Codebreaker

Try it right away, without an account: 4 rounds a day. With an account you play as much as you like and get on the top list. Free during the beta, no ads and nothing to download. Play in the browser on a computer, tablet or phone.

How to play

Someone has made a secret code: a row of coloured pegs. Your job is to work it out.
Place a guess with as many pegs and press Guess.
The answer shows how close you are: a <b>filled pin</b> for every peg with the right colour in the right place, and a <b>ring</b> for every peg with a right colour in the wrong place. It does not say which pegs it means.
The code is cracked when every pin is filled. You have a limited number of guesses.

Placing a guess

Tap a colour below the row to put it in the marked place. The mark moves on by itself.
Tap a place in the row to choose it, and again to empty it.
With a keyboard: the digits 1–8 place colours, Backspace erases, Enter guesses and the arrows move the mark.

Levels

Kids: 4 pegs, 5 colours, no colour twice and all of 20 guesses. Every peg gets its own mark: ✓ right place, ? the colour is in the code but somewhere else, ✕ the colour is not in the code.
Easy: 4 pegs, 6 colours, no colour twice. A good start.
Medium: 4 pegs, 6 colours, and a colour may appear more than once. The classic game.
Hard: 5 pegs and 7 colours.
Expert: 6 pegs and all 8 colours, with 12 guesses.
Custom: Pick the number of pegs, colours and guesses yourself.
Today's code: 5 pegs and 7 colours, the same for everyone, one try a day.

Keys

1 – 8: Place a colour
Backspace: Erase
Enter: Guess
← / →: Move the mark

Questions

Where does the game come from?
Breaking a code of colours or digits is an old parlour game, and became a well-known peg board game in the 1970s. This version, its look and its rules text are our own.

Can anyone cheat on today's code?
No. The code lives only on the server, and the page only gets the answers to your guesses.

How do I play a friend?
Choose “Vs a friend”, create a duel and send the code or the link. You each make a code, then crack each other's at the same time.

Does the game give experience points?
Yes. Every cracked code on a fixed level and today's code counts in your statistics on the games site. Hints halve the points.

Questions and answers

How do you play Codebreaker?

Crack the secret colour code in as few guesses as you can. Against the computer, today's code with a top list, or against a friend: you each make a code and race to crack the other's. The full rules are above.

How many can play Codebreaker?

1–2 players.

How long does a game of Codebreaker take?

About 3–15 minutes.

Can you play Codebreaker without an account?

Yes. You can try 4 rounds a day without an account. With an account you play as much as you like.

Can you play Codebreaker on a phone?

Yes. The game runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. There is nothing to download.

Does it cost anything to play Codebreaker here?

No. Spelbordet is free during the beta and has no ads.