How to play Secret Message
- Every letter of the message has been replaced by a symbol. The same symbol always hides the same letter.
- Tap a symbol, then the letter you think it hides. You can also type the letter on your keyboard.
- Change your mind any time: tap the symbol again and pick another letter, or Erase.
- On Easy, the code table is shown. On harder levels you start with fewer letters, or none at all.
- Need help? Reveal a letter or Check your letters, three times each per game.
Tips
- Start with the short words: in English, THE, AND, YOU and ARE are very common.
- A one-letter word is almost always A or I.
- E, T, A and O are the most frequent letters in English: try them on the symbols you see most.
- Look for repeated patterns, like a symbol appearing twice in a row (LL, EE, OO, SS).
About Secret Message
Secret Message is a substitution cipher, the oldest family of secret codes. Julius Caesar already hid his letters this way, and code breakers have cracked such ciphers for centuries by looking at letter frequencies and short words.
The messages are English proverbs, surprising true facts and spy notes. When you crack a proverb or a fact, a short explanation tells you more about it.
Points and badges
Finishing a game of Secret Message earns points for your level. Four badges are waiting in this game, from bronze to diamond: each one says what to do and adds bonus points.
Questions
Does each symbol always stand for the same letter?
Yes. Within one message, a symbol always hides the same letter, and two symbols never hide the same one.
Do the helps cost points?
A little. Each letter revealed or check used lowers the points of the game.
Are the facts true?
Yes. Each fact is real and comes with a short explanation once the message is decoded.