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Cypher

Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux • 2018

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Quick resume

Cypher is a first person puzzle game about cryptography.

Global score

91/100

Genres

Indie, Puzzle

Pros

  • Challenging and educational puzzles
  • Immersive museum atmosphere
  • Calming classical music
  • Good value for price
  • Unique cryptography focus

Cons

  • Steep difficulty curve may frustrate casual players
  • Minimal in-game hint system
  • Lack of gameplay variety beyond puzzle solving
  • No multiplayer or social features
  • Some puzzles require external research or tools

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players freely choose how to approach puzzles with pen and paper, no fixed path or hand-holding"

  • Competence
    5

    "Highly challenging puzzles requiring skill, learning, and problem solving; strong feedback through puzzle solving"

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus on individual puzzle solving at personal pace, no multiplayer or leaderboards"

  • Continuation
    3

    "Players invest many hours and return repeatedly to solve difficult puzzles"

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Single player experience focused on individual puzzle solving with minimal social interaction"

  • Creativity
    2

    "Players experiment with different cipher solving strategies and external tools, but within fixed puzzle structures"

  • Domination
    -5

    "No competitive or dominance elements; cooperative or equal participation not applicable"

  • Escapism
    3

    "Immersive museum atmosphere and challenging puzzles provide mental escape and focus"

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation for cryptography and puzzles"

  • Experimenting
    4

    "Strong emphasis on trying different decryption methods and external research to solve puzzles"

  • Exploration
    2

    "Exploring different rooms and cipher types, but environments are minimalistic and static"

  • Expression
    -5

    "No character or environment customization; minimalistic and uniform presentation"

  • Fantasy
    -4

    "Realistic cryptography and historical context, no fictional or fantastical elements"

  • Fellowship
    -4

    "Primarily solo play with limited social connection; some community guides exist but not core to experience"

  • Growth
    5

    "Strong learning curve with acquisition of cryptography knowledge and problem-solving skills"

  • Health
    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay requiring mental effort, no physical activity involved"

  • Idle
    -4

    "Requires focused attention and sustained mental engagement; not casual or background play"

  • Intimacy
    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solitary puzzle solving"

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single player experience"

  • Progression
    3

    "Progression through unlocking rooms and puzzles, but no item collection or upgrades"

  • Relaxation
    2

    "Calming music and atmosphere balance the mental challenge for a relaxing puzzle experience"

  • Sensation
    -3

    "Minimal sensory stimulation with simple visuals and classical music; subdued emotional tone"

  • Status
    -5

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; individual focus"

  • Story
    2

    "Light narrative through museum setting and historical context, but no overarching plot"

  • Strategy
    5

    "High mental challenge requiring logical reasoning, planning, and analytical thinking"

  • Thrill
    -3

    "Low suspense or risk; steady cognitive challenge without emotional highs or lows"

  • Value
    4

    "Good perceived value for price given depth and length of challenging puzzles"

  • Violence
    -5

    "No violence; focus on constructive intellectual engagement"

  • Survival
    -5

    "Stable, low-risk environment with no threats or failure states"

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    Last update: 06/03/2026