The Cube is, at the same time, a symbol of simplicity and complexity.
Erno Rubik
After the jigsaw, the Rubik's cube might be one of the world's most popular puzzles. It takes its name from its inventor, Erno Rubik, a Hungarian architecture professor and sculptor. While quintessentially 80s, it was invented in 1974 and while some people may have gone their entire lives without solving one, there are a few fairly simple ways always to solve them. What are the different Rubik’s cube difficulty levels? Before diving into solutions and strategies, here’s a list of Rubik’s Cube variations you should know:
- 2x2x2 Mini Cube
- 3x3x3 Standard Rubik’s Cube
- 4x4x4 Rubik’s Revenge
- 5x5x5 Professor’s Cube
- 6x6x6 Cube
- 7x7x7 V-Cube
- Mirror Cube
- Pyraminx
- Master Pyraminx
- Skewb
- Megaminx
- Gigaminx
- Teraminx
- Ghost Cube
- Square-1
- Axis Cube
- Fisher Cube
- Windmill Cube
- Ivy Cube
- Over-the-Top Cube
Some of these puzzles stick closely to the classic cube concept, while others distort it completely — in shape, size, and solving method. If you're looking to become a true cubing expert, knowing each of these variations and how they work is essential. Let’s take a closer look at the original 3x3x3 cube, how it evolved into a global phenomenon, and why so many variations now exist. Are you curious to know how to solve the world's most difficult rubik's cube? Let's find out!
The Original Rubik's Cube
The standard Rubik's Cube features 6 faces with a 3x3x3 grid of colored tiles. It can be solved using one of several methods including the beginner's method, the Fredrich method, and the Roux method. Each method is essentially a pattern of moves that can be repeated to solve the cube. There are even competitive competitions for solving Rubik's Cubes. These are organized and managed by the World Cube Association. Let's take a look at how the original 3x3x3 cube came to be, the different configurations, patterns, and solutions, and the other versions of Rubik's Cubes and combination puzzles! So, what is the hardest Rubik’s cube scramble?
The Hardest Rubik's Cubes of All Time
- Checkerboard (hard)
- Cube-in-a-Cube (hard)
- Skewb (hard)
- Megaminx (hard)
- 5x5x5 (hard)
- Superflip (expert)
- Ghost Cube (expert)
- 7x7x7 (expert)
- Square-1 (expert)
- Master Pyraminx (extreme)
- The Teraminx (extreme)
- Over-the-Top (extreme)
The Rubik's Cube was originally invented so Erno Rubik could teach his students about 3D geometry. He made the prototype in 1974, but the cube wouldn't be mass-produced and sold across the world until 1980!
Once people started working out how to solve the cube, learning to solve the cube in the fastest way possible became the next obvious step. After all, the cube was everywhere and became so popular that now, over 40 years later, it's still synonymous with the 1980s. We have to start with Erno Rubik's 1974 prototype. This was made of wood rather than plastic and the colors used across the cube's faces weren't the standard six we see on almost every Rubik's Cube today.
New Rubik's Cube Variants
The original 3x3x3 cube was just the beginning and once seemingly everyone on the planet had seen or solved the Rubik's Cube, new variations on the cube were invented.
These new variants on the Rubik's Cube include:
- The 2x2x2 Mini Cube
- The 4x4x4 Rubik's Revenge
- The 5x5x5 Professor's Cube
- The Megaminx
- The 7x7x7 V-cube
The Hardest Rubik's Cube Configurations to Solve
The "difficulty" of a Rubik's Cube is dependent on how the colored tiles are arranged when you start trying to solve the puzzle and the pattern you want to achieve when you finish. There are a few patterns that cubers have identified and here, we'll look at how to solve them and how difficult they are to solve. After all, getting each of the sides to be one solid color is supposedly child's play for the best cubers!
Checkerboard Pattern
The checkerboard pattern or checkered cube is a challenging Rubik's Cube solution. This is one of the trickier solutions and you need to complete the Rubik's cube where each face has a maximum of two alternating checkerboard colors. The solution or algorithm that cubers use to solve this one is rather complicated and you have to start with a solved Rubik's Cube, so there's that, too!
Crazy Cube Pattern
The Crazy Cube is when you mix up all the colors on the cube and attempt to solve by matching every tile on each face of the cube. This is probably what most people think of when solving a Rubik's Cube. The most obvious way to solve this is by using the aptly named Beginner's Rubik's Cube Solution.
Cube-in-a-Cube Pattern
Most famous Rubik’s cubers in tournaments and championships like to do this one. Start with the solved cube pattern and then proceed to create the appearance of a smaller 2x2x2 cube in one corner of your 3x3x3 cube. You'll find an example of this pattern thanks to this YouTube tutorial!
Superflip Pattern
The Superflip or 12-flip pattern is probably one of the most complicated configurations of Rubik's Cube that you can find. This is a symmetrical layout of the cube and the solution. To make matters more confusing, superflip is both the term used for the configuration and the process of putting a solved Rubik's Cube into this configuration. To better understand, we recommend looking at a video of the superflip!
