43 Years Ago Today, This Classic Brainteaser and Kids' Gift Was Patented

Are you a “can” or “cannot” when it comes to the Rubik’s Cube?

There were always certain kids in your class growing up who were able to solve the vintage puzzle toy, but the rest were left pretty clueless when it came to maneuvering the 3D brainteaser. It must be a pretty miraculous feeling to make it so each of the six sides bear a distinct color…

The invention by Hungarian sculptor Erno Rubik dates back to the 1970s, but it was on March 29, 1983 — exactly 43 years ago — when the cube received its official U.S. patent after reportedly debuting at the New York Toy Fair in 1980.

One Rubik’s Cube has more than 43 quintillion possibilities, and millions are sold and solved every year, according to the product’s website. In 2017, Rubik’s celebrated a record year with retail sales reaching $250 million. Two years earlier, Justin Bieber famously solved the Rubik’s Cube on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Check out the viral clip below.

And these days, the famed puzzle toy also happens to be an awesome value, just $13 at Walmart for the classic model that started it all. Plus, among the many cool iterations of the toy is the Magnetic Speed Cube, which is basically a fun upgrade that puts a fresh spin on the original. The Walmart-exclusive $20 two-pack includes a standard 3×3 cube and a smaller 2×2 version, and both are engineered to move more smoothly — so you can potentially solve it even faster!

And lastly, Rubik’s Cube celebrated 50 years since its invention in 2024, which marks an incredibly impressive run for a toy that most of us can remember playing with during our childhoods. To commemorate the occasion, the brand released an anniversary edition honoring the retro design, and it’s just $11 at Walmart.