Speedrunning the Toughest Rubik's Cubes With Zero Prior Experience: A Day-by-Day Challenge

Ever stared at a Rubik's Cube, utterly baffled, and thought, "There's no way I could ever solve this, let alone *speedrun* it"? Yeah, that was me. Honestly, I'd never even completed a standard 3x3 cube before diving headfirst into this insane challenge. But on this particular adventure, we weren't just tackling the classic 3x3. Oh no, we were going for the 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, and the beastly 7x7 Rubik's Cubes, with only ONE single day dedicated to learning and speedrunning each one. The question isn't *if* we can do it, but how ridiculously fast (or slow!) we can get.

The Audacious Goal

My typical content leans towards a more casual approach to speedruns. I love showcasing unique challenges, breaking down the "how" and "why" behind impressive feats, and most importantly, entertaining you all. This particular series, however, was designed to push boundaries. Could someone with absolutely zero prior experience in solving complex Rubik's Cubes actually learn and speedrun them in a compressed timeframe? We dedicated a full day to each cube: the familiar 3x3, the slightly more daunting 4x4, the significantly more complex 5x5, and finally, the monstrous 7x7. The goal was to see how fast we could complete each one after just 24 hours of focused learning and practice.

Day 1: Mastering the 3x3 Cube

The journey began with the iconic 3x3. For many, this is where the speedrunning adventure starts. While I'd never solved one, I knew the basics of what needed to be done. The key here was finding a good tutorial that could break down the algorithms and steps efficiently. The goal wasn't necessarily to hit a world-record time (like the mind-blowing 4-second solve by Max Park), but to simply achieve a clean solve within the day.

I dived into tutorials, focusing on learning the layer-by-layer method, understanding notations like R, U, L, D, F, B, and practicing the algorithms until they became muscle memory. It was a steep learning curve, filled with frustrating moments of dropping algorithms or confusing cube rotations. But the feeling of finally completing that first solved 3x3, even slowly, was incredibly rewarding.

The initial 3x3 solve felt like unlocking a new level in a puzzle game. Even with a slow time, the sense of accomplishment was immense.

Day 2: Conquering the 4x4 (Rubik's Revenge)

With the 3x3 under my belt (sort of), it was time to move to the 4x4, often called the "Rubik's Revenge." This cube introduces a new challenge: there's no fixed center piece. This means the centers can be placed incorrectly, adding a significant layer of complexity. The common strategy involves reducing the 4x4 to a 3x3 by solving the centers first, then pairing up the edges.

This day was significantly tougher. Learning the algorithms for edge pairing and understanding how to handle the parity errors (situations where the cube appears unsolvable using standard 3x3 methods) was a major hurdle. My PB (Personal Best) for the 4x4 was far from impressive, but again, the focus was on achieving a solve. The visual difference in complexity was stark, and I spent a lot of time just getting comfortable with how the pieces moved.

Day 3: The 5x5 - A New Level of Complexity

Entering the 5x5 territory meant dealing with even more pieces and algorithms. The strategy generally mirrors the 4x4: solve the centers, pair the edges, and then solve it like a 3x3. However, the sheer number of center pieces (9 per face) and edge pieces (12 pairs) made the process much longer and more prone to errors.

This was where I really started to feel the pressure of the one-day limit. Learning the new algorithms for center solving and edge pairing while simultaneously trying to retain the knowledge from the previous days was intense. My hands ached, and my brain felt fried. Getting a solve on the 5x5 felt like a major victory, even if the timer was ticking agonizingly slowly.

The 5x5 really tests your patience. There are so many pieces to manage, and one wrong move can set you back significantly.

Day 4: The 7x7 - A True Test of Endurance

The grand finale: the 7x7 cube. This is a massive puzzle with 119 individual pieces. The strategy remains similar – solve centers, pair edges, solve like a 3x3 – but the scale magnifies every step. Each center requires solving a 3x3 block, and edge pairing involves much more complex algorithms.

This day was an exercise in pure concentration and perseverance. The sheer amount of manipulation required was exhausting. I found myself constantly referencing tutorials to remember the correct sequences for building the centers and pairing the edges. The possibility of parity errors, especially OLL parity (orientation of the last layer) and PLL parity (permutation of the last layer), looms large on larger cubes and can add minutes to a solve if you don't know how to handle them.

Achieving a solve on the 7x7 after just one day of learning felt like climbing Mount Everest. It wasn't fast by any stretch of the imagination, but it was *done*. This challenge highlighted that speedrunning isn't just about innate talent; it’s heavily about dedication, efficient learning, and understanding the underlying mechanics of the puzzle.

Essential Learning Resources

If this challenge has inspired you to pick up a cube yourself, whether for casual solving or aiming for a world record, I can't recommend the following resources enough:

The Reality of Learning Speedrunning

This experiment was a raw look into the learning curve of speedrunning complex puzzles. It’s not always about finding the most obscure glitches or executing perfect strats from day one. For many games and puzzles, it starts with understanding the fundamentals, practicing consistently, and gradually shaving off seconds.

The role of RNG (Random Number Generation) is minimal in Rubik's Cubes compared to video game speedruns, but strategy and efficient execution are paramount. You can practice the same algorithms countless times, but applying them under pressure, without hesitation, is where the real challenge lies. This experience solidified my belief that anyone can get into gaming speedruns with the right resources and dedication.

Join the Speedrunning Community

The world of speedrunning is incredibly welcoming and supportive. Whether you're into intricate RPGs, fast-paced platformers, or mind-bending puzzles like the Rubik's Cube, there's a community out there for you. Watching the top runners on speedrun.com is inspiring, but don't let the WR times intimidate you.

The true spirit of speedrunning is about personal improvement and the joy of mastering a game or puzzle. If you're curious, start small! Pick a game you love, watch a beginner tutorial, and see if you can beat your own PB. You might just surprise yourself.

Speedrunning isn't just about being the fastest; it's about the journey of learning, practicing, and pushing your own limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is it possible to learn to speedrun a Rubik's Cube in a day?
A: It's possible to learn *a* solve method and achieve a completion time within a day, especially for the 3x3. However, becoming truly "fast" takes much longer. This challenge focused on achieving a solve, not elite times.

Q2: What's the difference between a 3x3 and a 7x7 solve?
A: The 7x7 has significantly more pieces, requiring dedicated steps to solve the centers and pair all the edge pieces before you can even begin solving it like a 3x3. It's exponentially more complex and time-consuming.

Q3: Do you need special equipment to speedrun Rubik's Cubes?
A: While speedcubers often use specialized "speedcubes" that turn more smoothly and quickly, you can start learning and practicing with any standard Rubik's Cube. The most important tools are tutorials and practice!

Q4: What are "parity errors" in larger cubes?
A: Parity errors are situations that can occur on 4x4 and larger cubes where the cube appears to be in an unsolvable state using standard 3x3 algorithms. Special algorithms are needed to correct these errors.

So, what did you think of this multi-cube speedrunning challenge? Did it inspire you to grab a cube and start practicing? Let us know your own experiences with Rubik's Cubes or any other speedrunning challenges you've undertaken in the comments below! We love hearing from the community. Join our Discord channel to chat directly with fellow gamers and speedrunners!