We wanted a physical challenge for the end of a group game. Something people could touch. Something that wouldn’t just be fun, but frustrating in a good way. Something you have to earn.
So we built a starship, but not a model to admire. A puzzle to solve.
It comes in 25 3D-printed pieces. There’s no manual. We also 3D-printed some duplicates — decoys. Some fit together the wrong way — almost right, but not quite. Some need to be connected in a specific order, or you’ll block your own path. And when you finally snap the last piece in place, the whole thing locks into a tight, solid shape. Looks like one object. It’s not obvious how to even begin taking it apart.
It’s kind of like the puzzles from Hanayama — the Japanese company — but bigger, more physical. More… chaotic.
We Tested It in the Wild
We tried it during a group game with about 40 participants divided into six teams. Everyone got a chance to collect some parts. But when it was time to build, only about 5 people actually stepped up to try. It took them about 20–30 minutes. That’s with no help, no hints.
It was fascinating to watch. When it finally clicked — when the last piece slid in — there was this real sense of WE DID IT!. And it looked great, too. Like a real thing. Heavy and whole.
Building It Was Its Own Puzzle
I made this with Petr Romanov. He designed the exterior. I designed the internal structure and broke it down into puzzle pieces. That part took a lot of trial and error.
First I printed a small prototype on my PRUSA MINI. Then bigger versions. I had to tweak tolerances, fix weak points, test which connections were too easy or too hard. Some iterations looked good but broke apart under stress. Others locked too tightly. Every change affected the rest of the structure.
The final version was printed using shiny silver PLA.
It was a challenge to balance playability and difficulty. The end result: It works. It really works.
Try It Yourself
If you’re into puzzles, game design, escape rooms, or just like clever objects — you might enjoy this.
If you want to try it or print it yourself, send me an email. I’ll send you the model files.
It’s not easy. But that’s the point.
