Riddle me this, riddle me that"¦ So goes the popular line from one of superhero fiction's most popular villains. And we are hooked as The Riddler plots Batman's downfall with a riddle. That's the hook that a good riddle delivers. Come to think of it, even a stupid one gets the gears in our brain moving. There actually are no stupid riddles; just easy ones and difficult ones.

For instance, take a shot at this riddle that's an example of a simple riddle (but difficult to answer).

What is greater than God?

More evil than the devil,

The poor have it,

The rich need it,

And if you eat it, you'll die?

The answer is - Nothing.

Well, we won't leave you with that as we check out ten brain teaser and riddle websites that can help to boost your brainpower or liven up a dull train journey.

Pzzls

brain teasers and riddles

Take a shot at the famous Einstein's Riddle and be in the top 2% of the "˜brainiest people in the world'! From simple riddles and puzzles, the site has lots of logic, math, and science puzzles to keep your brain on overdrive. You can browse through the puzzles or use the search tool. You can also send in your own as submissions. All puzzles are rated.

Think Riddles

hard riddles

With 8000 brain teasers and riddles to choose from, you can really put your brain in a tizzy. So check out the popular riddles first. You can also go at them alphabetically with the letter links at the foot of the webpage. The riddles at ThinkRiddles.com are more for children than adults.

Mindcipher [No Longer Available]

hard riddles

Mindcipher does not have a large number of puzzles, but the limited collection is arranged in neat categories. Two categories you should try out first are - Lateral Thinking and Logical. Answers along with detailed explanations are given for most of the riddles.

BrainBashers

hard riddles

BrainBashers is a potpourri mix of brain teasers, puzzles, riddles, games and optical illusions. It is one of the better rounded sites on brain games you will find because it offers - jigsaws, mazes, logic and mind riddles, online games, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, stereograms, jigsaw puzzles, optical illusions, brain teasers, and more. Interesting side features like Common Answers and Droodles should make you come back daily or subscribe to the Daily Gubbins email or RSS feed.

Braingle

solve a riddle

If your brain craves for variety, give it Braingle's mix of quizzes, riddles, logic problems, and trivia. Try out the Puzzle Hunts on the site which is like a treasure hunt for the brain. There are only two as of now with ten levels each, but the site also links to others that may be found online.

Wu::riddles

solve a riddle

Riddles star getting serious here. The site does not have the trappings of rich graphics, but the personal collection of riddles (since 2002) is from a guy who knows his conundrums. The brain twisters are very well chosen. It's a little bit difficult to get to the answers (in case you can't solve them) is that the answers are posted not on the site directly but on the Forum.

BrainDen

solve a riddle

If you speak Chinese, Russian and Slovak apart from English of course, then this site is of help. Apart from the riddles and the brain teasers, try out the small collection on Optical Illusions, Matchstick Puzzles, and Paradoxes.

Puzzletome

riddles

Puzzletome is not a repository of riddles but one where you can play two full-length puzzle contests and any mini-contests created exclusively by the Puzzletome team. The site requires a free registration. Puzzletome also has a cryptic crossword section with which does not need a log-in. While playing the mini-contests, you can keep an eye on the stats that reflect how you are coping.

Had To Play On

riddles

It's a community of riddlers who regularly hold contests around topics such as movies, music, traditional riddles, wordplay etc. For instance, the contest that's running is called "˜Sing Who You See'. Using the names of the people in a series of pictures, you have to put together the name of a song. You have to register on the site before you can begin exciting your brain cells.

Notpron

brain teasers and riddles

You have a chance to find out if this one is really the hardest riddle game to crack as it claims to be. It will tease your brain with its 140 levels. The riddle consists of a series of pictures and you have to navigate through each of them using nothing but your horse sense. Hints are given on a separate page till the eighth level so they won't take you far.

Riddles will continue to have enduring significance. They are the cheapest brain medicine. They also helped to make history intriguing enough for a read through a bestselling book and a Tom Hanks movie. Do you have the time for brain teasers and riddles? Or are life's own puzzles overwhelming you? Take some time out and let us know about your favorite riddles and where we can find them.

Image: Horia Varlan