Info about Cypher:

Official game description:
Cypher is a first person puzzle game about cryptography.  
Explore the museum and learn about the history of cryptography, from  
simple substitution ciphers to the Enigma machine and beyond.  
Grab a pen and paper and test your deciphering skills across 40+ challenging puzzles.

Release date: Feb 20, 2018

Categories: Puzzle Solving, Educational Game, Research and Discovery, Museum-like exhibit presentation, Text-based Gameplay, Single-player, Exploration

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Student Tier Dependency; summary: The game Cypher relies heavily on external resources like Wikipedia, Google, and tools such as Excel for solving cryptography puzzles. Players frequently mention the need to look up cipher mechanisms, decrypt text externally, or even write code, indicating a significant dependency on external data. This aligns with the 'Student' tier of the Wiki Tax, where players must seek instructional data to understand complex mechanics.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 30.0h
  - Story completion: 30.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The Portuguese review directly states ~30 hours to finish the game, which aligns with the main progression through cipher rooms. The English review reporting 66% completion at 9 hours implies ~13.6 hours for the main game, but later puzzles are noted as much harder; the 34% in 9 hours suggests a steeper learning curve. The Japanese review indicates over 100 hours for full achievement completion, likely including the challenge puzzles. Given the variation, story completion time is approximated as similar to game completion (30 hours), as the game's narrative unfolds linearly through puzzle rooms. Session length and endgame time lack direct, consistent evidence in the reviews.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game's cipher puzzles are widely reported as tedious, preventing enjoyment for many players, though a minority find early fun if they already enjoy manual puzzle solving or use coding to automate the process.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: tedious manual cipher solving; requires external tools for enjoyment
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: player enjoys manual cipher solving; player has programming skills for automation
- Player Archetypes:
  - Intellectual Puzzle Challenger (buy)
    - Motivation: Sense of achievement from solving highly complex, cryptography-based puzzles
    - Playstyle: Methodical research using screenshots, OCR tools, pencil-and-paper, and group collaboration; often solves puzzles outside the game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: intellectuals; trained; hard puzzle lovers
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Struggling Newcomer (no buy)
    - Motivation: Curiosity about cryptography despite initial difficulty
    - Playstyle: Heavy reliance on external research, translation, and dictionary lookup; often frustrated by tedious manual tasks.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: floor player; novice; beginner
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Cryptography Learner (sale)
    - Motivation: Gaining understanding of cryptographic techniques through practical puzzles
    - Playstyle: Systematic study, often using hints and external references; treats each puzzle as a lesson.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: layman; learner
    - Reference games: epigraph


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Teaches various ciphers effectively (weight 0.29): Multiple reviews highlight that the game teaches how to decode different types of ciphers, offering explanations of mechanisms and historical context. It serves as a comprehensive educational tool for cryptography.
- Excellent beginner's guide (weight 0.23): Reviews describe the game as a valuable beginner's guide to cryptography, highly educating for those without prior knowledge. It provides an educational introduction and a great way to start studying basic cryptography.
- Challenging and engaging puzzles (weight 0.22): The game features plenty of puzzles that keep players thinking, with clever and challenging designs that require careful thought. Reviews mention the puzzles are fun and build well, providing a substantial challenge.
- Great for cryptography enthusiasts (weight 0.21): The game is recommended for those who love or are interested in cryptography, offering a hardcore experience tailored to enthusiasts. It provides a wonderful introduction and deep dive into the subject.
- Well-crafted puzzle design (weight 0.2): Players praise the game's puzzle quality and atmosphere, noting it's an excellent puzzle that makes your brain work. The puzzles are creative, fun to solve, and provide a satisfying experience.
- Enjoyable background music (weight 0.17): The background music is consistently praised as very good, tasteful, and beautiful, with classical pieces by Debussy and Mozart creating an excellent atmosphere. It adds to the overall pleasant experience.
- Various difficulty levels (weight 0.15): Some puzzles are easy and intuitive, while others are challenging and require careful thinking, offering a range of difficulty. The game is noted as hardcore with significant difficulty that increases over time.
- Satisfying puzzle solving (weight 0.13): Solving puzzles gives a satisfying sense of accomplishment, with reviews highlighting the high sense of achievement after cracking ciphers. This feeling of success is a key positive aspect of the game.
- Polished graphics and design (weight 0.13): Reviews note the game is highly polished graphically and visually pleasing, with pleasant graphical and musical design. The overall presentation is professional and appealing.
- Suitable for puzzle hunters (weight 0.13): The game is enjoyable for players with puzzle hunt experience and those who like puzzle hunting hobbies. It provides great fun for those into riddles and puzzles.
- Historical cipher authenticity (weight 0.13): The cryptography puzzles are authentically based on real historical techniques, incorporating knowledge of history and common cryptography methods. This adds depth and authenticity to the gameplay.
- Relaxing and classical atmosphere (weight 0.12): The game offers a relaxing entertainment experience with a soundtrack of classical pieces that are non-distracting. Combined with pleasant footstep sounds, it creates a calming atmosphere.
- Overall positive reception (weight 0.12): Many reviews simply state that the game is great, good, and well-made, indicating a strong overall positive reception. The game is described as an excellent cipher style puzzle game.
- Educational without being a lesson (weight 0.08): The game teaches cryptography effectively without feeling like a lesson, making it an educational experience that feels natural and engaging. It is both fun and educational.
- Interesting cryptography theme (weight 0.07): Players find cryptography knowledge interesting and note that it opens doors to new concepts. The game's focus on cryptography is itself a point of interest for players.

