The creator of Tetris has said Rubik’s Cubes should be sent into space as evidence of human civilization, following a rare public meeting between two of the most influential puzzle designers of all time.

The comments came as part of a collaboration celebrating the release of the Rubik’s Tetris Cube, a crossover puzzle that blends the mechanics of a Rubik’s Cube with iconic Tetris tetromino shapes.

The collaboration brought together Alexey Pajitnov and Ernő Rubik, marking a rare on-camera meeting between the creators behind Tetris and the Rubik’s Cube.

Tetris creator calls Rubik’s Cube a symbol of human civilization

Unlike a traditional Rubik’s Cube, the Rubik’s Tetris Cube challenges players to assemble six different tetromino shapes rather than matching solid colors. Once completed, the puzzle can be displayed on a stand shaped like the line tetromino.

“Basically, I am so excited about meeting Mr. Rubik today,” says Pajitnov. “I would think that this cube is what people don’t appreciate in full, because I think that’s the symbol of modern civilisation.”

“If I would put something as evidence of human civilisation on the outside…on the interstellar space object, that would be one of the ten objects I would definitely put on it as an evidence of the human civilisation.”

He referenced humanity’s past efforts to send cultural artifacts into space, including the golden records aboard Voyager, and suggested the Rubik’s Cube stood out for its simplicity and universality.

When asked whether Tetris itself should be included in a similar interstellar archive, Pajitnov dismissed the idea, explaining that the game depends on computer hardware and interfaces, while the Rubik’s Cube exists as a complete physical object.

Pajitnov also spoke about the purpose of puzzles, saying their value lies in the enjoyment they bring rather than achievement or competition. He added that creating moments of happiness through puzzles is central to their work and said that role would not be diminished by advances in artificial intelligence.

The appearance placed the creators of Tetris and the Rubik’s Cube in a shared spotlight, with the Rubik’s Tetris Cube serving as the focal point of the collaboration.