You want a really hard puzzle? You want a puzzle to really stump the person who can do them all? This is it.... a list of all our most challenging puzzles. Our most difficult puzzles all on one page.
Mr Puzzle Australia makes and sells some of the hardest puzzles in the world. Some of the the really hard puzzles are made here in our own workshop and are not available anywhere else in the world.
We consider a hard puzzle to be a puzzle that will take some hours to do and memorise. We don't consider a puzzle mastered until you can show someone that you can do it without them getting bored half way through the performance. We do not consider the use of the solution as 'doing' the puzzle. These very difficult puzzles may be a challenge but being difficult to us doesn't have to mean just more pieces...
You'll find these puzzles interesting as well as difficult.
We've brought together puzzles from our Difficulty Rating 8 to 10 (out of 10) pages. Puzzles are not necessarily listed in order of difficulty but you can see how we rate them here.
The puzzle consists of a looped handle interlocked with nine rings. The object is to remove the nine rings from the handle. It will take 341 move to do the puzzle but there's a method and once you know it you'll certainly be able to solve the puzzle.
The puzzle is to separate the four pieces from each other then put them back together again. Even when you think you've almost got it there's another secret to unlock... and then there's the problem of putting it back together.
Can you take the three pieces of the puzzle apart? Can you get the puzzle back together again? There are three interwoven pieces to the puzzle. Can you separate each piece of the puzzle?
Separate the 4 pieces of the puzzle. True bonds has always been hard to form, but once formed such bonds are eternal and hard to break. The inventor Uyematsu says that his original version was created with this image in his mind, but the puzzle was completed into a cast puzzle with a bond that is truly difficult to unravel. How would you go about breaking and forming this bond? There are two approaches to this puzzle and we challenge you to both!
The three pieces of this puzzle just slide apart, you don't need to force them. Can you work out the twisting movement required to achieve this and to then get them back together again?
Can you separate the three links of the chain and then get it back together again? What's special about this puzzle is that it can be solved three different ways, depending on which of the three pieces has been chosen as the middle link.
The object is to separate the two parts - N E W S. The level of difficulty is very high because it's very difficult to work out the solution to the puzzle. Once done the puzzle is not difficult to memorise.
There are two goals to the Cast Nutcase created by the Dutch puzzle inventor, Oskar van Deventner. 1. Remove the small nut by disassembling the Cast Nutcase. 2. Cast puzzle enthusiasts (some call them nutcases) can enjoy trying to change the wording on the bolt from "nut-case" to "case-nut".
Yes, Vinco believes this is even outside his rating system. Harder than his 5 out of 5 puzzles.
There are twelve very odd shaped pieces which make a cube. Once complete this cube sits on a 45o angle inside the open stand. An incredibly difficult puzzle to get together.
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - Prague, Czech Republic, August 2008 Presented by Mike Hawthorne. Made by Václav Obšívac at Vin & Co. Designed by Václav Obšívac.
Difficulty 5/5 The goal is to make a cube, and the other nine shapes, from the 8 pieces of the puzzle. The shapes are amazingly complex - even for Vinco!
The puzzle is to stack the three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos & Aramis, joined by d'Artagnan so they are self supporting in the frame; ie: no loose parts. You must be able to pickup the frame without touching the Musketeers, so that the Musketeers do not fall out. Judged in the TOP 10 at THE 2010 Nob Yoshigahara International Puzzle Design Competition. This puzzle is not one of Mr Puzzle's Limited Edition however at this stage we only have permission to make 30 puzzles.
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - Osaka, Japan July 2010 Presented by Brian Young. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Brian Young.
The object of the puzzle is to get Mt Fuji to blow it's top and find the Buddha of All-Illuminating Wisdom, the Dainichi Nyorai.
Edward Hordern IPP Puzzle Exchange - Berlin, Germany August, 2011 Presented by Karst Nauta. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Junichi Yananose.
The Burrliner Kruse is a 12 piece plated burr based on the Altekruse type burrs.
The puzzle is a completely new design by Junichi Yananose, who took his inspiration from the original and well-known Altekruse Puzzle. It was a 'by-product' of the analysis he did to create the Windmill Burr http://www.mrpuzzle.com.au/prod93.htm that we made in the 2010 Limited Edition series.
You can choose to have the burr sent assembled or apart. It's challenging to take apart (Level 4-2-3) but receiving it in pieces really makes it more tricky. If you're comfortable doing burrs this is still difficult but doable (and it comes with a very detailed printed solution if you get really stuck).
Junichi originally name it New Altekruse Type 04 but Karst named the puzzle as a reference to the historical inventor William Altekruse and to the International Puzzle Party in Berlin.
The puzzle is made from Australian Rose Alder. Size: 100mm x 100mm x 100mm
A seven piece wooden ball (koule in Czech) puzzle on a turned wooden stand.