Common complaints:
- Insufficient hint system (weight 0.48): Players find the hints unhelpful, often obvious or cryptic, and only one hint is provided per puzzle. This leaves them stuck without adequate guidance.
- Puzzles require external knowledge (weight 0.37): Solving puzzles often depends on pre-existing knowledge of cryptography, English word patterns, or external research, as the game does not provide all necessary information internally. This makes it inaccessible for beginners and non-native English speakers.
- Not a learning tool (weight 0.31): The game fails to teach cryptography systematically; it presents methods without proper instruction or historical context. It is neither effective for education nor engaging as a game.
- Puzzles extremely difficult (weight 0.31): Many puzzles, especially challenge ones, are reported as brutally difficult and far harder than the main puzzles. Some players consider the game among the hardest on Steam to complete unassisted.
- Lack of in-game tools (weight 0.18): The game lacks tools like text overlays, annotation features, or substitution testers, forcing players to use pen and paper. This makes puzzle solving more cumbersome and less accessible.
- Unclear puzzle explanations (weight 0.14): Some puzzles have unclear descriptions and poor explanations, leaving players confused and requiring guides. This impedes solving and learning.
- Too few puzzles (weight 0.13): The game contains very few puzzles per type, limiting practice opportunities and overall content. This makes the experience feel short and underdeveloped.
- Puzzles time-consuming (weight 0.08): Solving puzzles requires extensive time and expertise, making the experience lengthy and demanding. This can be off-putting for players seeking quicker challenges.
- Lacks gameplay and fun (weight 0.08): Some players report that the game provides almost zero gameplay experience, making it not fun. This reduces its appeal as an entertainment title.