Other Rubik's Cube Patterns
There's an absolute rabbit hole of Rubik's Cube patterns for you to fall into so rather than going through each of them, we'd recommend you head over to one of the many Rubik's Cube pages or communities and start looking for patterns like the deckerboard, spiral, fruit bowl, Union Jack, cube in a cube in a cube, Tetris, C U Around, etc. To say there are a few patterns would be an understatement and to work out which is the most complicated, it's a matter of how difficult you find it to remember the solution, but the superflip regularly features.
What is your top 10 hardest cubes to solve? Find out more on the easiest cubes to solve!
There are many variations on Rubik's Cubes and these various puzzles also have different patterns and ways of solving them, each with an inherent difficulty level. How difficult solving a "Rubik's Cube" is will depend on the type of "cube" you're using and your solution.
How to Solve the Most Complicated Rubik's Cube Variations and Configurations
To solve a Rubik's Cube, you have to understand how the puzzle works and the moves required to put the cube into the desired configuration. No matter which configuration you're trying to learn, these tips should help you get better at solving Rubik's Cubes.
- Practice Makes Perfect: The more you do anything, the better you'll get at it. Make sure you sit down to take the time to practice whichever configuration or solution you're trying to master.
- Study Rubik's Cube Algorithms: Algorithms or algs are the patterns that are used to solve Rubik's Cubes. Rather than just memorizing them, you can study how and why they work.
- Patience: Rubik's Cubes are difficult and that's what makes them so much fun, but you have to be patient. Learning new solutions and algorithms can be complicated and will take time. Don't expect to instantly get the hang of it.
Measuring the Difficulty of Various Types of Rubik's Cubes
Difficulty in any area is always subjective. What one person finds simple may be what another person finds incredibly difficult. However, once you have enough people trying to do a certain thing, you can get a better idea of the average difficulty or typically how difficult a person will find something.
While your results may vary, the Rubik's Cube community does have an idea of how different cubes compare to one another. That said, not all of them are even cubes, but you know what we mean. Within each cube, there are patterns and configurations of differing difficulties, but the various cubes and differently shaped puzzles also have an average difficulty as outlined by the community.
Easy
2x2x2 Cube and the Traditional 3x3x3 Cube
The easiest Rubik's Cube versions are the smaller cubes. This includes the 2x2x2 cube and the traditional 3x3x3 cube. If you're completely new to Rubik's Cubes, we'd recommend starting with the classic 3x3x3, learning to solve it, and then moving on to some of the more interesting patterns that we outlined earlier.
Intermediate
4x4x4, Mirror Cube, and Pyramid Cube
Intermediate cubes include the 4x4x4 cube, mirror cube, and pyramid cube. The algorithms used to solve these puzzles in the intermediate category include slightly more challenging cubes than the 2x2 and 3x3 cubes.
Hard
5x5x5, Megaminx, and the Skewb
This category of cubes naturally includes the 5x5x5 cube as well as the Megaminx and the Skewb, with neither of the latter two being cubes.
Expert
7x7x7, the Square-1, and the Ghost Cube
If you thought the hard puzzles were difficult, strap in. Here we have the 7x7x7 cube, the Square-1, and the Ghost Cube. These variations are so very irregular and weird so to even begin understanding them, we recommend that you just look at pictures of them and try to wrap your head around them.
Extreme
The Master Pyraminx, the Teraminx, and the over-The-Top Cube
The Master Pyraminx, the Teraminx, and the Over-The-Top Cube are the puzzle monsters in this category. With tens of thousands of permutations, these are only for the most advanced cubers.
Learn How to Solve Any Rubik's Cube with Superprof
Whether you'd like to get better at solving a Rubik's Cube or any of the variations of this hugely popular combination puzzle, consider working with a private tutor. Many cognitive advantages come with solving Rubik's Cubes including improved memory and problem-solving skills and while you can take the time to work out how to solve them, learn the algorithms online, and practice, you'll see that it's much quicker to work under the guidance of a private tutor.
Superprof tutors don't just cover Rubik's Cubes, either, if you want to learn problem-solving skills or get better at other puzzles, too, you can find tutors out there to help you. With most offering the first lesson for free, you can see who's the best fit before paying for your lessons. So, what do you think of the Rubik’s cube hardest scramble?
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The most challenging cube for me to solve to date is the axis or axle cube.
I have mastered the 3x3x3 up to 10x10x10 cubes, as well as the
and the Megaminx and Teraminx.
l have not tried the mirrored cubed.
I have tried the mirror cube its easy you just have to solve it like a 3×3 or a 2×2 depending on what you have also my pb on 3×3 is 12.5
I’m a misunderstanding the description of the “checkerboard pattern” as it only takes 3 moves to turn a solved Rubik’s Cube into that pattern. Just turn each middle section 180 degrees.