Unusual Cubes and Shape-Mods

This category brings together unusual cubes and shape-mods: puzzles that start from the logic of the cube but introduce major changes in shape (mirror, cylinder, sphere, animals), in mechanism (gears, Ivy, centreless cubes) or in both at once. Most of them are not WCA events, but they are a very active part of the hobby and of collecting.

The lineup is very varied. You will find Gear Cubes with visible gears that force coupled moves, Mirror Cubes where all faces share one colour and are solved by shape, Ivy Cubes with vertex turns similar to the Skewb, cubes shaped like a cylinder, a sphere or animals, and fidgets like the 1x1 Cube Spinner. Among the best-known classic shape-mods are the Fisher Cube, the Windmill and the Axis Cube. The difficulty varies a lot: some are more approachable than a 3x3, others considerably harder.

They connect with almost the entire catalogue because they cut across the hobby: if you are coming from the 3x3 you will find mods based on its mechanism; if non-cubic geometries interest you, look at the Megaminx, Pyraminx and Skewb. For small-sized collecting, 2x2 shape-mods also fit in. Return to the Rubik's cubes hub for the full catalogue or look at cubing accessories for add-ons.

Brands present in unusual cubes and shape-mods: QiYi (the widest range), MoYu, SengSo, Ziina and ShengShou. Featured models in the catalogue:

• QiYi Crazy Gear Cube 3x3 - 3x3 cube with visible gears
• QiYi Gear Sphere Black - sphere with gear-driven turns
• QiYi Ivy Cube Stickerless - shape-mod with a mechanism similar to the Skewb
• QiYi Gear Barrel 3x3 - cylinder with gears
• QiYi O2 1x1 Cube Spinner Fidget - fidget variant closer to an anti-stress toy