🔒 Cryptogram
Crack the code to reveal a hidden quote, letter by letter.
How to play
- Click a letter, then type what you think it really is.
- Your guess fills in every matching letter at once.
- Backspace clears the selected letter's guess.
- Check tells you how many guesses are wrong, not which.
- Hint reveals one correct letter for you.
A free cryptogram puzzle, no famous-quote attributions
A cryptogram hides a real saying behind a substitution code: every letter has been consistently swapped for a different one, the same swap wherever it shows up. Click any letter in the puzzle, or the same letter in the legend row underneath, and type what you think it actually stands for. Your guess fills in instantly wherever that letter appears, since cracking one occurrence cracks all of them at once.
There's no letter-by-letter feedback as you type, since that would give the answer away for free. Instead, press Check any time to see how many of your filled-in guesses are wrong so far, without revealing exactly which ones, so you still have to think it through. Stuck completely? Hint reveals one correct letter mapping, tracked separately so you can see how much help you used once you crack the whole thing.
Every puzzle here is a common saying or proverb, not a quote attributed to any one person, so solving one never requires knowing who said what. Your total puzzles solved is saved locally in your own browser. It's free, works with a mouse, touchscreen, or keyboard, and needs no download or account. See the Parents & Safety page for the full privacy details, or try the step-by-step Word Ladder game, or browse the rest of the Word Games hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play a cryptogram?
Every letter in the hidden saying has been swapped for a different letter, the same swap every time it appears. Click a letter (or the same letter in the legend below) and type your guess for what it really stands for. Guessing it once fills in every matching spot at once.
How do I know if my guess is right?
The puzzle doesn't tell you letter by letter, that would make it too easy. Press Check any time to see how many of your filled-in letters are wrong so far, without saying exactly which ones.
Are these real quotes from famous people?
No, every puzzle is a common saying or proverb that isn't attributed to any one person, so there's no quote to credit.
Is there a hint?
Yes. Hint reveals one correct letter mapping for you, and the game keeps track of how many hints you've used on each puzzle.