Tenchi Puzzle | The Gravity-Defying Packing Puzzle
Tenchi Puzzle | The Gravity-Defying Packing Puzzle
In stock
Ships from Prague within 1-3 business days.
Estimated delivery: 5-10 business days (EU) · 10-20 business days (rest of world).
Couldn't load pickup availability
The Tenchi is a gravity-defying expert packing puzzle. Your goal: fit 9 pieces into a box so securely that no piece falls out from either opening - top or bottom. 9+1 pieces, Expert difficulty, 4+ hours solve time. Best for experienced puzzlers who want a genuinely unique mechanical challenge.
Best for: experienced puzzle solvers who have conquered standard packing puzzles and want a spatial challenge that adds gravity mechanics to the mix.
What makes the Tenchi puzzle different?
Most packing puzzles ask one thing: fit the pieces in the box. The Tenchi asks something harder. You have to pack the 9 pieces so that nothing falls out - not from the top, not from the bottom. Both openings are exposed. That means the pieces have to interlock in a specific orientation, locking against each other so that gravity has nowhere to win. It is not enough to fill the space. The arrangement itself has to hold. That is the mechanic that makes the Tenchi unlike any standard packing puzzle you have solved before.
What's special about this puzzle?
- Gravity-lock mechanic - pieces must resist falling from both ends of the box
- Improves spatial imagination
- Hours of challenging fun
- Brilliant solution
- Designed by Frederic Boucher - a friend and long-time Greg Puzzles channel subscriber
Puzzle specs
- Pieces: 9+1
- Difficulty: Expert
- Solve time: 4+ hours
- Trains: Spatial Thinking
Frequently asked questions
How does the Tenchi puzzle work?
Your goal is to pack all 9 pieces into a box that is open at both ends - top and bottom. The pieces have to be arranged so that nothing falls out from either opening. That means you are not just filling space. You are finding an orientation where the pieces interlock and hold each other in place against gravity. It is a mechanical challenge as much as a spatial one.
How hard is the Tenchi puzzle?
It is rated Expert. Most people will spend well over 4 hours on it. The complication is not just finding a configuration that fits - it is finding one that locks. Every time you think you are close, gravity reminds you that close is not good enough.
Is the Tenchi a good puzzle for someone who has solved packing puzzles before?
Yes - and honestly, it is one of the best next steps you can take. If standard packing puzzles feel solved, the Tenchi adds a dimension that changes everything. The gravity mechanic means your existing spatial instincts will only get you partway there. The rest you have to discover from scratch.
Who do you recommend this puzzle for?
I recommend the Tenchi for puzzlers who already have a few packing puzzles under their belt and are looking for something that genuinely surprises them. If you can solve an expert packing puzzle and still feel like you understand how it works, this one will humble you. It is the puzzle I point to when someone says they want a real challenge - not just a hard one, but a different one.
Share
This puzzle is very difficult because it has many pieces, and the initial placement is not obvious at first glance. It cannot be solved without identifying the key trick. It took me about three hours to solve it. It truly deserves the title of 'extremely difficult'. The solution is unique, and I am impressed by the creator's ingenuity.
As an aside, here are some suggestions for other puzzles using this one without the frame (using only the pieces):
①Create a 3x3x3 (27 voxels) cube using five or six pieces.
Difficulty level: Easy
②Create a 4x4x3 rectangular prism using all the pieces.
(All surfaces are covered with blocks, so there is space inside.)
Difficulty level: Hard
FAQ
Do You Ship Worldwide?
Yes. I ship anywhere. Orders typically arrive in 1-3 weeks depending on your location and how customs is behaving.
How Long Does Processing Take?
Some puzzles are produced on demand in our studio in Czech Republic. Processing usually takes 3-5 days before your order ships. During busier seasons it may take a bit longer.
Do Puzzles Come With Solutions?
Usually not. Sometimes you can find the solution on my YouTube channel. If not, feel free to reach out for hints!
What If I Get Stuck?
Good. That's the whole point.
But if "stuck" turns into "frustrated and not having fun anymore," email me. I'll send you a hint if you want a nudge. No judgment. Some puzzles took me days. A few took weeks. Some took months. Some took years. And some I have never solved - and that is part of the appeal.
Returns & Exchanges
Yes. You have 30 days. If the puzzle isn't right for you, send it back in the condition you got it and I'll refund you. If something arrived damaged or wrong, tell me and I'll fix it. Please be patient as we're a small team!
Are These Good Gifts?
People LOVE buying our puzzles as gifts. They're physical, they last forever, they don't need batteries, and they create a real moment - the person sits down, struggles, laughs, eventually solves it. That memory sticks.
If you're gifting, check the difficulty rating and pick something one notch below what you think the person can handle. Easier than you'd guess is usually the right call.
How Are the Puzzles Made?
All the puzzles are made with the help of my partner Puzzle Guy and his 3D printing studio in Czech Republic.
What Is a TIC Puzzle?
TIC stands for Turning Interlocking Cubes. They're a family of puzzles where wooden pieces interlock and rotate into a cube shape. The solve isn't just sliding pieces - you have to find the right rotations, in the right order. They're some of my favorite puzzles in the store.
Why Is Everything Turquoise?
I grew up near the sea in Israel. When life got loud or overwhelming, that's where I went to reset. Sit, watch the water, breathe. Things would settle.
The turquoise on this site isn't a branding choice I picked from a swatch. It's that color. The one I still see when I close my eyes and think of the place that calmed me down. I want you to feel a small version of that when you pick up a puzzle - a quiet moment, hands busy, head clear.