Century Cube Instructions & Solution

Puzzle instructions

Difficulty: Impossible

Six unusually shaped wooden pieces fit together in a specific sequence to form Century Cube. Taking it apart is part of the challenge, and putting it back together can keep you busy long after the pieces are loose.

Start without the solution

Your goal is to assemble all six pieces into a cube. If your Century Cube is assembled, first work out how to take it apart.

Work over a clear surface so you can keep all six pieces together.
Try gentle sliding movements and notice which pieces can move. Avoid forcing a piece that stops.
As you take it apart, note the order and orientation of the pieces. Those observations can help you rebuild it.

The help below reveals the piece positions and the full sequence. Leave it closed if you want to keep solving on your own.

Show the full Century Cube solution

Match your pieces to the photographs

The numbers below belong to the reference photographs. Your puzzle may have no numbers marked on it. Identify each piece by its shape and compare its notches and projecting ends before following a move.

This guide covers the six-piece Century Cube shown here. It is a different puzzle from Century Cube II and Revolving Century.

Century Cube original reference photographs showing all six separate wooden pieces, numbered 1 to 6 — Use these original photographs to identify the pieces. Keep each piece oriented as shown when comparing its shape.

Take the cube apart

Century Cube assembled reference view with numbered pieces and piece 5 projecting above the top face — Match this view before starting: piece 5 is on top. The photograph shows it raised; the completed cube has piece 5 pushed down.

Keep the cube facing the same way as the reference photograph. Left and right mean your left and right while looking at that view. Back means away from you; forward means toward you. Up and down refer to the top and bottom of the pictured cube.

Move piece 5 up.
Push piece 4 back.
Pull piece 2 out to the left.
Slide piece 1 back.
Pull piece 3 down.
Piece 6 can now come out. The remaining pieces can separate.

If a piece stops, check the previous move and compare your orientation with the reference before continuing.

Put the pieces back together

Follow the photographs in order. Match the whole arrangement before adding the next piece; the closing movements come after all six pieces are positioned.

1. Place piece 2 on piece 1

Match the orientation and overlap in the photograph.

Century Cube assembly step 1: piece 2 placed across piece 1 in the original guide

2. Position piece 3

Use the photograph to match piece 3 to the first two pieces.

Century Cube assembly step 2: piece 3 positioned beside pieces 1 and 2

3. Position piece 4

Compare the position of piece 4 with piece 1 on the right.

Century Cube assembly step 3: piece 4 positioned across the developing assembly

4. Add piece 5

Place piece 5 in the slot and move it forward as shown.

Century Cube assembly step 4: piece 5 placed in the slot beside piece 4

5. Position piece 6

Match the final loose piece to the opening shown in the photograph.

Century Cube assembly step 5: piece 6 positioned at the front of the assembly

Close the cube

With all six pieces positioned as in the assembly photographs:

Pull piece 3 up.
Slide piece 1 forward.
Push piece 2 in to the right.
Push piece 4 forward.
Push piece 5 down to finish.

Century Cube original photograph showing the relative positions of all six numbered pieces — This extra view identifies the relative piece positions. Use the step photographs above for the assembly sequence.

Download Century Cube illustrated instructions and solution (PDF, 4 pages). Page 1 is spoiler-free. Pages 2-4 reveal the solution.

Still stuck?

If your pieces look different, or a move does not match the photographs, contact us with a photo of the puzzle and the step you reached. We can help you identify the right instructions.

Email Creative Crafthouse for puzzle help