Speed puzzling is gaining traction in Indianapolis
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Jigsaw puzzling is snapping into place as a social sport in Indianapolis and beyond.
Why it matters: Analog or "grandma" hobbies are becoming social lifelines as people trade screens for low-pressure, in-person connection.
- There were 151% more puzzle competitions from August 2024 to July 2025, compared to the year before, according to a report from live event marketplace Eventbrite.
How it works: Typically, teams of two or four gather around tables, each with the same mystery puzzle sealed in a bag. After a countdown, they open it — sometimes groaning at the image — and race to finish.
- The first team to finish shouts "Done!" — and wins prizes.
Zoom in: Indianapolis was one of 28 cities to host a SpeedPuzzling.com Super Saturday Mini Tourney in January, held at the Indianapolis Public Library's Southport Branch.
- Carmel Clay Public Library has run an annual Jigsaw Puzzle Competition around National Puzzle Day each January since at least 2023, drawing teams of two to four racing to complete a 500-piece puzzle in two hours.
- Hamilton East Public Library hosts its own Puzzle Showdown competition for teens and adults, adding another entry point for competitive puzzlers in HamCo.
- Together, events like these are building a small but growing competitive puzzling scene across Central Indiana.
What's next: In July, SpeedPuzzling.com will present the OKI2026 Regional Championship at the University of Cincinnati for the top competitors from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Zoom out: Michael Driscoll, owner of Puzzle Buzz, organizes speed puzzling events across the U.S., including regular meetups in the Midwest.
- He says the competitions sell out every time.
- Driscoll — who has a background hosting trivia nights and other live events — laughed when asked whether he ever imagined puzzling would become this popular. His answer: "Hell no."
What they're saying: Kristian Powell, a local speed puzzler who has attended events at Carmel Clay Public Library and a puzzle swap last month at the Indiana State Museum, said she "got bit by the puzzle bug" during the pandemic.
- It started with Zoom calls with friends and family who would buy the same puzzle on Amazon, and complete it together online over snacks and wine.
- Now, her puzzling team includes her boyfriend and a rotating lineup of coworkers who still catch up monthly online and IRL.
- "It really gave me a strong sense of community at a time when I was very alone," Powell said. "I also spend a lot less downtime watching TV or scrolling on my phone because of it."
The bottom line: Speed puzzling offers something rare — a low-pressure connection with just enough competition to keep it fun.
Go deeper: Mahjong mania is fueling community, business in central Indiana