Kode

About Kode

Kode is a daily code-breaking puzzle in the spirit of Mastermind, turned into pure deduction. Instead of guessing and getting feedback, you start with the guesses and the feedback already on the board. Every clue row is a four-digit attempt marked with two counts: a triangle for a right digit in the right spot, and a dot for a right digit in the wrong spot.

The counts never say which digits they mean, so the work is comparing rows: a digit that appears in a row scored zero can be crossed out everywhere, and two rows that differ by one digit tell you about that digit. Each puzzle has one solution.

When you have it, type the code on the keypad. You have three tries, and your score depends on how many tries and how much time you take. Tapping a clue tile cycles a pencil mark through red, yellow and green as a notepad that never affects the grading.

A new numbered Kode arrives at midnight UTC for everyone, an archive holds past puzzles, and streaks and stats are kept on your device. It is free and needs no account.

How to play Kode

1. Read the graded clue rows on the board.
2. Use the marks: a triangle is a right digit in the right spot, a dot a right digit in the wrong spot.
3. Compare rows to work out which digits are in the code and where.
4. Type the four-digit code on the keypad; digits never repeat.
5. Solve it within three tries, as quickly as you can.

Tips

• Start with any row scored zero: none of its digits are in the code.
• Look for two rows that share three digits: the difference in their marks is about the fourth.
• Use the pencil marks to keep track of digits you have ruled in or out.

Questions