19 Christmas Brainteasers You'll Love Unwrapping (original) (raw)

Christmas brainteasers and puzzles

Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year, filled with joyful Christmas activities that bring everyone together. From decorating the tree with glittering lights and ornaments to singing carols and enjoying festive treats, there’s no end to the holiday fun. And while sharing a Christmas joke or two always brings a smile, why not add a new twist with some Christmas brainteasers?

Challenge yourself and your loved ones with these fun Christmas puzzles, perfect for kids and adults alike. These festive riddles and brainteasers are a great way to take a break from the holiday hustle, boost some brainpower and spark a few laughs along the way.

So grab a mug of cocoa, get cozy, and dive into some of the most entertaining Christmas brainteasers of the season!

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spot the differences nutcracker chirstmas scene question

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Nutcracker puzzle

Here’s a printable brainteaser that may leave you stumped: There are 10 differences in these pictures. Can you find them all?

spot the differences nutcracker chirstmas scene answer

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Answer

We’ve circled the different items in red. Did you miss any?

Search path in the maze with Santa Claus. Find a child gift to the owner. Christmas illustration of labyrinth pathfinding for kids.

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Toys for all

Which toy belongs to each child?

Search path in the maze with Santa Claus. Find a child gift to the owner. Christmas illustration of labyrinth pathfinding for kids.

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Answer

The first boy gets the truck, the first girl gets the rabbit, the second girl gets the doll and the second boy gets the books.

Find the right piece, visual game. Answer No. 4. Illustration is in eps8 vector mode!

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Bright, shining tree

Which missing piece fits into the tree?

Find the right piece, visual game. Answer No. 4. Illustration is in eps8 vector mode!

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Answer

Circle number 4 is the missing piece.

Christmas or New Year themed 3d maze game with stairs, ladders and Santa delivering presents through the chimneys. Answer included.

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Present delivery

Find the path that Santa should take to deliver presents to every chimney. Use ladders and stairs to climb from level to level, and don’t let Santa jump up or climb any walls.

Christmas or New Year themed 3d maze game with stairs, ladders and Santa delivering presents through the chimneys. Answer included.

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Answer

Did you find the right path?

New Year or Christmas visual puzzle: Find the seven differences between the two pictures with ginger man. Answer included.

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Gingerbread mayhem

Can you spot the seven differences between the two gingerbread pictures?

New Year or Christmas visual puzzle: Find the seven differences between the two pictures with ginger man. Answer included.

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Answer

Did you get all seven of them? If so, you may enjoy finding hidden objects in pictures too!

Winter, Christmas or New Year themed visual puzzle (suitable both for kids and adults): Find the mitten that has no pair. Answer included.

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Mismatched mittens

Find the mitten that has no pair.

Winter, Christmas or New Year themed visual puzzle (suitable both for kids and adults): Find the mitten that has no pair. Answer included.

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Answer

Mitten 12 has no pair. The matching mittens are:

Counting games for kids and adults. Educational math game. Result. Crossword for social networks. Rebus. Riddle for the mind. Riddle with numbers. Vector

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Winter math

This Christmas brainteaser may boost your brain power: Can you figure out what number the lanterns, snowmen and trees represent to solve the final equation?

Counting games for kids and adults. Educational math game. Result. Crossword for social networks. Rebus. Riddle for the mind. Riddle with numbers. Vector. Answer

Evgeniy yes/Shutterstock

Answer

The lampposts are the number 15, the snowmen are the number 4 and the trees are the number 3. Then in the last equation, a light post with only one light would represent the number 5. If you go by the order of operations, 3 multiplied by 4 is 12. Then, if you add 15 and subtract 5, you’ll get 22.

santa maze question illustration

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Maze to the sleigh

This Christmas brainteaser might be harder than some of our toughest riddles: Find Santa’s way through the maze to his sleigh.

