Panex Puzzle

thingiverse

The Panex puzzle, a challenging 80s game, features ten pieces that require over 31,000 moves to solve in its toughest form. While six-piece versions only demand 881 moves, it remains difficult to find original sets. The puzzle's design resembles the Tower of Hanoi, but with unique complexities. It comes in silver and gold variations; the former has markings for guidance while the latter does not. When printing, use distinct colors for pieces to aid solving. Complete printing plants are available for six, eight, and ten-piece versions, along with SCAD source files for those curious about the design process. A recent study explores the puzzle's complexity, revealing that it takes 881 moves for six pieces, 5,359 for eight, and an estimated 31,537 for ten - a figure confirmed in another source. Despite the challenges, Panex remains an intriguing and rewarding puzzle to attempt.