Gameplay feedback:
- Core gameplay is cryptography puzzles (weight 0.67): The game is fundamentally a puzzle game centered on solving ciphers and understanding cryptographic methods. Players engage with a series of cryptography challenges that require decoding encrypted messages.
- Educational coverage of cipher history (weight 0.35): The game teaches cryptography history and methods, from classical ciphers like Caesar and Vigenere to mechanical and digital systems like Enigma and binary. It functions like a textbook with exercises, providing informational material alongside puzzles.
- Museum-like exhibit presentation (weight 0.3): The game is presented as a walk through a museum of cryptography, with themed rooms and exhibits that educate players on various encryption methods. This educational framing is a key aspect of the experience.
- Requires pen and paper solving (weight 0.22): Most puzzles are designed to be solved manually using pen and paper, and many players find this necessary due to the complexity. This old-school approach is central to the intended gameplay experience.
- High difficulty requiring external research (weight 0.21): Many puzzles demand external research, web searches, and sometimes programming or spreadsheet tools. This high barrier makes the game extremely challenging for casual players.
- Progressive difficulty throughout game (weight 0.2): Puzzles start simple but escalate significantly in complexity, with difficulty ranging from beginner to advanced and even hellish modes. The final parts are particularly challenging, requiring a strong grasp of earlier concepts.
- Hint system provides limited help (weight 0.2): The game includes a hint system where players can type 'HINT' to receive guidance, but each puzzle typically allows only one hint. Hints often only provide the beginning of understanding, not full solutions.
- English language required for understanding (weight 0.19): All puzzle explanations and clues are in English, which can be a barrier for non-native speakers. Some puzzles also require English reading comprehension and knowledge of Western literature.
- Static clean visual environment (weight 0.18): The game features a simple, clean, and static visual style, often described as a white liminal space with text on walls and blackboards. This minimalist aesthetic focuses attention on the puzzles.
- Rooms themed by cipher type (weight 0.17): The game is structured around themed rooms, each dedicated to a specific type of cipher such as steganography, transposition, substitution, Enigma, and digital cryptography. A seventh room contains challenge puzzles that combine multiple skills.
- Final challenge room with bonus puzzles (weight 0.17): A bonus room contains complex challenge puzzles, such as the Zodiac Killer's cryptogram, which test a combination of skills learned throughout the game. These puzzles are more complex but solvable with dedication.
- Text-based interaction via terminals (weight 0.16): Players interact with the game by typing decrypted solutions into terminals or consoles. Movement is controlled with arrow keys, and clicking on prompts activates interactions within a limited radius.
- Potential to feel like homework (weight 0.13): Some players liken the game to cryptanalysis homework or a textbook with exercises, rather than a traditional game experience. This can be both a strength for learning and a drawback for entertainment.
- Requires broad knowledge and skills (weight 0.13): Solving puzzles requires knowledge of English, computer science, information security, mathematics, and sometimes obscure topics like WWII German codes. This makes the game inaccessible to some players.
- Achievements and final cipher unlock (weight 0.08): The game includes achievements to unlock, with the final cipher becoming available only after completing all achievements. This adds a completionist incentive for players.
- Non-linear exploration after initial stages (weight 0.08): After the first two topics, all doors open and players can visit rooms in any order, allowing for non-linear exploration. Some puzzles can be skipped and returned to later.
- No story and limited gameplay variety (weight 0.07): The game lacks a narrative and is purely puzzle-based, which might not appeal to players seeking a more traditional game. It is considered a 'walking simulator' with static visuals.
- Player-paced exploration with no timers (weight 0.05): The game allows players to progress at their own pace without time pressure, encouraging careful thought and reflection. This suits the deliberate nature of cipher solving.
- Co-op play with friends recommended (weight 0.05): The game's difficulty benefits greatly from co-op play, as collaborating with others who share similar interests can help solve complex puzzles. This can make the experience more enjoyable and manageable.

Performance notes:
- Missing borderless fullscreen option (weight 0.05): Players must use third-party tools like Borderless Gaming to get a borderless windowed mode. This is a notable quality-of-life issue for multi-monitor setups.

Recommendations:
- Cryptography enthusiasts will enjoy (weight 0.42): Many reviewers recommend the game to those interested in cryptography, noting it is ideal for learning basics and solving ciphers. It is praised as a valuable resource for crypto lovers and puzzle enthusiasts.
- Great for puzzle lovers (weight 0.42): The game appeals strongly to fans of puzzle-solving, decryption, and mental challenges. Reviewers recommend it to those who enjoy difficult puzzles and using their head.
- Based on personal interest (weight 0.38): Recommendations depend heavily on personal interest in cryptography and willingness to engage with the subject. Those without such interest are advised against purchasing.
- Requires patience and dedication (weight 0.3): Reviewers emphasize that the game demands patience, time, and serious commitment. It is likened to homework or a digital textbook, requiring notepad work and long sessions.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.23): The game is consistently described as niche and unsuitable for casual or general players. Its difficulty and specialized nature mean it is not recommended for a broad audience.
- High difficulty may deter (weight 0.22): The extreme difficulty is frequently cited as a major drawback, with some saying it is not recommended for those without strong interest. It is seen as a barrier for many players.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.21): Several reviewers give strong recommendations, praising the game as fantastic and scoring it highly. It is celebrated as a unique and satisfying challenge.
- Prior knowledge recommended (weight 0.2): Having some cryptography background is highly beneficial, and the game is not for newcomers without prior understanding. Reviewers suggest learning basics or reading a book first.
- Worth buying at discount (weight 0.17): Many consider the game worth purchasing, especially at a low price, and recommend it for puzzle fans. Some suggest waiting for a sale or community guides.
- Caveat emptor for purchasers (weight 0.13): Potential buyers should be aware of the game's nature as a stark, paper-based puzzle experience that may not be solvable without looking up answers. It is a niche product.
- Positive for brain training (weight 0.13): Reviewers highlight the game as a way to train the brain and learn new knowledge, appealing to those who enjoy mental challenges. It is seen as intellectually stimulating.
- Not for learning cryptography (weight 0.11): The game is not recommended as a learning tool for beginners, as it does not guide players into the field. It may require external research or courses.
- May require external help (weight 0.11): Some reviewers suggest using hints or community guides when stuck, and playing with cryptographic literature or answer sites. This indicates the game can be very tough without assistance.
- Not for puzzle-only players (weight 0.08): If players just want to solve puzzles without deep cryptography immersion, the game may not satisfy; a cryptography course might be better. It is more about the subject than casual puzzling.
- Challenge appeals to masochists (weight 0.08): The game's extreme difficulty is noted to appeal to a specific type of player, with some humorous comments about masochism or insanity. It is not for the faint-hearted.
- Rating scores are high (weight 0.07): Specific high ratings (e.g., 4.5/5, 10/10) indicate strong satisfaction among the target audience. These scores reinforce the game's quality for its niche.
- Alternative free options exist (weight 0.03): One reviewer suggests finding free cipher games online instead, implying the game may not offer unique value for all. This reflects a minority opinion.

