Professor Puzzle

What Professor Puzzle does

Professor Puzzle Ltd is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of physical puzzles and games, founded in 2002 by Ben Meldrum originally as Ben's Baffling Brainbenders. The company operates from its headquarters, branded 'The Puzzle Academy,' in Twickenham, with a regional office in Chicago, and employs 51-100 staff. Its product portfolio spans over 20 categories, including the Metal Earth line of 3D metal model construction kits (licensed across Disney/Star Wars, Warner Bros/Harry Potter, Marvel, HBO/Game of Thrones, BBC/Doctor Who, Transformers, and DC/Batman), wooden and matchbox brainteasers, jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, escape-room games, party games, trivia games, and STEM-oriented puzzles. The company holds FSC certification for responsible wood sourcing and offers a reusable whiteboard-based logic puzzle format as a sustainability differentiator.

The business operates a hybrid B2B/D2C model: wholesale to retailers and distributors globally through a dedicated retailer login and 'Become a Stockist' onboarding, direct-to-consumer e-commerce via professorpuzzle.com, and marketplace sales on Amazon. Trade show participation in Essen Spiel (Germany), Nuremberg, New York, and Atlanta serves as a primary relationship-building channel for international retail buyers. Revenue is generated from one-time physical product sales augmented by licensing royalties on officially licensed franchise lines. Customer segments span general consumers, families, corporate/gift buyers, and escape-room operators, with no single customer concentration disclosed. The company is founder-led (Ben Meldrum holds the title 'Chief Puzzler'), privately held with no external funding rounds, and registered in England as Professor Puzzle Ltd (company number 04398865).

Strategic direction over the past decade has emphasized licensed IP expansion (Einstein 2017 onward; major studio partnerships), geographic buildout into the US (Chicago 2017, 2018 upsizing), and sustainability positioning (FSC 2019, reusable products). Recent product activity includes a reusable logic puzzle launch in May 2024 and ongoing expansion of the murder mystery and escape-room categories. The business is classified as a moderate-growth, self-funded SME with low AI/technology exposure and a brand moat anchored in licensing, distribution reach, and 20 years of category presence.

Name

Professor Puzzle

Legal name

Professor Puzzle Ltd

Website

https://professorpuzzle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Professor Puzzle is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of physical puzzles and games, selling branded and licensed lines including Metal Earth 3D models, wooden brainteasers, logic puzzles, and escape-room games to retailers, distributors, and consumers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Puzzles and Games Manufacturing

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Puzzles & Model Puzzles Retail (CRALALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Escape Room Games & Mystery Puzzle Boxes Retail (CRALALAM), Jigsaw Puzzles Retail (CRALALAJ)

Keywords

• Puzzles and games
• 3D metal models
• Wooden brainteasers
• Brain training logic
• Licensed merchandise toys

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Physical Puzzle and Game Products: Design, manufacture, and sale of physical puzzles and games including Metal Earth 3D models, wooden puzzles, logic puzzles, escape room games, jigsaw puzzles, card games, party games, and licensed merchandise (Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, Game of Thrones). Products sold through wholesale to retailers and direct-to-consumer through e-commerce.
2. Licensed Product Lines: Revenue from officially licensed product lines including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Game of Thrones, and Doctor Who. Products include Metal Earth models, puzzles, and games featuring these franchises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Professor Puzzle is a UK-based designer, manufacturer, and wholesaler of physical puzzles and games. Its product portfolio spans wooden brainteasers, metal puzzles, matchbox puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, escape room games, card and party games, trivia games, outdoor games, and the proprietary Metal Earth line of 3D metal construction kits covering self-branded plus officially licensed franchises (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Transformers, Dinosaurs). The company sells through B2B wholesale to retailers and distributors globally and direct-to-consumer via its e-commerce website and Amazon.

