Rubik's Cube and Rubik's Cube Adjacent Gift ideas

November 14, 2024 10:10 AM

My 12 year old son has been really into Rubik's Cube lately. Any recommendations for Rubik's Cube related gift ideas?

He already has what he calls a "speed cube" which is a fancy 3x3 with magnets that help align it. He also has a 4x4 cube but it isn't fancy at all. When I look for things, there are all these weird shapes and a lot of other related things. I wonder if anyone has any recommendations on which of these may be fun for him.

posted by cmm to Shopping (18 answers total)

Rubik himself wrote a book about the cube and other stuff in 2020: Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All. I also like my inexpensive Duncan Quick cube. It doesn't have magnets but it's smooth and silky compared to the official version. I've not used the magnet type but he may like the variation or even prefer non-magnet speed cube. (I am only a casual cuber)
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:26 AM on November 14

I was going to recommend The Kid Should See This gift guide, but for some reason it's not connecting for me. They usually update it for the holiday season.
posted by drossdragon at 10:32 AM on November 14

There's also Rubik's Magic (put out after the Cube) which might be an idea - you might have to find one on EBay as I don't think it's sold anymore.
posted by whatevernot at 10:32 AM on November 14

An appropriate silicone lube, so you don't have to have the same awkward conversation as orange swan's ex's mom.
posted by zamboni at 10:39 AM on November 14 [2 favorites]

There are several games for multiple players based on the Rubik's cube, for example Rubik's Cage and Rubik's Roll
My son did enjoy those for a time, the Cage Game is however after a while easy to predict for a very logic thinking person. The roll Game is more interesting because of the variety of Games.
posted by 15L06 at 10:42 AM on November 14 [1 favorite]

I like the ones that have different sized pieces but can still be rotated like a cube, often called mirror cubes. You can usually find them in one solid color because they rely on the height of the pieces to match rather than the color. I am not endorsing the one in that link (sold out right now anyway), just providing it as an example.
posted by soelo at 10:54 AM on November 14 [1 favorite]

I had the aforementioned Rubik's Magic as a kid, as well as Pyraminx, which is a 3-tier regular pyramid that turned in the fashion of the Cube. There's a Rubik's Pyramid, but it seems to come in 2-tier as well as 3-tier versions. Pyraminx still appears to be for sale, and they do have magnet versions which would've greatly simplified my childhood habit of solving these puzzles by taking them apart. (And that was after the ol' sticker swap strategy.)
posted by Sunburnt at 11:35 AM on November 14 [2 favorites]

Piet Hein’s Soma Cube
https://piethein.com/upload_dir/pics/SOMA/SOMA-manual-year-1980.pdf
https://piethein.com/shop/183-games-amp-puzzles/217-soma-cube-natural-oak-fsc-8x8x8-cm-invented-1933/
posted by at at 2:31 PM on November 14

I had a Pyraminx, and got pretty good at solving it. I never solved the cube. Your son might like the Pyraminx, but just FYI, my impression has always been that it's easier to solve than the cube.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 4:41 PM on November 14

I can confirm that the mirror cube is delightful.

I hadn't heard of the Soma Cube but... what a delightful thing!
posted by wattle at 5:17 PM on November 14

Rubik's Race is a fun 2-player board game version. My 8yo daughter loves playing against her parents.
posted by robcorr at 6:35 PM on November 14

Timers and mats
posted by Sassyfras at 6:36 PM on November 14 [1 favorite]

If he has a phone you can get him a reasonably priced smart cube. I have this one and it's great. You connect it to an app and it can detect the moves you make, guide you through scrambling the cube, then time you solving it. The battery lasts a long time.

The smart cube apps aren't great but there are other options like Cubeast that can connect to this cube.
posted by mmoncur at 8:35 PM on November 14

For my brother, a cube head, I considered this phantom cube for Christmas.
posted by alltomorrowsparties at 11:44 PM on November 14

For the next step in puzzles, maybe try the Skewb (easier) or the Megaminx (harder) (they're both WCA events if he's into speedcubing.)

My favorite online store is thecubicle but hknowstore has a wider range of more esoteric puzzles.
posted by soonertbone at 4:38 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

+1 for mirror cubes, they are hard but neat
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 11:17 PM on November 15

Just went through this. The kid wants the lube and this weird timer mat that allows them to more precisely time their speed cubing.
posted by history is a weapon at 5:33 PM on November 16

Mod note: [Merry gifting, everyone! We've added this to our list of holiday gift posts on the sidebar and Best Of blog!!]
posted by taz (staff) at 10:46 PM on November 22 [1 favorite]