iDventure Pyramid of the Sun: a beginner’s puzzle with a Mayan vibe
30/9/2025
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Ramon Schneider
iDventure’s Pyramid of the Sun looks impressive and feels like a Mayan artefact full of mysteries. In practice, it’s beginner-friendly and a bit disappointing for more advanced puzzle fans.
Puzzle boxes thrive on the element of surprise. Sometimes it’s a mechanism that suddenly releases. Sometimes it’s a symbol that suddenly makes sense. Or it could be a moment when everything fits together. iDventure’s Pyramid of the Sun does offer these elements, but at a level that’s more suited to newbies than experienced puzzle-solvers.
Experience: great visuals, not much challenge
The Pyramid of the Sun looks impressive on the table. The wooden puzzle box features a number of engravings, and the puzzle pieces are detailed. The setting in the Mayan Empire seems coherent. However, as you work through the puzzles, it quickly becomes clear that the challenge is never unmanageable.
The task essentially boils down to correctly fitting the puzzle pieces together to trigger a mechanism. It’s done logically, fairly and solidly. Each side of the pyramid has its own puzzle. Once you’ve solved them, you can open a secret compartment at the top. I solved the pyramid almost exactly within the hour specified, without any major hiccups or moments of frustration.
iDventure also offers expansion sets such as [Aztec Empire]/product/idventure-cluepuzzle-erweiterung-aztekenreich-200-teile-puzzle-49409865) and [Day of the Dead]/product/idventure-cluepuzzle-erweiterung-tag-der-toten-200-teile-puzzle-49429049). While these introduce fresh designs and different themes, they don’t change the mechanics.
Who’s the box best for?
The Sun Pyramid makes a great gift for children, families or people who’ve never tried a puzzle box before. It offers the right amount of puzzle-solving and a sense of achievement without the pressure.
Anyone who’s already completed several boxes or regularly plays escape room games won’t find much new here. The mechanics are simple, and the puzzle sequence is short. For experienced puzzlers, the pyramid’s pretty boring.
In a nutshell
Pretty, but superficial
iDventure’s Sun Pyramid impresses with its design and ease of access. It’s a good entry-level model that can whet your appetite for more. Expansion sets allow you to vary the visuals, but the puzzle depth remains the same. Anyone who’s already deeper into the puzzle world would be better off choosing more complex boxes.
Pro
- Harmonious Mayan design
- Clean finish
- Fair and beginner-friendly
- Good gift idea for children and families
- Expansion sets for more visual variety
Contra
- Too easy for experienced puzzle fans
- Very short puzzle chain
- Practically zero replay value
- Expansions don’t change the mechanics
Header image: Ramon Schneider
I get paid to play with toys all day.
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