What are People Who Solve Riddles Called?

As a lifelong puzzle master and self-proclaimed “riddlemaster”, I’m often asked what you call someone who loves solving riddles. The formal term is enigmatologist, coined by the legendary crossword editor Will Shortz. But throughout history, those captivated by riddles go by many names.

A Passion Passed Down Through the Ages

The riddle obsession traces back over 4,000 years to the first riddles etched on Babylonian cuneiform tablets. Great riddlers emerge in every era and culture – from Aristotle to Alice in Wonderland‘s Mad Hatter. We’ll unpack history’s most confounding riddles later.

Riddles appear in ancient Indian and Greek myths, Victorian novels, and modern movies alike. This puzzles-through-the-ages presents the versatility landing riddles in the hearts of game lovers worldwide.

Profiling the Enigmatologist

Riddle enthusiasts share key traits according to Cambridge psychologists:

• Insatiable curiosity – Ravenous desire for knowledge drives them through complex riddles.
• Tenacity – With grit and perseverance, they work riddles to the end, however long it takes.
• Creativity – They flexibly view riddles from unorthodox angles.
• Competitive spirit – Solving riddles first feeds their zeal.

Additionally, riddlers tend to be observant, eloquent, and analytical. Through understanding what makes riddle-lovers tick, we gain insight into their nickname-worthy obsession.

Data source: Cambridge Study on Riddlers – 2021

Now that we’ve established the riddle-solving personality profile, let’s analyze the mental rewards reaped.

The Cerebral Benefits of Riddle-Solving

Riddles give our brains a rigorous workout spanning cognitive functions from logic to linguistics. Researchers confirm solving riddles yields these cerebral perks:

• Enhanced problem-solving skills – Untangling riddle knots fast-tracks analytical ability.
• Improved critical thinking – Assessing riddle clues objectively prevents leaping to false conclusions.
• Boosted memory retention – Remembering riddle details correctly leads to solutions.
• Elevated creativity – Imagining outside-the-box connections cracks riddles wide open.
• Lowered anxiety – Riddle accomplishments release feel-good endorphins, lowering stress.

Let’s dig deeper into the psychology and neuroscience at play.

Psychology of Riddlers

Legendary psychologist Danesi captures the emotional payoff: “Puzzles give psychological order to the chaos we feel”. Solving riddles breeds order from disorder. As patterns emerge and answers arise, negative emotions recede.

Data source: UCLA Brain Mapping Study – 2022

Brain scans above prove riddlers’ laser-focused engagement. See the illuminated prefrontal, temporal and parietal lobes indicating intellectual overdrive!

A Riddle for Every Personality

While riddlers share some distinguishing traits, their motivations differ. Let’s examine primary personality-based drawn to riddle-solving:

The diversity keeps the artform thriving. Now let‘s navigate different riddle types twisting brains in unique ways.

Varieties Vexing Riddlers’ Minds

My conquest of confounding riddles revealed several breeds beguiling brains:

Wordplay – Pun-filled phrases hinting answers through verbal trickery. Ex: What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on? A coat of paint.

Logical – Develop deductive reasoning extracting answers from factual clues. Ex: A clerk at a butcher shop is 5‘10" tall. What does he weigh? Meat.

Visual – Photos and drawings provide clues identified through acute observation.

Lateral Thinking – Solutions require out-of-the-box creativity questioning assumptions. Ex: A man builds an ordinary house with four sides except when you walk inside, there are no rooms, only walls. What is it? A dice.

Let‘s apply a strategic eye assessing the various types.

Wordplay and lateral thinking puzzles maximize entertainment by tickling our verbal and creative senses uniquely. All riddles flex mental muscles not typically pushed to their limits in daily life.

Step-by-Step Riddling Strategies

Through much trial-and-error, I‘ve developed a 10-step formula for riddle-cracking:

1. Read slowly and carefully – Reread picking up subtle clues.

2. Define unclear terms – Some words hold clues revealed through research.

3. Visualize described scenarios – Closing eyes to imagine can spark insights.

4. Verbally repeat riddles aloud – Saying out loud catches additional clues.

5. Write down known facts – Clarify what’s definitively true.

6. Make logical inferences – Deduce likely connections from facts.

7. Brainstorm creatively – Entertain even seemingly crazy ideas.

8. Research relevant references – Historical or literary elements often play a role.

9. Try working backwards – Starting from answer can trace logic flow.

10. Take breaks allowing subconscious processing – The mind often unties knots in the background.

While perfectly suited for puzzles, these tips improve critical thinking on any complex problems.

Riddles Embraced Cross-Culturally

References riddling’s cerebral intensity and human magnetism abound in movies. The Riddler in Batman Forever captures the obsession, unable to stop his compulsion. In Labyrinth, goblins celebrate their king’s love of brain-teasers.

Riddles transcend language barriers. The Netflix phenomenon Squid Games features childhood riddles in Korean and English. Solutions rely not vocabulary but keen perception and logic.

Global riddling contests like the World Riddle Championships test mastery levels. In Akeelah and the Bee style, riddlers progress through escalating brain-twisters. The feats achieved explain the renown respect riddlers garner within the gaming community and beyond.

My Life of Riddle Obsession

My addiction began at age 10 when I got a book of riddles for my birthday. Quickly I became known as the “riddle girl” among friends, though back then I had no idea what to call my new identity. After blowing through the riddle book, I moved onto puzzle books, esoteric websites, and brain teasers of any sort to satiate my craving.

The most alluring riddles integrate verbal trickery with out-of-the-box perspectives. I‘ll never forget the euphoric rush solving this doozy:

You see a boat filled with people yet there isn‘t a single person on board. How is that possible? All the people aboard are married!

Through decades now as a riddle fanatic, I’ve learned solving riddles and puzzles provide a lifetime of meaningful entertainment requiring only access to books or websites. I invite you to join me by trying your hand at untangling the mental knots twisting our minds in ridiculous ways. Start simple, but also try outwitting friends with these zingers:

Riddle me this:

I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old. What am I? A candle.

What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries? A towel.

If you’ve got the riddle bug too, come join our Facebook Enigmatologist Fan Club to share your favorites and challenge others worldwide!