from Leapfrog. The MobiGo system includes a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen, while the Leapster systems focus on touch screen technology only. Both systems focus on child-friendly titles, often based on characters and franchises from Disney, Dreamworks, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
PSP
The PSP gaming system also features several puzzle games, in various styles of play. In "Lumines," for example, players can challenge themselves in various mini-games, though the overall style of the game resembles "Tetris." Another puzzle title for the PSP, "Loco Roco," is played by tilting the PSP to adjust the center of gravity and roll the characters along to the next level. Other top puzzle games for the PSP include "Mercury Meltdown" and "Exit."
Nintendo DS
The well-known portable gaming system from Nintendo has multiple games that involve quizzes and puzzles. One line of titles -- the "Brain Age" games -- features a wide variety of mini-games that players must complete as fast as possible. Games include math puzzles, word challenges, memory games and music challenges in a wide variety of settings. Games that play a specific type of puzzle are also available, including classic Sudoku and new visual puzzles.
Mobile Phone Games
Other handheld puzzle games are made specifically for mobile phone platforms. In the iPhone title "Toobz," for example, players must connect a trail of water pipes from the water start point to the edge of the screen, all before time runs out. In "Geared," another iPhone title, players must connect different-sized gears to make preexisting gears rotate in a certain direction. Other mobile phone puzzle games include "Bubble Squeeze," "Cut the Rope," "Oregon Trail" and "Block Breaker" -- all available on various phone platforms.
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