How to play Crack the Code
A secret code is locked behind a handful of clues. Read them, reason it out, and enter the code. That's the whole game, and it's harder to put down than it sounds.
The goal
The game picks a secret code of 2 to 5 digits. No digit appears twice, and 0 is allowed anywhere, including the first spot. Below the code you get a list of clues. Each clue is a combination of digits plus a sentence comparing it with the secret code.
You don't get new clues as you play: everything you need is on the screen from the start. Your job is to find the code that agrees with every clue at once.
The five kinds of clue
Here is a real 3-digit puzzle. Every clue uses one of these five sentences:
- Correct and well placed: exactly one digit of the clue is in the code, in the very same spot. The other digits are not in the code at all.
- Correct but wrongly placed (one, two or three): that many digits are in the code, but none of them is in the spot shown. The rest are not in the code.
- Nothing is correct: none of these digits is in the code. This is your best friend.
Four difficulty levels
| Level | Code | Clues | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 2 digits | 4 | A warm-up you can solve in seconds |
| Normal | 3 digits | 5 | The classic lock riddle |
| Hard | 4 digits | 7 | Needs a plan, not just a hunch |
| Expert | 5 digits | 9 | A real workout. Pen and paper allowed |
Entering a guess
Tap a cell, then tap a digit. When every cell is filled, the game checks your code against all the clues. If it fits every one, the lock pops open. If not, you'll see “Not quite. Check the hints!” and can try again. Every attempt counts toward your score, so it pays to be sure before you submit.
If more than one code happens to fit every clue, any of them counts as a win.
Hints and points
Stuck? Select a cell and tap Hint: the correct digit for that cell is filled in for you. You can pay for a hint by watching a short video or with 100 points.
Points come from achievements. Besides hints, you can spend 120 points to retry a Daily Challenge you've already played. See the achievements guide for the fastest ways to earn them.
How your score is worked out
| Part | Points |
|---|---|
| Difficulty base | 500 + 100 per digit |
| Time bonus | 400 if solved in 10 seconds or less, shrinking to 0 at 5 minutes |
| Accuracy bonus | 200 for a first-try win, 100 for the second try, 50 for tries 3–5 |
| Hint penalty | −200 per hint, but never below the base score |
So a perfect Expert game, solved first try in under 10 seconds with no hints, is worth 1,600 points. Your best score for each level goes to the leaderboard.
The Daily Challenge
Once a day there's a special 4-digit puzzle, and every player gets the same secret code, so you can compare notes with friends afterwards. Play every day to grow your streak; miss a day and it starts again from 1. Streak milestones unlock bonus achievements.
Put it into practice
Crack the Code is free on iOS and Android. A new Daily Challenge waits every day.
Keep reading
6 techniques to crack any code
Start with the “nothing is correct” clue, chain eliminations and use position rules. Includes a full 3-digit worked example.
Read guide → 20AchievementsAll 20 achievements and how to unlock them
Every Crack the Code achievement with its points reward, plus tips for the speed, streak and one-guess challenges.
Read guide →