Product overview

Professor Puzzle is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of innovative games and puzzles, operating as The Puzzle Academy in Twickenham, Middlesex. The company offers an extensive portfolio of physical puzzle and game products across multiple categories and licensed brands. The core puzzle offerings include wooden brainteasers (Great Minds series, Einstein Collection, Wooden Block Puzzles, Puzzle & Perplex steel puzzles), matchbox puzzles, logic puzzles (including Mensa-certified and Brain Training lines), jigsaw puzzles (including themed Jigsaw Library literary collections and wine/whisky region puzzles), and STEM/Binary puzzles. The flagship Metal Earth 3D model collection features detailed metal construction kits spanning Classic (aircraft, vehicles, landmarks), Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Dinosaurs, and Transformers licenses. Games offerings include escape room adventures (Curse of the Dark, Danger in the Deep), party games, card games, strategy games, trivia games, and outdoor/tropical games. The company holds FSC certification for sustainable sourcing and demonstrates commitment to environmental practices through annual Sustainability Week initiatives. All products are physical goods with no software, API, or AI components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metal Earth 3D Metal Model Kits The umbrella Metal Earth product line of pop-out 3D metal model construction kits spanning multiple themed ranges (Classic, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Transformers, Dinosaurs). Models snap out of steel sheets and assemble using tab-and-hole construction without glue or soldering, targeted at hobbyists, gift buyers, and licensed franchise fans.
• Metal Earth Star Wars Collection Officially licensed Star Wars Metal Earth 3D model collection including the Millennium Falcon, X-wing Fighter, TIE Fighters, Imperial Star Destroyer, Stormtrooper and Boba Fett helmets, AT-AT and AT-ST walkers, BB-8, R2-D2, Death Star, Razor Crest, The Mandalorian, and The Child. Designed for Star Wars fans and collectors of all ages.
• Metal Earth Harry Potter Collection Officially licensed Harry Potter Metal Earth 3D model collection featuring Hogwarts Express, Hogwarts Castle in Snow, Gringott's Dragon, Hagrid's Hut, The Burrow, Knight Bus, Golden Snitch, and Hedwig. Targeted at Harry Potter fans and Wizarding World collectors.
• Metal Earth Marvel Collection Officially licensed Marvel Metal Earth 3D model collection featuring Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, War Machine, Captain America's Shield, and Deadpool. Targeted at Marvel Cinematic Universe fans and licensed merchandise collectors.
• Metal Earth Game of Thrones Collection Officially licensed Game of Thrones Metal Earth 3D model collection featuring Drogon, The Mountain, Iron Throne, Red Keep, Greyjoy Ship Silence, and House of Stark Sigil. Targeted at Game of Thrones fans and collectors.
• Metal Earth Doctor Who Collection Officially licensed Doctor Who Metal Earth 3D model collection featuring the TARDIS, Dalek, and Rusty K-9. Targeted at Doctor Who fans and science-fiction memorabilia collectors.
• Metal Earth Classics Collection Classic Metal Earth range of self-branded 3D metal model kits covering aircraft, spacecraft, military vehicles, classic cars, locomotives, and famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and Titanic. Targeted at hobbyists, history and aviation enthusiasts, and gift buyers.
• Metal Earth Dinosaurs Collection Self-branded Metal Earth Dinosaurs 3D model collection featuring Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops. Targeted at children and dinosaur enthusiasts.
• Metal Earth Transformers Collection Officially licensed Transformers Metal Earth 3D model collection featuring Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron. Targeted at Transformers franchise fans.
• Einstein Collection Officially licensed Albert Einstein-themed puzzle and game range featuring Einstein's Letter Block Puzzle, Atom Puzzle, The Fish Puzzle, Lock Puzzle, the Einstein Card Game, and Einstein: The Board Game. Blends scientific inspiration and puzzle-solving for educational gifting and STEM-focused consumers.
• Great Minds Puzzles Collection Wooden brainteaser puzzles inspired by great historical figures such as Admiral Nelson, Aristotle, Darwin, and Shakespeare. Combines history and education with puzzle-solving.
• Matchbox Puzzles Mini pocket-sized brainteaser puzzles packaged in matchbox-sized boxes, including Puzzling Obscurities sets, The Horseshoe, Heart Breaker, and the Bermunda Triangle. Each box contains a different metal challenge to separate and reassemble.
• Puzzle & Perplex Steel Puzzles A collection of 10 solid steel brainteaser puzzles including Bird on a Wire, The Cross, The Bermuda Triangle, The Twist, and The Rings. Targeted at adults seeking premium metal puzzle challenges.
• Wooden Block Puzzles Six different pocket-sized wooden block puzzles where players must separate and reassemble colored wooden pieces. Targeted at casual puzzlers and gift buyers.
• Colour Block Puzzles Colourful wooden block puzzles requiring players to separate and rebuild blocks. Available in display units of 24, designed for retail merchandising.