The basis of this puzzle is the Stewart Coffin designed Convolution Cube. The puzzle is rated as Demanding. Each of the 7 pieces is made from a combination of different species and colours of wood. The pieces are totally interlocked to make a solid sphere with a single solution. Yes, there are no voids inside the sphere. The bigger challenge is probably putting this puzzle back together, but in disassembly, even after you've found the first couple of pieces it still hasn't released all it's secrets.
Each puzzle piece is made from many smaller complex shaped pieces glued together; finding the correct combination that are not glued, to push or pull to take apart, may be quite difficult.
Solution: A video on assembly and disassembly is supplied on DVD with the puzzle.
The object of the puzzle is to dissassemble the 13 piece rectilinear burr.
This puzzle was designed by Bill Cutler in 1982 as part of his Wausau series of burrs. Prior to this he had worked mostly with the standard six piece burr but this series was an experiment in different patterns of rods along the 3 axes. Bill describes this second puzzle in the series, Wausau '82, as one of his favourite designs, saying it uses a lock picking technique.
Edward Hordern Puzzle Exchange - Gold Coast, Australia, August 2007 Presented by Bill Darrah. Made by Brian Young @ Mr Puzzle Australia. Designed by Bill Darrah.
The puzzle is to disassemble and reassemble the 12 piece burr so that all the decorative routing is symmetrical. The puzzle can go together in two different ways. A very elegant design by Bill Darrah who is well known for designing very difficult puzzles. As well as being a burr it is actually a box with an inside space of 45mm x 45mm x 45mm.
This puzzle really does show a case of 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. It may look like other six piece burrs on the outside but it is DEFINITELY not. The puzzle is incredibly more complicated than the commonly known six piece puzzle. This photo shows the Mega Six when it's about half way together or apart).
Bill Cutler first used a computer program to analyse six piece burrs in 1974 but it took until 1990 to analyse all possible six piece burr combinations.
Mega Six is the result of that search for the maximum number of moves for a six piece burr with a unique solution. This does not mean it has a unique assembly, due to the number of internal voids. In theory the pieces should fit together in 20 different ways however, the reality is that you can physically only put the puzzle together in one of the 20 assemblies.
Not only OUR hardest six piece burr but THE hardest six piece burr! Buy a set of 2 very hard burrs and get $10 discount. Click here.
Covered by Australian Design Registration No 151844 and is made under license to Bill Cutler.
This puzzle really does show a case of 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. It may look like other six piece burrs on the outside but it is DEFINITELY not. The puzzle is incredibly more complicated than the commonly known six piece puzzle.
Bill Cutler first used a computer program to analyse six piece burrs in 1974 but it took until 1990 to analyse all possible six piece burr combinations.
Mega Six is the result of that search for the maximum number of moves for a six piece burr with a unique solution. This does not mean it has a unique assembly, due to the number of internal voids. In theory the pieces should fit together in 20 different ways however, the reality is that you can physically only put the puzzle together in one of the 20 assemblies.
Not only OUR hardest six piece burr but THE hardest six piece burr!
Timber varieties: 2. Queensland Blackbean (sorry these are no longer available - 1. Queensland Silver Ash 3. Western Australian Jarrah)
There is an interesting sequence of 13 forward and backward moves required to disassemble this puzzle... Yes, that’s 13 moves to get the first piece out and that’s not the trickiest part of the puzzle.
Once completely apart, there are 5485 false solutions (in other words, false assemblies), meaning the puzzle looks like it should go together but you can’t get the last piece in. Only the specific sequence of 13 moves will allow you to insert the last piece and solve this puzzle.
This puzzle is made under license to Goh Pit Khiam. Goh Pit Khiam invented this twelve piece puzzle in December 1999 without the use of a computer. We’ve given the puzzle a rating 9 out of 10 because it’s sold assembled. To solve the puzzle from a disassembled state without clues it could definitely be worthy of a rating 10!
Buy a set of 2 very hard burrs and get $10 discount. Click here.
There is an interesting sequence of 13 forward and backward moves required to disassemble this puzzle... Yes, that’s 13 moves to get the first piece out and that’s not the trickiest part of the puzzle.
Once completely apart, there are 5485 false solutions (in other words, false assemblies), meaning the puzzle looks like it should go together but you can’t get the last piece in. Only the specific sequence of 13 moves will allow you to insert the last piece and solve this puzzle.
This puzzle is made under license to Goh Pit Khiam. Goh Pit Khiam invented this twelve piece puzzle in December 1999 without the use of a computer. We’ve given the puzzle a rating 9 out of 10 because it’s sold assembled. To solve the puzzle from a disassembled state without clues it could definitely be worthy of a rating 10!
Click here to see the Decemburr in Jarrah as it's coming apart.
Decemburr is also available in our Standard Range. Click here .