Other player notes:
- Game like a cryptography textbook (weight 0.24): Many reviewers feel the game is essentially an educational cryptography tutorial or textbook with exercises, comparable to 'The Code Book' by Simon Singh. It's more of a learning tool than a traditional game.
- Could have been a PDF (weight 0.21): Several reviewers state the game could be distributed as a PDF, a magazine, or a cheap paperback without losing anything. This suggests the game's interactive elements add little value beyond the textual content.
- Praised as best Matthew Brown title (weight 0.2): Some reviewers consider this the best game by developer Matthew Brown, known for Hexcells and other '-Cells' games. They appreciate the continuation of a simple, minimalist style that sparks curiosity.
- Strong English language reliance (weight 0.18): The puzzles heavily depend on English language knowledge, making it difficult for non-native speakers and problematic for localization such as Chinese. This poses a barrier to accessibility.
- Credits challenge and achievements (weight 0.13): The challenge room is optional for unlocking the final credits, and achievements serve as certificates for course completion. Solving all achievements took over 100 hours including external time.
- Compared to puzzle favorites (weight 0.12): The game is often compared to Portal, The Talos Principle, TIS-100, Zachtronics games, and similar puzzle titles. Reviewers recommend it to puzzle lovers who enjoy first-person and coding-like challenges.
- Visual and audio minimalism (weight 0.11): The game has a bright white-gray visual theme, a minimalist feel, and classical music background, including a lesser-known Mozart sonata. Some suggest adjusting brightness before playing.
- Suggestion for QoL improvements (weight 0.11): Reviewers suggest improvements like copyable ciphertext, a built-in text editor, a dark mode, and better tutorials. These would enhance usability, especially for puzzle-solving.
- Value considered good for price (weight 0.11): Despite limited puzzles per category, reviewers find the content acceptable given the low price, especially with discounts. Some note there is plenty of content for the cost.
- Outside help commonly used (weight 0.1): Many players rely on guides, Steam community hints, or Bilibili solutions to solve puzzles. This indicates the game may be too difficult without external assistance.
- ZM and historical ciphers included (weight 0.07): The game references real historical ciphers like the Zodiac Killer's Z340 and Enigma, similar to what you might read on Wikipedia. This adds authenticity but isn't seen as deeply interactive.
- Can be fun with friends (weight 0.07): Reviewers think playing with more than one person could be more fun, similar to CTF competitions. This social aspect might enhance the experience.
- Used for English study (weight 0.04): One reviewer used the game for English study, indicating its educational potential for language learning. However, this is a niche use case.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.28): The game is extremely hard, with a steep difficulty curve and puzzles that require external knowledge or tutorials. The lack of in-game tools, such as note-taking or copy functions, and unhelpful or sparse hints make solving puzzles unnecessarily difficult and time-consuming. Non-English speakers also face a language barrier that makes the puzzles nearly impossible to solve.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the challenge and the sense of fulfillment that comes from solving complex puzzles. The game's atmosphere, music, and the educational value of learning about cryptography contribute to a fun and engaging experience. The earlier, simpler codes are particularly praised as being solvable and enjoyable.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): The game provides a high level of satisfaction when players successfully solve difficult ciphers and puzzles. The sense of achievement from overcoming mental challenges and learning about cryptography is a major positive point. Players also appreciate that the game is free and delivers on its promises.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): The game disappoints due to a lack of progression, minimal gameplay, and the need for external tools or resources to solve puzzles. The difficulty curve is broken, and the game fails to be an effective educational tool because it does not properly teach the necessary concepts. Some players also found the game to be more tedious than fun, especially for non-native English speakers.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's well-chosen classical music, clean aesthetic, and the quality of its puzzle design. The game is seen as a well-structured introduction to cryptography, providing real knowledge and a focused experience without unnecessary distractions. The overall design and content are valued as thoughtful and educative.
