The V-Cube 3 and V-Cube 7, from Verdes Innovations, offer some seriously twisted fun. Designed for kids ages 5 and up, the V-Cube 3 is strikingly similar to—arguably the world’s most popular toy—the Rubik’s Cube. It’s the same 3-D combination puzzle, but it has a couple of features that set it apart.
Like the classic Rubik’s cube, the V-Cube 3 has six sides, each containing nine individual faces of the same color. In this case, black is opposite yellow, blue is opposite green, and orange is opposite red. An internal pivot mechanism in the center allows kids to rotate each face of the cube independently, as they mix up the colors and attempt to organize them again. I’d also like to add that it’s not exactly shaped like a cube. Instead, the V-Cube is pillow shaped, looking bloated or overinflated with bulging edges.
My favorite part about the V-Cube 3 is how smooth the movements are. One of my biggest frustrations with my old Rubik’s Cube was how sometimes the cube would get stuck during my twists and turns. The V-Cube rotates just how I want it to: smooth like a freshly oiled bike chain or the blades of my blender (I like smoothies). Another feature I came to appreciate about the V-Cube 3 was its use of printed colors, rather than colored stickers used in past variations of the puzzle. Abandoning the use of stickers eliminates the possibility of the stickers peeling and minimizes the inevitable wear and tear.
If you haven’t guessed it already, the V-Cube 7 is a six-sided behemoth that’s double the size of the V-Cube 3 and the original Rubik’s cube. Designed for kids ages 8 and up, it’s got 49 (yes, 49) colored faces per side, and basically looks like the V-Cube 3 after an incredible offseason of two-a-day workouts and steroids. As the only cube around with 7 layers, it is intimidating, but those who have mastered the smaller versions of the cube will undoubtedly beam with excitement when it’s in their hands.
Distributed in the U.S. by Orbet International, each V-Cube includes a tiny solution booklet, which shares tips and tricks on how to successfully solve the puzzle.