Santa maze answer illustration

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Answer

We didn’t say it would be easy with all those loops! But did you make it to Santa’s sleigh?

gum drop math question

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Sugarplum math

Do you like math riddles? If so, you may like this Christmas brainteaser: First, find out what numbers the mitten, ornament and tree represent. Then, find out the total for the mitten, tree and ornament combined.

gum drop math answer

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Answer

The ornament represents the number 6, the mitten represents the number 2 and the tree represents the number 7. In total, the ornament, the mitten and the tree add up to 15. Did you get the correct sum?

missing piece ornament puzzle question

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The missing piece

This may be one of the best Christmas brainteasers for kids: Find the puzzle piece that perfectly fits in the empty spot.

missing piece ornament puzzle answer

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Answer

Puzzle piece number 2.

snowflakes

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Let it snow

Match the pairs of identical snowflakes. The angle of rotation does not matter.

snowflakes pairs

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Answer

The pairs that are identical are:

Funny snowman skiing. Find the correct shadow. Educational matching game for children. Cartoon vector illustration

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Skiing snowman

Here’s a visual Christmas brainteaser you’ll love: Which shadow matches the snowman?

Funny snowman skiing. Find the correct shadow. Educational matching game for children. Cartoon vector illustration

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Answer

The shadow in the bottom row all the way to the left matches the skiing snowman.

Find differences, game for children: Santa Claus

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Two Santas

Can you spot the differences in these two pictures? Hint: There are 12.

Find differences, game for children: Santa Claus

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Answer

How many did you get?

Winter, Christmas or New Year themed visual puzzle with snowmen: Can you spot the two identical pictures? Answer included.

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Snowman twins

Which two snowmen are identical?

Winter, Christmas or New Year themed visual puzzle with snowmen: Can you spot the two identical pictures? Answer included.

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Answer

If you guessed snowmen 3 and 8, you are correct!

Find two the same pictures, education game for children. Set of Christmas gifts

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Gift boxes

Find the two gift boxes that are exactly the same.

Find two the same pictures, education game for children. Set of Christmas gifts

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Answer

The two boxes with the leaf pattern on them are the same.

Christmas or New Year visual puzzle: Find the ten differences between the two pictures of elves waiting for Santa to show their work done. Answer included.

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Elves galore

See if you can find the 10 differences in these two photos.

Christmas or New Year visual puzzle: Find the ten differences between the two pictures of elves waiting for Santa to show their work done. Answer included.

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Answer

Did you spot the differences in the photos, including the snowman and cat?

Christmas Maze Game ... Task: Each house gets its own present!

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Christmas maze

This Christmas brainteaser may not be the hardest maze, but it sure is fun: Which house is each toy or treat going to?

Christmas Maze Game ... Task: Each house gets its own present!

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Answer

Find the same pictures children educational game. Find equal pairs of christmas socks kids activity. New Year winter holidays theme.

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Similar stockings

Which two stockings are exactly the same?

Find the same pictures children educational game. Find equal pairs of christmas socks kids activity. New Year winter holidays theme.

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Answer

The second stocking in the first row is identical to the fourth stocking in the last row.

Cartoon Vector Illustration of Differences Educational Game for Preschool Children with Christmas Characters

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Santa winter scene

See if you can find the 10 differences in these two pictures of Santas alongside some snowmen and a reindeer.

Cartoon Vector Illustration of Differences Educational Game for Preschool Children with Christmas Characters

Igor Zakowski/Shutterstock

Answer

Did you spot them all?

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest is known for our humor and brain games, including quizzes, puzzles, riddles, word games, trivia, math, pattern and logic puzzles, guessing games, crosswords, rebus, hidden objects and spot-the-difference challenges. We’ve earned prestigious ASME awards for our entertainment content and have produced dozens of brainteaser books, including Word Searches, Word Power, Use Your Words, Fun Puzzles and Brain Ticklers, Mind Stretchers, Ultimate Christmas Puzzles and more. Our 10 published volumes of Mind Stretchers were edited by Allen D. Bragdon, founder of The Brainwaves Center and editor of Games magazine. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.