- Intimidation (weight 0.03): The game's high difficulty and lack of mercy can be intimidating, especially for more casual players. The requirement for prior knowledge and the English-only puzzles add to the sense of being overwhelmed. Later puzzles offer little guidance, which increases the intimidation factor.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's comprehensive and educational content, praising its outstanding quality and unique concept. The increasingly difficult ciphers inspire wonder, and the game's design, including the BGM, is held in high regard. The thought and passion put into the game are evident and appreciated.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): The game's complex puzzles and hints that solutions are not impossible spark curiosity in players. The design encourages players to understand how each cryptographic system works, fostering a desire to learn more. The possibility of hidden easter eggs also adds to the curiosity.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): The game is extremely interesting and challenges the brain in a positive way, generating excitement. It is inviting for players who want to expand their puzzle-solving experience and stimulates intellectual conversation. The game's difficulty is seen as a good challenge, not a barrier.
- Awe (weight 0.02): The Enigma cipher and other historical ciphers are awe-inspiring due to their complexity and strength. The game's design gives it a sense of gravitas, making players marvel at the cryptographic methods used throughout history. The overall experience is one of wonder and respect for the subject matter.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): The later puzzles are described as tedious and frustrating, leading to boredom. The grind of deciphering and the lack of learning appeal make the game feel less engaging over time. Some players find the repetitive nature of the puzzles to be a drawback.
- Discouragement (weight 0.01): The ruthless difficulty can be discouraging, and the hints are not always helpful. Some players have been led to give up on cryptography altogether because of the game's challenging nature. The steep difficulty curve can be off-putting for many.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): The game's extreme difficulty is described with a sense of amusement, as it pushes even hardcore players to the brink. The witty and interesting puzzle clues and answers also provide entertainment. Players find humor in the game's challenging nature.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised to find a valuable beginner's guide to cryptography on Steam, as the game is not well-known. Some puzzles that seem impossible at first are solved relatively easily once the solution is understood, providing a pleasant surprise. The game's depth and content exceed expectations.
- Interest (weight 0.01): The game's content, including the Enigma machine, is presented well, sparking interest in cryptography. The knowledge gained from playing the game opens new doors and encourages further exploration of the subject. The puzzles are engaging and maintain player interest.
- Resignation (weight 0.01): Some players feel resigned to not finishing the game due to the high English requirement, which is a barrier. Others accept that they cannot beat the later puzzles, but in a positive way, acknowledging the game's difficulty. This resignation is a mix of acceptance and disappointment.
- Intrigue (weight 0.01): Cryptography itself is intriguing, and the game's difficulty adds to its appeal. The challenging nature of the puzzles makes them more interesting to players who enjoy a mental challenge. The game's hook lies in its ability to fascinate and engage players with the subject matter.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): The game progressively becomes harder, leading to confusion about puzzle solutions. Even after consulting guides, some players find that solutions are unclear or ambiguous. The lack of clear guidance contributes to the overall sense of confusion.
- Respect (weight 0.01): Players respect the game for its authentic historical cryptographic methods, which are impressive. The complex puzzles require deep knowledge and skill, earning the game's design a high level of respect. The game's educational value is notable and commended.
- Love (weight 0.01): The game's design, music, and atmosphere create a loving impression among players. It is considered incredibly satisfying and is particularly loved by cryptography enthusiasts. The overall experience is deeply appreciated.}