The founders of Chicago-based Cards Against Humanity are giving a major facelift to the traditional jigsaw puzzle with a new game made with original artwork, narrative "Easter egg" details and a magic surprise ending once the final puzzle piece is put into place.
Cards Against Humanity co-creators Max Temkin and Ben Hantoot have launched The Magic Puzzle Company, which designs 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles---with a twist. Once the last piece is assembled, the player unlocks a magical illusion that completes the puzzle's narrative.
The creators wouldn't say specifically what the illusion was---in order to not spoil the surprise---but Temkin said the illusion is physical, not optical, and is based off of a principle of magic that dates back hundreds of years.
The company's three different puzzles are currently on Kickstarter, where they've raised more than $2.7 million from more than 50,000 backers. It's the most-backed puzzle project ever on Kickstarter.
The Magic Puzzle Company is launching at a time when the popularity of jigsaw puzzles is skyrocketing amid stay-home orders and Covid-related quarantines. The massive interest in the magic puzzles even surprised Hantoot and Temkin.
"It's absolutely crushing what we expected. We had no idea it was going grow this much," Hantoot said. "We went into this project with the goal of trying to make every moment of your experience with this puzzle just a little more engaging than what you’re used to with a jigsaw puzzle."
The puzzles, created alongside magicians Jordan Gold and Simon Coronel---and artwork designed by independent artists including Chicagoan Sarah Becan---are made with premium puzzle cardboard. As the project took off on Kickstarter, the company had to order extra cardboard material, which was milled just this week.
"Basically we cleaned out the world’s supply of premium puzzle cardboard and we had to have more made to fit the number of people who are requesting puzzles," Temkin said.
One magic jigsaw puzzle costs $20 on Kickstarter, and backers can get all three for $50. The company is eyeing retail sales for the puzzles once the Kickstarter concludes.
