...the 2025 Karakuri Christmas Presents?

 End of an era. 

I am very thankful that I never set out to post once a week here. I honestly don't know how those other guys keep churning out quality content. It's been a month since my last post. 

The discord group have a rule (quite rightly) to refrain from any spoilers regarding the Karakuri Christmas presents until after Christmas itself. Some people like to wait and open them on Christmas day, I rip open the box like a maniac the first chance I get. So I had the idea back in early December to write a 'spoiler-free' review but just treat it as a joke. It would've been full of things like - 

Kawashima's - ▇▇▇▇ it was so▇▇▇▇▇▇windy ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ saw a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ chicken ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ lay the same ▇▇▇▇▇▇ egg twice ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

But then the Epstein files thing happened and suddenly there were redacted jokes all over the internet, and then I got the flu and then it was Christmas and then it was 2nd Christmas and then it was hogmanay and then I was so. Very. Very. Tired. and then it was now. So I figured I would do a genuine post about this most wonderful time of the year. 

I've been ordering the present from every Karakuri craftsman for 3 years now. There's a blindness inherent in all puzzle buying, we never really know what we're buying until after we've solved it, but usually we at least know what it looks like. The delight of unwrapping each of these gifts, one after another after another and discovering what crazy ideas they've had this year has become one of my most looked-forward moments of the holidays. 

It's such a shame it's ending. With vastly increased popularity causing difficulties (how dare all these other people like the same thing I like, it's very inconsiderate of them) Karakuri have decided that there will only be one present going forward, designed collectively by the group. There was mention of some kind of holiday sale in their place, but we don't know yet what that will look like or when exactly when it will take place. 



Can an idiot solve the 2025 Karakuri Christmas Presents? 

In order of my preference - 

Sugimoto - yes (it's just a delightful idea and solve) 

Arimura - yes, with a bit of luck (I have a soft spot for drawers that don't work like drawers should) 

Kakuda - definitely (it's easy, but it's cute and it's a very good boy) 

Hasebe - probably, with a bit of luck, and it might take a while (an impressive debut from the new guy that is more than it first appears) 

Kikuchi - yes (I think it was the quickest solve of the year) 

KCG - yes (feels like a classic) 

Iwahara - probably, with a lot of luck and perseverance (I don't think I've ever liked that move) 

Kawashima - probably, with a lot of aimless fiddling (I don't dislike it, but it doesn't match up to his last few years of innovation) 


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