If the player ever falls off the stage- either by standing on the final row of the stage as it is eliminated, or by being "avalanched" off by rising blocks- the game is over.

If a normal or advantage cube falls off the end of the stage, that set is not considered perfect (see below).

The immediate consequence of this is that one can mark a spot on the stage and wait to clear it until several rows of cubes roll over top of it.

This I.Q (a play on the term "intelligence quotient") is ostensibly the player's efficiency in clearing cubes, on a scale of 0 to 999 (for instance, beating the game without using a continue gives you an I.Q of at least 350); however, it is simply a percentage of the score.

[4] Total scores for a well-played game without the use of continues are in the order of 1 million points.

Characters include Eliot (the default), Cynthia (Cherry in Kurushi), and Spike the dog.

Also, by beating the game once, players can unlock the Original Mode where they can create their own puzzles.

However, by beating the game with an IQ of 500 or above or staying in Survival Mode for 20 minutes or longer, the player unlocks Tektonics.

Tektonics is an extra mini-game unlocked after beating the game with an IQ above 500 or playing Survival Mode for 20 minutes or longer.

This is a game mode where the player must face a huge puzzle which lasts for only one set in 20 waves.

A game mode where a player faces 100 singular puzzles with the aim of clearing them within a set number of rotations.

: Intelligent Qube was designed by Masahiko Sato, a professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts.

[6] Reviewers often remark on Takayuki Hattori's soundtrack, which opts for an eerie orchestral score rather than a typical 'bouncy' puzzle game fare.

[12] While some critics took issue with the lack of a simultaneous multiplayer mode[11][16] and the presence of graphical glitches and slowdown in spite of the game's undemanding visuals,[11][16][17] most concluded that the game's well-balanced, intelligent challenge outweighs its shortcomings.

[11][16][19] On GameRankings, the game held an aggregate score of 72% based on seven reviews at the time of the site's closure in December 2019.

[8] Critics often commented on how the game seemed unappealing but proved to be highly engaging if given a chance.

Julian "Jaz" Rignall of IGN remarked, "Although this doesn't exactly sound like a bundle of laughs, it's actually really fun," though he questioned its value-for-money as compared to games such as G-Police and Colony Wars, which cost only slightly more while offering far more sophisticated graphics and sound.

His co-reviewer Howard Grossman wrote that "True to its name, it's centered around planning and execution rather than simple fast reflexes.

"[11] GamePro called it "a wildly challenging and exciting game that manages to provide the perfect mix of reward and frustration.