• Jigsaw Puzzles Themed jigsaw puzzles including the 1,000-piece Movie Locations puzzle, 50-piece Mini Masterpiece art jigsaws featuring Van Gogh and Kandinsky, and 1,000-piece Wines of France and Wines of Italy jigsaws designed with Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb.
• Jigsaw Library Collection Double-sided 252-piece jigsaw puzzles featuring literary classics such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet, and Pride and Prejudice. Available as a Jigsaw Library and Mini Jigsaw Library range.
• Brain Training Logic Puzzles Reusable dry-wipe whiteboard logic puzzles for brain training, including Brain Train (train placement on a commute theme), Happy Campers (campfire-themed campervan placement), Lost Treasure (trail and number clues), Brain Waves (beach theme), and Peace by Peace: Succulents. Available in Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty levels.
• Logic Puzzles Logic-based puzzle range including Sudoku (16 challenge cards where number pegs cannot repeat in blocks, columns or rows), STEM Binary Puzzle (52 challenges arranging wooden pegs in binary patterns), Tantrix Quest (advanced tile-based puzzle), and Mensa Riddles & Conundrums (lateral thinking and intelligence challenges).
• Escape Room Games Collection Collaborative at-home escape room adventure games featuring Curse of the Dark, Danger in the Deep (underwater theme, 2021 Bullseye Best Tabletop Game winner), Escape from the Grand Hotel, and Escape from the Starline Express (sleeper train diamond theft). Designed for families, friends, and small groups seeking immersive at-home puzzle experiences.
• Sherlock Holmes Puzzles Collection Sherlock Holmes-themed puzzle range for kids and adults, including The Case of Sherlock's Lock Puzzle (move blocks to save Dr. Watson), The Case of Moriarty's Lair (escape room puzzle), and the Detective Toolkit (tools and tips to solve five mysteries).
• Myths and Legends Wooden Puzzles Wooden brainteasers based on ancient myths and historical wonders, including Alexander the Great's Gordion Knot Puzzle and the Great Pyramid of Giza Puzzle. Targeted at history and mythology enthusiasts.
• Lost and Found Wooden Puzzles Wooden puzzles themed around archaeological and historical artifacts, including the Celtic Knot Puzzle where players take apart and reassemble interwoven wooden pieces, and the Great Pyramid of Giza Puzzle.
• STEM Puzzles Educational STEM puzzles including the STEM Binary Puzzle which challenges players to arrange wooden pegs with specific binary patterns across 52 challenges. Targeted at STEM learning and educational play.
• Party Games Party game range including Like Herding Cats (herding cats), May Contain Butts (embarrassing scenarios), Trash Talk (vote on Most/Likely scenarios), Who or What I Am Game (quick-fire guessing), and Pecking Order (totem pole card game). Targeted at adults and groups seeking casual party entertainment.
• Card Games Card game range including Pecking Order, Tarot Cards, and themed card-based games like May Contain Butts. Targeted at casual gamers and group play.
• Trivia Games Trivia game range including The Big Pub Quiz (1,000 questions across 10 categories), Mini I Love 90s Trivia (100 questions on 1990s pop culture), and Mini Sports Trivia (100 questions across multiple sports). Targeted at families, friends, and pub-style quiz hosting.
• Wooden Classic Strategy Games Premium wooden versions of three classic strategy board games: Chess, Checkers, and Backgammon. Packaged as a Wooden Games Workshop product targeted at premium gift purchasers and classic game collectors.
• Outdoor Games Tropical-themed outdoor games including Flamingo Ringo (ring toss over flamingo neck frames) and Bat & Ball (wooden bat and ball set with foam handles for classic outdoor play). Targeted at families and summer entertaining.
• Card and Roll Gaming Accessories A collection of card gaming accessories including binders, deck boxes, protector sleeves, toploaders, dice towers, dice trays, and polyhedral dice. Targeted at trading card and tabletop gaming enthusiasts.
• Reflect Mirror Maze Brain Game A competitive brain training game using a double-sided mirror where players draw maze routes relying only on mirror images. Targeted at brain training and competitive puzzlers.
• Tantrix Quest Tile Puzzle An advanced tile-based puzzle for experienced puzzlers offering more tiles and additional challenges compared to the basic Tantrix game.
• Metal Earth Accessories Accessories for Metal Earth 3D metal model kits including the Metal Earth Tool Kit (assembly tools) and Metal Earth Solar Spinner (solar-powered spinning display accessory).
• Harry Potter Puzzles Collection Officially licensed Harry Potter wooden and metal puzzles including the Marauder's Map sliding puzzle, Quidditch puzzle set, Grand Staircase puzzle, Hexagon placement puzzle, Golden Snitch metal puzzle, and Butterbeer wooden barrel puzzle. Targeted at Harry Potter fans of all ages.
• Detective Toolkit Game A Sherlock Holmes-inspired game for kids under The Baker Street Detective Club brand, containing tools and tips to solve five mysteries. Targeted at children and family mystery play.

