Walking through a toy store, one of the most recognizable items you’ll see is the iconic cube with six colored sides: the Rubik’s Cube. Chances are you’ve played with one, received it as a gift, or even bought it yourself. But have you ever wondered why the Rubik’s Cube was invented? Created in 1974 by Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik, this puzzle features six colored sides, and the objective is to arrange each side to display a single solid color. Solving it requires a series of complex algorithms.
Originally, Rubik designed the cube to captivate the minds of mathematicians and scientists. As stated in Smithsonian, Ernő Rubik was searching for a way to model three-dimensional movement to his students. After spending months tinkering with blocks of cubes, his model was made from wood and paper and was held by rubber bands, glue, and paper clips. However, its appeal quickly spread far beyond those circles. Soon, Rubik’s Cubes were being sold worldwide, turning up not only in toy stores but also in places like hardware and clothing stores. What began as a mathematical curiosity became a favorite among a wide range of people, including computer programmers, philosophers, artists, and more.
The fascination with Rubik’s Cubes didn’t stop there. As stated in the New York Times Article, over the years, countless books have been written, offering techniques and shortcuts for solving the puzzle more quickly. If you’ve ever tried solving a Rubik’s Cube and found it seemingly impossible, you’re not alone—it’s easy to see why, considering there are 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible arrangements of the squares. Even Ernő Rubik himself spent a full month attempting to solve his creation!
The Rubik’s Cube has sold over 500 million models. Although many people attempt the cube, only 5.8 percent of people can solve this puzzle. According to the Smithsonian, “The cube also inspired numerous artworks and films, and spawned a competitive sport called speedcubing that fills arenas with teenagers racing to complete the puzzle in the shortest amount of time.”
According to the New York Times Article, “ New speedcubing records were set, as were records for solving the cube underwater, while skydiving, while blindfolded, while juggling. The World Cube Association now hosts more than 1,000 speedcubing competitions each year.” Not only do they do competitions with the standard Rubik’s Cube, but also many other difficult cubes like the 5 x 5 and the pyramid cube. Many speedcubers practice for years just for a national competition.
Rubik didn’t even qualify for any speedcubing competitions, especially with the current Guinness World Record for a standard 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube being 3.05 seconds set by Xuanyi Geng in April 2025. Xuanyi Geng had beat the previous record set by Max Park in 2023 of 3.134 seconds. Cubing competitions have become very popular and there are about 140,000 speedcubers around the world.
In the early 1980s, the Rubik’s Cube existed only in its original 3×3 form. However, in the decades that followed, many new variations emerged, each offering a unique twist on the classic puzzle. Some of these include the 2x2x2 Cube, 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, 6x6x6 Cube, and 7x7x7 Cube, as well as other inventive designs like the Clock, Megaminx, Pyraminx, Skewb, and Square-1. Let’s take a look at a few of the inventive designs that are currently on the market.
The Clock puzzle stands out because it doesn’t resemble the traditional cube at all. Shaped like a clock, the challenge here is to set each clock face to the correct time, making it completely distinct from the other Rubik’s-style puzzles.
The Megaminx, released in 1982, is a dodecahedron with 12 faces, 20 corners, and 30 edges. Despite its complex appearance, it operates similarly to the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube, and anyone familiar with solving the standard cube can usually tackle the Megaminx with relative ease.
The Pyraminx, a tetrahedron with 4 axial pieces, 6 edges, and 4 tips, is simpler than the original Rubik’s Cube. With only 933,120 possible combinations, it can be solved in just 12 moves from any scramble, making it an approachable challenge for most puzzle enthusiasts.-
The Skewb is another straightforward puzzle, which rotates around its corners. With 8 corner pieces and 6 center squares, it’s easier than many other cubes and about 10% of people can solve it without much difficulty.
Finally, the Square-1 is one of the most challenging puzzles in the Rubik’s family. Unlike other cubes, it can change shape as it’s twisted, leading to complex configurations that make solving it far more difficult. Its shape-shifting nature and intricate algorithms set it apart as a true test for even the most seasoned puzzle solvers.
The Rubik’s Cube has remained popular for decades because it represents innovation and difficulty. Its complex design fosters patience and improves problem-solving abilities in addition to acting as a puzzle. It promotes a fusion of reasoning and creativity, whether it is played as a lighthearted hobby or as a competitive sport. The Rubik’s Cube is a timeless symbol of the excitement of intellectual exploration and the limitless possibilities.