If you like very difficult burr puzzles then this is the set for you. Two burrs rated 9/10. They don't make them much harder than this. SAVE $10.00 by buying them as a set.
MEGA SIX Difficulty Level 9/10 Enhanced Bill Cutler design. Packaged disassembled. DECEMBURR Difficulty Level 9/10 Level 13 multiple move burr. Goh Pit Khiam design.
All puzzles handcrafted in Australia by Mr Puzzle.
The puzzle is to return the cube to its original state... every side finally having one solid color. With "43 Quintillion" possible moves and only "ONE" solution... nearly one in every five people in the world has twisted, jumbled and enjoyed this immensely popular puzzle.
There is no Solution booklet in this Hexagonal packaging however at time we do have some Secondhand copies of various original Solution Booklets for sale on our "Collectible Puzzles" page. Click here to see current stocks. You can also view the latest techniques to solve the cube at the Official Rubiks website http://www.youcandothecube.com/secret-unlocked/solution-stage-one.aspx
LATEST NEWS! July 2010. Researches have found that the Rubik's Cube can be solved in 20 moves or less from any mixed up state. Don't believe it's possible? I'ts true. Morley Davidson, John Dethridge, Herbert Kociemba, and Tomas Rokicki did some serious number crunching with the aid of Google's computers and proved it. Read more here.... Watch a recent ABC documentary about "God's Number" 20 http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3233961.htm
The puzzle is to return the cube to its original state... every side finally having one solid color. The Rubik's 4x4 cube (otherwise known as Rubiks Revenge) was released more than 20 years ago and remains one of the classic Rubik's must have puzzles.
Just like the Rubik's Cube but there's no centre cubes; you can see straight through the cube from all axes. Apart from being a great puzzle it's also an engineering marvel. Just how can it turn with no centre mechanism? Designer Katsuhiko Okamoto came up with an entirely different mechanism from a regular Rubik's Cube because with no centre there is no central spider for turning the cube.
Could it be harder than the Rubik's Cube? Yes, it definitely is. In some cases it will appear that there is no solution to this cube. It is a second puzzle to figure out why this happens. The goal is the same as the regular Rubik's Cube. Scramble the cube and then restore all faces to a solid colour.
Designer Katsuhiko Okamoto of Japan won the Jury Grand Prize at the 2007 International Puzzle Design Competition. Katsuhiko came up with an entirely different mechanism from a regular Rubik's Cube because with no centre there is no central spider for turning the cube.
Designed by Oskar van Deventer, and inspired by a gearing idea from Bram Cohen, the Gear Cube is a brand new concept in cube design using a full gear mechanism that requires twelve 90 degree turns to complete one rotation. The Gear Cube was awarded Meffert's Puzzle of the Year for 2010.
There are a number of challenges with this cube. - First to make a cube with a solid colour on each face like you would with a regular Rubik's Cube. - Another is getting the puzzle to a state where each face has only two colors (on opposite faces). This is a bit harder, but achievable for many people. - Hardest is solving the puzzle as a whole, which is still easier than the original Rubik’s Cube.
Prepare to be absolutely amazed by the smoothness and sturdiness of this cube! This is the original patented V-CUBE 5™ made in Greece not a Magic Cube cheap copy. It's a multicoloured, five-layered cube with exceptional quality and incredibly smooth rotation.
Prepare to be absolutely amazed by the smoothness and sturdiness of this cube! V-CUBE 7™ is a multicoloured, seven-layered cube with exceptional quality and incredibly smooth rotation. The sides have a nice pillowed shape that feels great under the fingers. This is the original patented V-CUBE 7™ made in Greece not a cheap Magic Cube copy.
LIMITED EDITION of 30 puzzles released December 2008
Status: 29th January 2012. We have 4 of these puzzles still available.
Stewart Coffin wrote in "Geometric Puzzle Design" that assembling a cluster of separate hexagonal sticks and dowels can be a puzzle but a more difficult and therefore more interesting puzzle will be made when some of the hexagonal sticks and dowels are joined to make elbow-shaped pieces. The more elbows the harder the puzzle. Stewart theorised that the maximum number of elbows that can be joined before assembly becomes impossible is half the number of each type of piece, so that's what Brian has done.
If this puzzle looks too daunting Brian has also made a series of 6 other Stewart Coffin burr puzzles using hexagonal stock. They range from 6 to 18 piece puzzles. Click here for details.
This 12 piece burr has all the hallmarks of a Junichi Yananose design and a few surprises too. It looks straight forward but it's surprisingly difficult. The design is elegantly symmetrical. The visibility into the puzzle is amazing and yet once together it's very stable. It has a unique assembly and solution. It takes 20 moves to get the first pieces out. The puzzle has lots of pieces that move at the same time; some of these moves include up to 5 or 6 pieces moving at the same time, counted as a single move.
