Free Puzzle Generator – Online Puzzle Maker for KDP: So you’re thinking of getting into KDP publishing but can’t seem to find the right tools? Well, we’ve scoured the internet and found some of the best options for creating a variety of amazing puzzles – all absolutely free.
At the end, I’ve also included the paid tool that I use to make $2000 a month in KDP sales.
Sudoku
Sudoku is one of the most popular games that adults and kids of all ages can enjoy. It’s a number game that doesn’t require any math in order to play. Many people are able to make a full-time income simply from selling sudoku puzzle books. To make a good sudoku puzzle book, you need to make sure that you puzzles are large enough to view for most people, have a good sized gutter in the margin, and have the right level of difficulty for your audience.
My favorite free sudoku puzzle generator is OpenSky.
Why People Love Sudoku
Sudoku is a popular number puzzle that offers a unique and engaging experience. Here are some reasons why Sudoku can be so much fun:
- Logic and Problem Solving: Solving Sudoku involves analyzing the given clues, making deductions, and applying logical strategies to fill in the remaining empty cells. The challenge of finding the right placements and unraveling the puzzle can be intellectually stimulating and satisfying.
- Accessibility: Sudoku puzzles are accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. The rules are easy to understand, and no specific mathematical knowledge is required. Sudoku doesn’t rely on language or cultural references, making it a universal puzzle that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their language or cultural background.
- Focus and Relaxation: Playing Sudoku can be a great way to focus your mind and achieve a state of relaxation. Concentrating on the puzzle and analyzing the relationships between numbers can help you enter a meditative state, providing a break from daily stresses. Many people find solving Sudoku to be a calming and therapeutic activity.
- Gradual Progression: Sudoku puzzles often have a gradual level of difficulty. They usually start with a few initial clues, allowing you to make progress and gain confidence in your solving abilities. As you fill in more numbers and apply logical strategies, the puzzle gradually becomes more challenging, keeping you engaged and motivated to solve it.
- Variety and Variation: Sudoku comes in various forms and levels of complexity. There are different grid sizes, such as 4×4, 6×6, and 9×9, each offering a different level of challenge. Additionally, variations of Sudoku, such as Killer Sudoku, Diagonal Sudoku, or Irregular Sudoku, introduce additional rules or constraints, adding a new dimension to the puzzle-solving experience. This variety allows Sudoku enthusiasts to explore different styles and variations, keeping the game fresh and interesting.
- Time Pressure: Some Sudoku players enjoy the added thrill of solving puzzles against the clock. Time-based challenges, such as trying to beat personal bests or competing with others, can increase the excitement and provide an extra layer of motivation.
- Achievement and Satisfaction: Successfully completing a Sudoku puzzle – especially a challenging one – can provide a sense of accomplishment. The feeling of cracking a difficult puzzle or filling in the final number can be incredibly rewarding, boosting your confidence and providing a sense of achievement.
These factors, along with the ability to pick up a Sudoku puzzle and play it anytime and anywhere, contribute to the enduring appeal and fun of Sudoku. It offers a mentally stimulating and enjoyable experience that keeps people coming back for more.
Word Search
Word searches are always popular. They’re great for learning new words when you’re young and for keeping your brain sharp when you’re older. Good word search books require a good word list, well-sized puzzles and a good gutter. You can check out some of the best word lists here. If you want to learn how to make amazing puzzles that sell, you need to have a physical copy in front of you that has made thousands of sales already. Learn from the best.
My favorite free word search generator is from HelpTeaching.
Why People Love Word Searches
Word search puzzles are a popular word game that offers a fun and engaging experience. Here are some reasons why word search puzzles can be so much fun:
- Word Recognition and Pattern Finding: It can be exciting to locate words amidst a sea of letters and to see patterns and connections emerge. The process of visually scanning the grid and spotting the words provides a sense of accomplishment.
- Vocabulary Building: Word search puzzles can help expand your vocabulary. By searching for and identifying words, you may encounter new and unfamiliar terms. This exposure to a variety of words can help you learn new words and improve your vocabulary.
- Relaxation and Mindfulness: Engaging in a word search puzzle can be a relaxing and calming activity. Focusing on finding words in a grid allows you to shift your attention away from everyday worries.
- Challenge and Mental Stimulation: Word search puzzles offer varying levels of difficulty. Some puzzles may have straightforward word placements, while others can be more challenging with words hidden diagonally, backwards, or in other tricky orientations. The challenge of finding all the words within a given set of letters can provide mental stimulation and keep you engaged.
- Quick and Portable: Word search puzzles are often compact and easy to carry around, making them a convenient option for on-the-go entertainment. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or want a quick mental exercise during breaks, word search puzzles can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. They offer a short burst of fun and mental engagement.
