QiYi Rainbow Ball (20 Holes)

QiYi Rainbow Ball (20 Holes)

This puzzle shares the same goal as a 3x3 cube: you have to restore the order of the colors. QiYi Rainbow Ball (20 Holes) is a white sphere with 20 holes holding 19 colored balls. Each hole is surrounded by a colored ring. Your task is to get every ball into the hole of its own color. One spot always stays empty, and that empty spot is what lets you move the balls.

How the Rainbow Ball works

You move the balls with your finger, pushing them towards the free hole. Nothing rotates here like on a cube. Every move shifts one ball into the empty spot. It works much like a 3D version of a sliding puzzle, the classic "15 puzzle". To move a ball to a chosen spot, you first have to clear a path for it by shifting other balls. Scrambling takes just a moment, but solving requires thinking a few moves ahead. The hardest part usually comes at the end, when only a few balls need swapping and most are already in place.

20 or 12 holes?

QiYi also makes a smaller, simpler version of the Rainbow Ball with 12 holes. The 20-hole version is bigger and has more balls, so solving takes longer and needs more planning. Once you have mastered the smaller ball, it is the natural next step. If this is your first puzzle of this type, especially for a younger child, it may be easier to start with the 12-hole version.

Who is it for?

This is not a speedcubing puzzle and you don't need to know any algorithms. All it takes is logical thinking and a bit of patience. The Rainbow Ball is great for kids and adults who enjoy colorful logic puzzles. Cubers can treat it as a break from cubes. Thanks to the simple sliding mechanism, some people also use it simply to keep their hands busy, like a stress-relief gadget.

Specifications

• Type: ball puzzle with sliding balls
• Manufacturer: QiYi
• Number of holes: 20
• Number of balls: 19 (one empty spot)
• Diameter: approx. 94 mm
• Weight: approx. 182 g
• Body color: white
• Magnets: none
• EAN: 6948154231151