I have been a Heye fan since I first discovered them in the mid 90’s. I have spent a ridiculous amount of hours on ebay hunting down out of print Heye puzzles. In fact, you can blame Heye on my love of cartoon puzzles in general. I now also collect JVH (Jan Van Haasteren), Mike Jupp, Wasgij and other cartoon puzzle series/brands. But Heye will always have the number one place in my puzzle collection.
Here’s part of my Heye collection:
Heye cartoon puzzles generally offer bright colors and tons of detail. They’re the kind of puzzles that you can’t just assemble whilst ignoring the box image and just building up color areas. They often require one-on-one inspection of a piece and the image on the box or included poster. They’re challenging, in a nutshell, and also full of delightful and humorous detail that you get to study as you put the puzzle together. Heye puzzles are also of excellent quality. The brand is German, so you know the quality will be good (like Ravensburger). The pieces are sturdy and the piece shapes, while always interlocking on 2-4 sides, are of a wide variety–more unique shapes than most puzzle brands. I never have a piece which looks like it really does go somewhere where it doesn’t. You know when you have the right fit with a Heye. I also LOVE the triangular boxes the puzzles come in. They’ve started making some puzzles in regular rectangular boxes, but I always want the triangular to go with my Heye collection. Here’s what the triangular boxes look like:
They store nicely on the shelves with the ends showing:
Heye makes photo and gothic puzzles also, but the only ones I collect from them are the cartoon puzzles. My favorite Heye artists are Michael Ryba, Loup, Degano, Prades, Ruyer, and Jabo.
MICHAEL RYBA:
Ryba tends to draw cute and very busy images. He does people, pigs, and rabbits, and often bases his images on classic works of art.
Here’s an excellent website about Ryba’s art philosophy and showing ALL of his puzzle images.
Below are some of my favorite Ryba puzzles.
“WHO DID IT” — 1998, 2000 pieces
This puzzle is probably my favorite Heye puzzle ever, because I love murder mysteries! Look at all that detail and color! It’s a fantastic image. Below are some close-ups.
Here are some more Ryba puzzles I love:
“ROBIN HOOD”, 2004, 2000 pieces
“THE PIG IN ART”, 2014, 4000 pieces
“MATHMANIACS”, 1996, 2000 pieces
“GO WEST”, 1991, 4000 pieces
And a close-up from “Go West”:
JEAN-JACQUES LOUP:
Loup is another fantastic Heye artist. I have many of his puzzles and hope he does many more! His puzzles are not as crowded as Ryba’s, which means a bit more solid background–a nice changes and slightly easier to work. His big-nosed human characters are very cute.
Here’s some Loup puzzles on the Heye site.
Below are some of my favorite Loup puzzles.
“CASTLE OF HORROR” — 2003, 2000 pieces
Details from “Castle of Horror”:
“EMERGENCY ROOM” — 2003, 2002 pieces
“NAPOLEON’S WINTER GAMES” — 4000 OR 2000 pieces
“OPEN AIR” — 2014, 2000 pieces
“AVE CEASAR” — 2003, 2000 pieces
Detail from “Ave Ceasar”:
MARINO DEGANO:
Every Degano puzzle is a work of art crammed with intelligent and funny details. I love them all, and I hope we get many more in the future.
Here’s some Degano puzzles on the Heye site. And Marino Degano’s puzzle blog (awesome!)
Below are some of my favorite Degano puzzles.
“LABYRINTH OF LIFE” — 2000 pieces
“BLACK AND WHITE”, 1996, 1000 pieces
“GO AMERICA”, 4000 pieces
“2000 YEARS”, 8000 pieces
HUGO PRADES:
Prades’ puzzles are right up there with my other favorite 3 artists above. His style is a bit looser, and his humans more human, but the detail, wit, and humor are all these just as with Ryba, Loup, and Degano. You have to see these puzzle images up close to appreciate the detail.
Here’s some Prades puzzles on the Heye site. And Hugo Prades website (with lots of detail pics!)
Below are some of my favorite Prades puzzles.
“CHINA TOWN” — 2000 pieces
“1001 NIGHTS” — 2003, 1500 pieces
“ASTRO WORLD” — 4000 pieces
“HOTEL WORLD” — 2002, 1500 pieces
“WALPURGIS NIGHT” — 1998, 1500 pieces
FRANCOIS RUYER:
Ruyer is a relative newcomer to Heye. Though he did a few small puzzles years ago, it is only in the past few years that he has done the full-sized “crowded” cartoon scenes that Heye is known for. (Though he did do some good ones for Paitnik.) His current puzzles are very good (especially “Bunnytown”) and we hope he keeps making puzzles with Heye.
Here’s some Ruyer puzzles on the Heye site.
