Hey Puzzlers,
We’re excited to introduce 2D puzzle creation to PuzzleMaker!
Alongside creating 3D puzzles from your own scans and models, PuzzleMaker will now let you take 2D images and turn them into playable jigsaw puzzles.
While Puzzling Places is all about 3D puzzling, we already have the tools and ecosystem to let you enjoy jigsaw puzzles in VR, flat-screen, different game modes, and even multiplayer. So we thought - why not let you bring your own 2D images into the mix too?
2D puzzles are also a much more accessible way to get started with Puzzle Maker. You don't need any experience with 3D modelling, scanning, or processing. Just find an image you love and turn it into a puzzle!
Creating a 2D Puzzle
Creating a 2D puzzle works much like creating a 3D puzzle in PuzzleMaker. When starting a new puzzle, simply switch the puzzle type from 3D to 2D, then drag and drop your image.
2D puzzles can also be created with up to 1,000 pieces, and the processing is much faster than creating a 3D puzzle. In testing, most 2D puzzles take around a minute to generate.
Once you've created your puzzle, you can publish it to the Steam Workshop just like any other PuzzleMaker creation. Other players can then subscribe to it, download it, and play it in Puzzling Places.
Easy to Find in the Steam Workshop
We've also made it easy to identify 2D puzzles in the Steam Workshop.
Newly generated puzzles will be automatically tagged as either 2D or 3D, allowing you to filter the Workshop based on the type of puzzle you're looking for. 2D puzzles will also have a 2D label on their thumbnail.
Improvements
We’ve also made a couple of improvements to PuzzleMaker based on feedback from our testers:
Centralised processing settings - All generation and processing settings can now be managed from one central place, making them easier to find and adjust.
Keep intermediate files - You can now choose to keep intermediate files generated during the process, making it easier to troubleshoot and debug your creations when something doesn’t go as expected.
Want to Try PuzzleMaker?
PuzzleMaker is still in closed testing, so the creation tools aren’t available to everyone just yet. We’re continuing to improve the experience and add new features before we make it more widely available. Even while PuzzleMaker is in testing, everyone can enjoy the community creations already being shared through the Steam Workshop. You can browse, download, and play free puzzles made by our testers directly in Puzzling Places, right now!
Interested in Becoming a Puzzle Maker Tester?
If you'd like to help test PuzzleMaker and create your own puzzles, we'd love to have you!
Head over to our Discord or apply using this form to sign up for the test and help shape the future of community-created puzzles in Puzzling Places.
Thank you to everyone who's been testing PuzzleMaker and sharing their feedback! Your input helps us shape the future of Puzzling Places.
Happy puzzling! 🧩
Steph, Sha & The Puzzling Places Team