When you have a puzzle with so many parts moving at the same time it needs to be very accurately cut. By definition this (and the time involved to assemble the puzzle - although hopefully Brian will get better with practise at putting them together!) does not lend itself to mass production; hence a perfect design for a Limited Edition series.
During 2007 Junichi was researching some of the subspecies of the Alterkruse puzzle. The Windmill Burr is one of the variations that came from that project.
Status: 4th December 2011. We have 6 of these puzzles still available.
For the top part of the puzzle Brian was looking for a complex but rare burr that could attach to the main shaft of the puzzle without coming apart accidentally. He decided to use Stewart Coffin's design called Triple Slide. Although Stewart does not seem to have allocated this puzzle it's own number in his system he did describe it as "having a most unusual action to assemble". Bill's Cutler's analysis in the late 1980's found it to be a unique level 3 solution.
Brian created a new design to wrap around a central post by using 4 six piece burrs that must work simultaneously. The 16 piece burr is a level 5-5-22 burr; very solvable, especially when you have 200+ international puzzlers in your backyard! In fact the giant puzzle was taken apart and reassembled by a group of enthusiastic puzzlers on the IPP27 Giant Puzzle day. A copy of BurrSolver solution file for both upper and lower burrs can be supplied upon request.
Currently we have sold all puzzles made and have orders for more. With finishing our LE puzzles and making special designs for IPPs Brian will find it difficult to find time to deliver more Telephone Boxes for quite some time.
If you would like to order one of these puzzles you can do so by paying this A$50.00 deposit. Puzzles will be delivered on a first ordered first delivered basis. We will keep you updated by email when delivery is expected. The balance of payment for the puzzle is due only when your puzzle is made and ready to ship.
Price A$660 (International price ex GST A$600) Domestic postage please request exact rate for your postcode. International postage: New Zealand A$40.35, Asia/Pacific A$50.75, USA/Middle East A$60.75 & Europe/UK/Africa A$76.75
Currently we have sold all puzzles made and have orders for more. With finishing our LE puzzles and making special designs for IPPs Brian will find it difficult to find time to deliver more Telephone Boxes for quite some time. If you would like to order one of these puzzles you can do so by paying this A$50.00 deposit. Puzzles will be delivered on a first ordered first delivered basis. We will keep you updated by email when delivery is expected. (Click here).
The puzzle is to open the telephone box to allow you to have fun with the packing puzzle inside. To open the telephone box you will need to solve a series of puzzles to find the required tools, and work out how to use them, to open the door.
The pieces packed inside the telephone box spell the words TELEPHONE box.
The box is a replica of a full size 1950's Queensland PMG telephone box. We have one here at home which Brian has restored. For the IPP27 Giant Puzzle day pieces have been made from cardboard to make this same packing puzzle inside the real telephone box.
The dimensions are 115mm x 115mm x 225mm tall. The telephone box is made from Sycamore wood. The letters of the telephone box are made from other exotic Australian timbers: T Blush Alder E Grey Gum L Queensland Blackbean E Grey Gum P Red Oak H Brown Quondong O Saffron Heart N Flooded Gum E Grey Gum b Red Oak o Black Wattle x Blackbutt
LIMITED EDITION of 50 puzzles released 1st December 2010 - Price fully inclusive of freight.
Status 29th January 2012 Just 6 of these puzzles left.
Designer: Brian Young Three major locks and much much more. No gravity pins; no "bashing" or "tapping". Tools to discover for all steps in the puzzle.
The name is The Opening Bat and that's exactly what you have to do; open the cricket bat to find all you will need to play test cricket and win that holy grail.
By buying this single Limited Edition puzzle you're getting a number of puzzles in one. It's not just a single puzzle. This puzzle will seem to go on and on. You will be continually finding more tools and more puzzles to solve. This mammoth puzzle combines many ideas into one sequential discovery puzzle that tells a story as you solve each step of the puzzle. And there are a lot of steps including three major locks and more different puzzles, locking mechanisms and tools than Brian has ever incorporated into a single puzzle before.
Yes, there are lots of locks, but no gravity pins. And yes, there are lots of magnets but no "tapping" or "banging"; there's tools supplied to solve each of the locks.
Brian has machined over 20 individual metal components which make up the locks and the tools required to operate them. There's a lot of woodturning too, right down to the wooden urn which is an essential key to one of the locks. Since returning from IPP30 in Japan he seems to have done nothing else!
Price fully inclusive of freight - no freight will be calculated on this puzzle at checkout.
Designed by John Kirkman. Made by Brian Young. Put the 8 pieces in an 8x8 array in checkerboard pattern. All pieces may be turned over but some are different on the reverse side.
Mr Puzzle - We've got puzzles! 
You want a really hard puzzle? You want a puzzle to really stump the person who can do them all?
