Aimed at young children, these pictorial maps invite exploration with their colorful graphic imagery of places and products. In addition to learning about geography, puzzles help young children to develop the basic skills of coordination, color and pattern recognition, and spatial relationships. Puzzles were originally intended only for children. Adult puzzles differ from children's in that they contain a far greater number of pieces, beginning at seventy five and increasing to hundreds and even thousands. Unlike children's puzzles, which have pictures designed specifically for the puzzle, adult puzzles rely on commercially available lithographs.
Subjects are diverse and include reproductions from magazines or old prints and maps, as shown here.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, games were intended to be both instructive and educational. To meet this expectation, a large proportion of early board games were based on history and geography and included maps. A popular game would be a staple in a company's line for decades, educating several generations over time. Periodically, the box cover would be updated to reflect a more contemporary art style. Linking a game with a TV production risks built-in obsolescence, since the public's interest is tied directly to the program.