This brass burr is our favorite puzzle of 2024. Like every puzzle that Ali and Steve make, the Brass Monkey Sequential Discovery is gorgeous and hefty, kind of like Ali and Steve themselves.. But what appears to be a "take apart" challenge is actually an intricate and devious adventure in "sequential discovery"—a special category which is considered by many experts to be the most sophisticated and enjoyable type of mechanical puzzle. Your goal is to find the monkey and feed him bananas. How great is that? We won't spoil too much because the BMSD is full of delightful surprises. It is also very challenging to solve. But the blend of pleasure and pain is what makes this puzzle so excellent. What's even more satisfying than solving this gleaming burr is the fact that it is the sixth and final entry in the eponymous Brass Monkey series. All of the puzzles look alike and none of them have the same solution. Congratulations to Ali and Steve for their honorable mention in the 2024 Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition but frankly, we think they should have won! Regardless, BMSD is a rare gem of a puzzle and gets our highest recommendation.