- Variety and Themes: Word search puzzles come in a variety of themes and topics, catering to different interests and preferences. You can find word searches related to animals, sports, movies, geography, and more. This variety allows you to choose puzzles that align with your interests, adding an extra layer of enjoyment and personalization.
Overall, word search puzzles offer a blend of word recognition, mental challenge, relaxation, and vocabulary building. They provide a satisfying and entertaining experience that appeals to a wide range of people, from puzzle enthusiasts to those looking for a leisurely pastime.
Mazes
Mazes can draw you in and keep you busy for hours. The following maze generator software has a lot of options to make puzzles for any age and difficulty level.
My favorite free maze generator is MazeGenerator.
Why People Love Mazes
Maze puzzles offer several elements that make them a fun for many people. Here are some reasons why maze puzzles are so entertaining:
- Challenge: Maze puzzles provide a sense of challenge and accomplishment. Figuring out the correct path through a complex maze requires problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and spatial reasoning. The feeling of overcoming obstacles and reaching the goal can be highly rewarding.
- Engagement: Mazes can captivate your attention and engage your mind. As you navigate through the twists and turns, your focus and concentration are required, creating an immersive experience. This engagement can be a great way to escape from everyday stress and stimulate your brain.
- Exploration and Discovery: Mazes often offer a sense of exploration and discovery. You never know what lies around the corner or what surprises you might encounter. Exploring different pathways and uncovering hidden passages or rewards within the maze can be exciting and satisfying.
- Visual Appeal: Many maze puzzles are visually appealing, with intricate designs, colorful illustrations, or interesting themes. The visual aspect adds to the enjoyment, making the puzzle more aesthetically pleasing and enticing to solve.
- Replayability: Mazes often have a high replayability factor. Even if you have solved a maze once, you can try it again and challenge yourself to find new paths or beat your previous time. This replayability allows for continued enjoyment and the opportunity to improve your skills.
- Social Interaction: Maze puzzles can be a fun activity to do with others. Whether you’re solving a maze together or competing to see who can solve it the fastest, it can foster friendly competition, collaboration, and shared experiences.
- Sense of Achievement: Successfully solving a challenging maze puzzle can provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The feeling of mastering a complex problem and reaching the goal can boost your confidence and provide a sense of fulfillment.
Overall, maze puzzles combine elements of challenge, engagement, exploration, and achievement, making them an enjoyable pastime for many people. They offer a blend of mental stimulation, visual appeal, and the thrill of overcoming obstacles, which contributes to their enduring popularity.
Coloring Books
Kids love coloring books. These are popular all year round to keep kids busy, but they sell exceptionally well during Christmas. The following tool beats out the other options because it not only removes the color from images, but it also has an adjustable slider that allows you manipulate the final image to make it as clear as possible for your book.
My favorite free coloring book generator is from RapidResizer.
Why People Love Coloring Books
Coloring books offer a delightful and enjoyable experience for people of all ages. Here are some reasons why coloring books can be so much fun:
- Creativity and Self-expression: Coloring books provide an outlet for creativity and self-expression. They offer a blank canvas where you can choose colors, experiment with different shading techniques, and bring life to the illustrations. Coloring allows you to personalize and add your unique touch to each page, fostering a sense of artistic fulfillment.
- Relaxation and Mindfulness: Engaging in coloring can be a calming and soothing activity. It allows you to focus your attention on the present moment, promoting mindfulness and relaxation. The repetitive and rhythmic motion of coloring can be meditative, reducing stress and anxiety. It serves as a form of mental escape, providing a break from daily pressures.
- Nostalgia and Childhood Memories: Coloring books often evoke nostalgia and bring back fond memories of childhood. Many people have nostalgic feelings associated with coloring, recalling the joy of sitting down with a box of crayons and coloring books as a child. Engaging in coloring as an adult can evoke a sense of nostalgia and reconnect with those carefree moments.
- Accessible and Portable: Coloring books are accessible and easy to engage with. They require no special skills or artistic training, making them enjoyable for people of all ages and artistic abilities. Coloring books are often portable and can be taken anywhere, providing a portable form of entertainment and relaxation.
- Variety and Themes: Coloring books come in a wide range of themes and designs. You can find coloring books featuring intricate patterns, animals, nature scenes, mandalas, fantasy worlds, and more. This variety allows you to choose coloring books that align with your interests and preferences, providing an opportunity to immerse yourself in themes that you find visually appealing.
Coloring books offer a combination of creative expression, relaxation, nostalgia, and accessible enjoyment. They provide a delightful and therapeutic experience that allows individuals to unwind, engage their imagination, and create beautiful artwork.
Crosswords
I love doing crosswords and there are loads of people that still enjoy them. Making a good crossword book is more difficult than most other puzzles. This also means that there are fewer people are selling them online, so there’s much less competition.