Quantifiable outcome

• Market recognition as key player in Murder Mystery Game Market alongside Hasbro and ClueQuest
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with FSC for responsible sourcing of wood materials. Company achieved FSC certification in 2019 and continues to work with FSC on sustainable product development. Supports company's sustainability mission.
• Albert Einstein EstatecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Licensing agreement for official Albert Einstein puzzle range launched in 2017. Includes wooden and metal brainteasers linked to Einstein's famous theories and inventions. First major licensing partnership for the company.
• Warner Bros (Harry Potter)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Harry Potter product line including Metal Earth models, puzzles, and games featuring Hogwarts, characters, and magical elements.
• Disney (Star Wars)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Star Wars Metal Earth collection including X-wing fighters, Millennium Falcon, TIE fighters, Stormtrooper helmets, and other iconic spacecraft and characters.
• MarvelcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Marvel Metal Earth collection including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, War Machine, and Deadpool.
• HBO (Game of Thrones)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Game of Thrones Metal Earth collection including Drogon, The Mountain, Iron Throne, Red Keep, and Greyjoy Ship Silence.
• BBC (Doctor Who)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Doctor Who Metal Earth collection including TARDIS and Dalek models.
• Big Change CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership supporting young people's mental health. Raised over €12,000 at Essen Spiel 2022 and £3,800 through walking challenge.
• Campbellinas CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization supporting neonatal units in Leeds. Supported through Tough Mudder fundraising (£2,830 raised) and ongoing company support.
• Brunel University LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Brunel Product Development team and student Charlie Munroe on STEM product development. Participated in Industrial Review Night for student feedback.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Melissa & Doug: Melissa & Doug is a US wooden toy and puzzle specialist focused on children's educational puzzles, wooden brainteasers, and family games — overlapping with Professor Puzzle's wooden puzzle range, Einstein Collection, and children's logic puzzle lines.
• Asmodee: Asmodee is a major board and party game publisher/distributor with brands like Dobble, Ticket to Ride, and many licensed games. Comparable to Professor Puzzle in board games, card games, and party games categories, though focused more on publishing than manufacturing.
• Clementoni: Clementoni is an Italian puzzle and game manufacturer producing jigsaw puzzles, science kits, and educational games under the Clementoni and Science Museum brands — directly comparable to Professor Puzzle in puzzle category breadth and European manufacturing footprint.
• Buffalo Games: Buffalo Games is a US-based manufacturer of jigsaw puzzles, board games, and licensed puzzle products, operating in similar mass-market retail channels (Amazon, Target, Walmart) with comparable SKU breadth across jigsaws and family games.
• Winning Moves: Winning Moves produces classic board games, card games, and licensed puzzle products (Top Trumps, Monopoly variants). Direct competitor in mass-market retail puzzle and game category with overlapping distribution through toy stores and Amazon.
• Cubicfun: Cubicfun manufactures 3D puzzle construction sets (paper/cardboard) including licensed lines (architecture, vehicles, characters) — the closest direct competitor in the 3D puzzle category to Professor Puzzle's Metal Earth 3D metal models.
• BePuzzled: BePuzzled (a University Games brand) manufactures Metal Earth 3D metal model kits, brainteaser puzzles, and licensed puzzle products — the closest direct competitor to Professor Puzzle's flagship Metal Earth range, sharing similar form factor, assembly mechanism, and franchise licensing strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Spin Master: Spin Master is a global children's entertainment company producing toys, games, and puzzles including licensed lines (PAW Patrol, Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter). A broad incumbent that competes with Professor Puzzle on licensed merchandise and games in mass-market retail.
• Ravensburger: Ravensburger is one of the world's largest puzzle and game manufacturers, offering jigsaw puzzles, 3D puzzles, brainteasers, and licensed children's games. It is a broad incumbent with significantly larger scale than Professor Puzzle but overlapping product categories in jigsaw, 3D, and licensed puzzles.
• Hasbro: Hasbro is a global toy and game giant covering board games, puzzles, card games, and licensed merchandise including Marvel and Star Wars products. Identified in market research as a key peer in the murder mystery game category alongside Professor Puzzle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/professorpuzzleltd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@professorpuzzleltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProfessorPuzzleLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/professor-puzzle-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/professorpuzzleltd
• TikToktiktok.com/@professorpuzzleltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Professor Puzzle