LanLan Snake 60-blocks

LanLan Snake 60-blocks

LanLan Snake 60-blocks is a snake puzzle made of 60 pieces. Unlike a 3x3 cube, it has no scrambled state and no single solution to reach. The snake is a 3D puzzle: by rotating the segments against each other, you form flat patterns, solid shapes, and figures of animals and objects. This snake comes from LanLan, a Chinese manufacturer known mainly for unusual twisty puzzles and shape mods.

How the snake works

Each segment is shaped like a triangular prism. Neighbouring pieces rotate against each other, and each click is a quarter turn. A few moves are enough to turn a straight strip into a zigzag, and a longer series of turns creates a 3D figure. You don't need to know any algorithms. What counts is spatial imagination and patience, especially when you recreate a specific shape from a diagram.

Why 60 pieces?

A classic snake has 24 segments. The 60-blocks version is more than twice as long, so you can build bigger, more complex figures that a shorter snake can't make. There is also more to keep track of: a longer chain is harder to control, and with complicated shapes it's easier to get the order of turns wrong. If this is your first puzzle of this type, a shorter version will be easier. The 60-blocks works better for someone who has already played with a snake or wants to build larger structures right away. LanLan also offers 36-blocks and 48-blocks versions, which are a good compromise.

Who is it for?

It's a great puzzle for kids who like building and arranging things, and for adults looking for something to keep their hands busy at the desk. Cubers will enjoy it as a break from cubes, since there is no timing, TPS or solving involved. The snake is not a WCA event, so it's a typical recreational and collectible puzzle.

Specifications

• Type: snake puzzle
• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Number of pieces: 60
• Colour scheme: Stickerless Bright (coloured plastic, no stickers)