My favorite free crossword puzzle generator is CrosswordLabs.
Why People Love Crosswords
Crossword puzzles are a classic and popular word game that can provide a highly enjoyable experience. Here are some reasons why crosswords can be so much fun:
- Wordplay and Language Skills: Crossword puzzles challenge your vocabulary, language skills, and knowledge. Solving clues requires you to think critically, make connections between words, and engage in wordplay. The process of searching for the right words and fitting them into the grid can be intellectually stimulating and satisfying.
- Mental Stimulation: Crossword puzzles offer a mental workout. They require you to think analytically, make deductions, and use problem-solving skills to find the correct answers. The challenge of deciphering the clues and filling in the grid engages your mind, keeping it active and sharp.
- Variety of Difficulty Levels: Crossword puzzles come in various difficulty levels, from easy to challenging. This range allows both beginners and experienced solvers to find puzzles that suit their skill level. The ability to gradually progress to more difficult crosswords or take on challenging themes adds to the enjoyment and sense of accomplishment.
- Sense of Achievement: Successfully completing a crossword puzzle can provide a tremendous sense of achievement. The feeling of filling in the final letter, completing a challenging section, or solving a particularly tricky clue can be highly rewarding. Crosswords offer a tangible measure of progress and accomplishment.
- Learning and Knowledge Expansion: Crossword puzzles can be educational and help broaden your knowledge base. The clues often cover a wide range of topics, from history and literature to science and pop culture. As you solve crosswords, you can learn new facts, expand your vocabulary, and deepen your understanding of various subjects.
Crosswords offer a combination of mental stimulation, wordplay, learning, and a sense of accomplishment. They provide a challenging and rewarding experience that engages your mind, enhances your language skills, and offers an entertaining way to expand your knowledge.
Color By Number
This is another difficult puzzle type to make. There will be a lot of trial and error before you get the final image done correctly, but once you’re done – you’ll have a product that most people are unable to create.
My favorite free color by number generator is PBNify.
Why People Love Color By Number
Color by number activities offer a unique and enjoyable experience, particularly for those who appreciate a mix of creativity and structure. Here are some reasons why color by number can be so much fun:
- Simplified Coloring Process: Color by number provides a guided and simplified coloring process. Each area of the image is assigned a specific number, and a corresponding color is indicated. This structure eliminates the need to make color choices, allowing you to focus on filling in the spaces with the designated colors. It can be a relaxing and stress-free way to engage in coloring without the pressure of color selection.
- Easy to Follow: Color by number activities are straightforward and easy to follow. The numbers and colors create a clear visual guide, making it accessible for people of all ages and artistic abilities. The simplicity of the process allows you to immerse yourself in the coloring experience without the need for complex instructions or techniques.
- Visual Surprise: Color by number often presents a pleasant surprise as the image gradually comes to life. As you progress and fill in more spaces with the designated colors, the picture starts to take shape, revealing a beautiful and cohesive image. This visual transformation can be exciting and rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
- Variety of Images: Color by number activities come in a wide range of themes and images. You can find color by number books or digital apps featuring animals, landscapes, mandalas, famous artworks, and more. This variety allows you to choose images that resonate with your interests and preferences, making the coloring experience even more enjoyable.
- Engaging and Relaxing: Coloring by number can be a highly engaging and relaxing activity. It allows you to focus your attention on the task at hand, promoting mindfulness and relaxation. The repetitive and rhythmic motion of coloring within the designated spaces can be soothing and provide a meditative effect, helping to reduce stress and promote a sense of calm.
Color by number offers a blend of structure, creativity, and visual satisfaction. It provides a guided and accessible coloring experience that can be relaxing, engaging, and enjoyable for individuals of various ages and skill levels.
Best Puzzle Generator (Paid)
And now for the puzzle generator that I use to make a full-time income selling KDP puzzle books. Unlike the other puzzle generators I’ve used in the past, this tool gives me complete control of how the final product looks. Instead of having a website making the puzzle and being stuck with a final product that I don’t like – I can now edit everything, the position of the puzzles, fonts, sizes, number of puzzles per page, pretty much everything. The software creator even has a Facebook page that you can contact him on to request changes/additions to the software. The best part is that it’s an add-on for Powerpoint. If you’ve used Powerpoint before, you’ll know that it is the perfect tool for designing puzzles, and they can be easily converted into PDFs directly in Powerpoint.
There are constant updates and puzzles being added, but the current list of puzzles included consists of – sudoku, word search, crosswords, coloring pages, calcudoku, tic tac toe, nurikabe, kakurasu, number place, ABC path, hangman, missing vowels, word scramble, skyscraper, mazes, cryptograms, word puzzles, mine finder and warships.
This is the best puzzle generator I’ve ever come across.