“BUNNYTOWN” — 2013, 1000 pieces (Read our review here)
“BUNNIES VS WOLVES” — 2014, 1000 pieces (Read our review here)
MORE ON HEYE
Heye puzzles come out each year, usually in January. You can find the new ones all over the world. Here are some good links:
UK:
Amazon.co.uk (sold under Paul Lamond Games)
Canada/US:
Jigsaw Jungle (in Canada, but good shipping rates to the US)
Southwest Puzzles –– they have some out of print ones (free shipping for orders over $150)
Puzzle Warehouse (they get the new ones first)
MY REVIEWS ON HEYE PUZZLES here
I’m a huge fan of cartoon puzzles and glad to find your blog. : )
I, especially, love Ryba’s and Loup’s works because they are so cute and busy.
You didn’t mention it here but, there is another wonderful website tributing to Ryba. (Ryba passed away in Feb. 2014 by a car accident.)
http://cartoon-puzzle.com/puzzles/
Thanks for the link. Yes, I heard about Ryba. That is such a terrible shame. He was a great artist.
Jane
Hi, I am looking for a set of Heye puzzle – the design shows a courtroom and a cow is suing the milkman for sexual harassment. I saw it in a store but didn’t buy it at that time. I wonder if you know the title of that puzzle? The artist could be Mordillo.
Hi, Victor. The puzzle is “Animal Affairs” by Matt. It’s 500 pieces.
Here’s a picture:
Jane
oh wonderful!! thank you, Jane!
Hello, I saw your recommendation for the southwest puzzles website. Have you recently purchased puzzle from that store? I sent them an email, and it takes them forever to get back to me. I wonder why. Thank you in advance.
Yes, I have recently ordered from them and didn’t have any trouble at all. I think they’re better at orders than email, but you can try email again.
Thank you for your reply. I want to contact them because I am placing an order over $150, and the website does not automatically give me free shipping. Have you experienced something like this before?
Yes, I think I did have that problem the last time I ordered. I believe I emailed him and he refunded that shipping charge. Give that a shot, or you can email him before hand to make sure that he will do that.
Thank you. Problem solved 🙂
Hi. Can you review “LABYRINTH OF LIFE” puzzle?
I am selling a new unopened Opera Germanica. Is anyone interested?
I am interested. Can you leave me your email?
By any chance do you still have Opera Germanica? I am currently trying to track one down.
I have one copy that is my personal copy. But maybe someone else can help you!
I just bought today my first Heye puzzle … 2000 pieces, the theme is a parade (is completely new, unopened but I think it’s old in the same time).
Hope to be nice … even I like more your themes
Hi everybody,
I just bought my first Heye puzzle, 2000 pieces.
The theme is Barrientos parade … I think it’s a little bit old, even the puzzle itself is completely new (sealed).
I want to ask you what do you think about Nathan brand puzzles? Here in France is very popular, but I don’t know if it is a good one.
Also SPEZET … don’t know anything about it.
Cheers,
Hya, anyone interested in the puzzle:
– Heye Loup ‘Captain Nemo’, 500 pcs with poster included?
I have this model to sell. Please leave a message with my name or your email here and will contact you back.
Found this blog by accident whilst trying to find a copy of Robin Hood by Ryba. So sad to hear he passed away. Jane you sound like someone who could easily be my best friend, I know only one other person who shares our love of Heye triangle puzzles, and she and I meet often to share doing some of these great puzzles.
Welcome Annya — Yay! Another Heye fan! Glad you found the blog. I hope you’ll visit again. I could review all Heye all the time. 🙂
Jane
Annya, you are in luck. I happen to have two sealed copies of Robin Hood (as well as 200+ other Heye cartoon puzzles) and would be willing to part with one. If you think we could work out a trade, please feel free to contact me at kims@panix.com
I would love to track down a puzzle that we had growing up – I remember it as a cross section of a big house or mansion, with pigs throughout. Does this sound familiar? Thanks!
Josh
Ik ben ook een grote liefhebster van de Ryba en Heye puzzels.
Ik ben al enige tijd op zoek naar;
Opera Germania, Wild West, Labyrint, China town.
Just discovered Haye after a few years of making up Mike Jupp puzzles. I thought I had lots of puzzles. Until I saw your collection.
Anyway I have so many that I won’t be making up again and have been on line to see about a jigsaw exchange. There are a few but you don’t get to pick the exchange. Do you know of any puzzle exchanges that deal with Heye, mike Jupp like puzzles
No, I don’t. Sounds like a good idea though!
hi, I’m Arturo, from Mexico, I have been looking for “GO AMERICA” puzzle, do you now where I can Buy it????
Thanks!!!
I’m looking for a triangular 2000 piece puzzle entitled “Casanova”. It’s a Heye puzzle. Can’t seem to find it anywhere.
I have a copy but it could take a long time to find it, I’m not sure if I want to get rid of it either. But save a search on ebay- it will pop up, I’ve seen it!! J
HI guys and gals,
I have the 2000 years (8000 pieces) and now I’m confused. ….they’re is now a 4000 piece one and comica opus 1 and 2 are each 2000 pieces. Opus 2 covers big bang until birth of christe, opus 1 covers christe until present. Any idea what the 4000 piece covers? I can’t get a good close up. Also, looking for a copy of Robinhood. Thanks! !! Jodi