CIPHER: a daily cryptogram
CIPHER is a daily cryptogram. A quotation has been encoded by swapping every letter for a different one, the same way throughout. Work out which letter stands for which and the sentence appears.
A few letters are given to start you off. The puzzles get harder through the week, with longer quotations and fewer given letters by Sunday.
The quotations all come from books that are out of copyright, and the author and work are revealed when you solve it.
How to play CIPHER
- A quotation has been encoded: every letter has been swapped for a different one, the same way throughout.
- Work out which letter stands for which and decode the whole quotation.
- A few letters are given to start you off. Puzzles get harder from Monday to Sunday: longer quotations, fewer given letters.
- You may check your letters or reveal one, up to three times each. Both cost points. A wrong submission also costs points.
- The author is revealed when you solve it.
Tips
- One-letter words are almost always A or I.
- Look for the most common coded letter. In English it is usually E, then T, A or O.
- Apostrophes give a lot away: a single letter after one is likely to be S or T.
- Common three-letter words such as THE and AND are worth hunting for early.
- A doubled coded letter is often LL, SS, EE or OO.
Common questions
Is every letter swapped for a different one?
Yes. No letter stands for itself, and each coded letter always means the same thing within a puzzle.
How do checks and reveals work?
You may check your letters up to three times and reveal a letter up to three times. Each costs points, and so does a wrong submission.
Where do the quotations come from?
Books in the public domain, using texts published by Project Gutenberg.
Why is Sunday harder?
Quotations get longer and fewer letters are given as the week goes on.
How is CIPHER scored?
Out of 1,000, for solving it, for speed, and less 60 points for each check or reveal.
A new puzzle every day
CIPHER has one puzzle a day, released at midnight UK time and the same for everyone. It is free, and you can play without an account. Finish it to keep your streak going and to see where you stand on the leaderboards.