Simple puzzle game premise hides surprising depth
"What’s the Password?" by developer Dan DiIorio, known as TrampolineTales, offers over 100 puzzles requiring a four-digit code. Despite its simple concept, the game surprises with varied clues and a calming atmosphere.
Independent developer Dan DiIorio, working under the alias TrampolineTales, has created "What’s the Password?", a game built on a straightforward idea: solve each of more than 100 puzzles by typing the correct four-digit number on a numeric keypad. While this constraint might seem limiting, it gives room for creative clue formats.
Puzzle clues come in several forms. Some are written text; the very first puzzle is a sentence that tells you which numbers to enter. But you’ll also have to decipher four-digit codes from things like blinking digits of a clock, nonogram puzzles, solving arithmetic, and even counting the teeth on a key. Clues can get meta, too, such as ones referencing a password on the game’s cover art or information in menus.
The puzzles can be tough. Many require multiple attempts, but there is no penalty for wrong guesses, so you can try as many combinations as you want. Some puzzles may stop you for minutes. If stuck, the game offers an option to skip or occasionally a hint.
The game features a calming, jazzy soundtrack that loops a single song, complementing the entirely black-and-white visuals. The overall vibe evokes a noir detective feel. The slow music can help when stuck; the mind may wander to the melody, occasionally leading to a solution.
The reviewer couldn’t solve everything, completing about 77% of puzzles in roughly three hours. The game highlighted the value of patience and a good night’s sleep; returning with a fresh mind in the morning made solving easier. Much of the fun comes from the unexpected clue formats, giving the simple premise surprising depth. "What’s the Password?" is available on PC via Steam, iOS, and Android.
