Solving the Rubik’s Cube optimally is NP-complete

Abstract

In this paper, we prove that optimally solving an n × n × n Rubik’s Cube is NP-complete by reducing from the Hamiltonian Cycle problem in square grid graphs. This improves the previous result that optimally solving an n×n×n Rubik’s Cube with missing stickers is NP-complete. We prove this result first for the simpler case of the Rubik’s Square - an n × n × 1 generalization of the Rubik’s Cube - and then proceed with a similar but more complicated proof for the Rubik’s Cube case. Our results hold both when the goal is make the sides monochromatic and when the goal is to put each sticker into a specific location.