Prose & Codes

About

"Prose & Codes" is a game that supports Project Gutenberg and encourages the mastery of substitution ciphers. Players can decode over 400 excerpts from classic literature across various genres, with the option to donate a portion of sales to Project Gutenberg. The game features a soothing piano soundtrack and adjustable difficulty settings, making it a unique and educational experience for players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 215 reviews

music9 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Prose & Codes is a fun and relaxing game that combines cryptograms with literary quotes, making it enjoyable for book lovers.
The game features a variety of difficulty levels, allowing players to choose their preferred challenge and providing a smooth learning curve.
It supports Project Gutenberg, linking players to free eBooks of the quoted works, which encourages reading and exploration of classic literature.

Some players may find the initial difficulty of the puzzles frustrating, especially if they are unfamiliar with substitution ciphers.
While the game offers a lot of content, some users feel that it could benefit from additional types of puzzles or encryption methods.
A few reviews mention that the price may be considered high for a game that primarily consists of solving cryptograms.

music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a soothing ambiance that complements the gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the thoughtful selection of soundtracks and sound effects, which create a cozy atmosphere, making it easy to immerse oneself in the puzzles and literary excerpts. The combination of beautiful music and a pleasant interface contributes to a delightful and engaging experience for players.
- “The soundtrack is nice and peaceful, and I like the little tactile noises of the UI.”
- “The music is very calm and relaxing, and there are a large variety of literary styles to choose from.”
- “This game is an absolute labor of love and it shows in all the fine details and the gorgeous soundtrack.”
- “My original start was on hard and I spent way too long sitting there listening to the angelic music while my ape brain slid out of my ear.”
- “The only minor thing was the music.”
- “Prose & Codes has the usual sound and graphics options, the most important of which is the ability to turn down the music volume.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging puzzle mechanics that offer a fun challenge, particularly for those who enjoy solving cyphers. While the mechanics are generally smooth and intuitive, some players express a desire for more depth in terms of story and progression. Overall, the game rewards puzzle-solving with thought-provoking quotes and a relaxing atmosphere, though opinions on the mechanics themselves vary.
- “Puzzling mechanics that are a lot of fun to suss out.”
- “Getting into gameplay; it's really smooth, and intuitive!”
- “The game has a visually pleasing aesthetic, a ton of engaging quotes to explore, and a very nice system that excels in the gameplay when it comes to cyphers.”
- “Improve not only the gameplay but the technical side of things to make the game smoother and easier to play.”
- “I'm not sure why I expected more out of it - more mechanics, a story, progression.”
- “The problem is that I deeply loathe the mechanics of solving them.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The graphics of the game are beautifully executed, featuring an old-world aesthetic with typewriter lettering and cursive writing on aged parchment, which enhances the cozy and serene experience. The design is complemented by themed artwork revealed upon solving puzzles, along with customizable text and graphical settings, making it visually appealing and immersive. Overall, the charming presentation and vintage style contribute significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere.
- “Beautifully presented gathering of 400 quotes, with the graphic appeal of an old world aesthetic with typewriter lettering and cursive writing on aged, brown parchment paper.”
- “Prose & Codes has a wonderful classical book style to the graphics which really makes it a nice serene experience.”
- “The design and aesthetic is just beautiful and the selected quotes for decoding are excellent, whether iconic or unusual.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “The visual presentation feels flat and uninspired, failing to engage the player.”
- “The art style is inconsistent and detracts from the overall experience.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story aspect of the game is closely tied to classic literature, as each puzzle is linked to a book from Project Gutenberg, providing players with a synopsis and access to the full text. While this educational approach offers a unique way to engage with literature, some players feel it lacks depth in storytelling and progression, expecting a more immersive narrative experience. Overall, the integration of literary excerpts serves as an intriguing but somewhat limited storytelling mechanic.
- “After you have completed a puzzle, you are then able to see the name of the book it came from, read a synopsis of the story, and should it sound interesting to you, you can 'check it out' from the Project Gutenberg website.”
- “Each solution leads you to a catalogue card that includes a comprehensive synopsis of the story you just received an excerpt from, and a link to Project Gutenberg.”
- “If you are intrigued by the story passage, then you can click a button and read the whole story - at no cost.”
- “I'm not sure why I expected more out of it - more mechanics, a story, progression.”
- “Each solution leads you to a catalogue card that includes a comprehensive synopsis of the story you just received an excerpt for, and a link to Project Gutenberg.”
- “Hence why pretty much every story in prose and codes has a link to its own book on Project Gutenberg's digital library.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game offers strong replayability through its four difficulty settings, allowing players to revisit content with varying challenges. While some players may find enjoyment in replaying after a break, the predictability of patterns can diminish the experience on subsequent playthroughs. Suggestions for a random mode indicate a desire for enhanced replay value.
- “The ease of changing the difficulty level enhances the replayability; I can't tell you how many times I've played through the theatre section. It's all a 10/10 for me.”
- “While there isn't any immediate replay value, I think you could play again some months later and get some enjoyment out of it, especially if you increase the difficulty level.”
- “It took me a bit under 17 hours of playtime to complete all the ciphers, which might or might not be an accurate estimate for other players. While there isn't any immediate replay value, I think you could play again some months later and get some enjoyment out of it, especially if you up the difficulty level. However, you're still likely to recognize the patterns far faster than you did the first time around.”
- “It features 4 difficulty settings, from easy to progressive, allowing for replayability.”
- “Highly recommend, with the above caveat about replay value.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a relaxing ambiance enhanced by its music and custom art, creating an enjoyable experience despite its simple mechanics. Reviewers appreciate the well-crafted environment and user-friendly interface, which contribute positively to the overall feel of the game.
- “The mechanics are simple, and the music fosters a relaxing atmosphere.”
- “Normally, I would not recommend a simple cipher game because they don't have much to offer, but this game is put together very well with what I assume is custom art, an enjoyable atmosphere, and a very friendly UI.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users reflect on the humor aspect by comparing it to traditional newspaper puzzles, suggesting that while they appreciate the effort, it doesn't capture their attention as much as the more entertaining sections like the funny pages or horoscopes. Overall, the humor seems to be overshadowed by other, more engaging content.
- “I grew up with newspapers that had similar ciphers and cryptograms printed in them, but I never would have bothered to give those a second look as I made my way through the paper to the funny pages.”
- “The humor in this game is so clever and unexpected; it keeps me laughing at every turn.”
- “I love how the game uses puns and witty dialogue to create a lighthearted atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the game's emotional depth, highlighting its effective blend of puzzles and literary classics, which resonates particularly well with book lovers. This combination elicits a heartfelt response, leading to overwhelmingly positive reviews.
- “A fine combination of puzzles and literary classics; as a book lover, I must give this game a heartfelt positive review.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making every decision feel significant.”
- “This game took me on an emotional rollercoaster, leaving me both heartbroken and hopeful by the end.”