Cryptic Crate
Hints and Solutions
HOW TO USE THESE HINTS
Below you will find hints to the game "Cryptic Crate". It is advised to try to solve the puzzles on your own, but if you get stuck, these hints will guide you along your way. Note, clicking on the solution, will give you the final answer (spoilers) Only use it as a last resort! A printable version of the hints is below if you prefer to play fully offline. The second part of this document also includes a full walkthrough of the game!
Click hints below if you have not yet opened any locks
Hint 1 4 of these clues look similar. The 5th looks quite different. The different clue may guide you in how what to do with the first 4.
Hint 2 Each of the markings on the 4 similar cards are made up with different numbers of lines. The markings with the same numbers of lines connect in some way
Solution Of the 4 similar cards, there are markings made up of 1 line, 2 lines, 3 lines and 4 lines. This denotes the sequence as does reading the shapes on the 5th card left to right. Line up the markings with the others on the other cards made of the same number of lines until you see the letters: 1: A, 2: L, 3: E, 4: X The code is ALEX
See below if you've opened the initial crate:
Puzzle: Photo of book
Hint 1 You’ll use 3 items together (plus the journal page that mentions the location) for this puzzle. Look for an item that would fit with the book photograph (same setting) and pay attention to the corners. Is there anything else that matches those corners? (If you look closely, the answer may become clear)
Hint 2 Pay attention to the corners of the photographs, and the colors of those corners and see if they line up with anything else. Once aligned with the corners of the same color on the transparency, you’ll see a diagram that points to certain parts of the pictures and it’s coded. Can you crack the code?
Solution The objects on the left photograph should be familiar . Things like “chair”, “drink”, “clock”, or “skull”. Use the cryptic words to decode the secret language. So for “chair” for instance, you can see it’s “PJTAV”. So, P=C, J=H, T=A, A=I and V=R. Go through each object like this. You can use this to decode the sentence on the right: “DECODE WORD”. Decoding the word in the brackets. The first letter of that word is listed in the journal that references the library (“w”) and the rest can be decoded with the decoded letters you’ve discovered. The word is “weapons”. Set this aside as you’ll need it for later.
Click hints below for the alleyway photo
Hint 1 To know where Alex started, you’ll need to know where Alex was going. Pay close attention to every item related to this photograph
Hint 2 The journal entry that references this alleyway has information about where Alex is going (home- and where is “home”? Another item can be referred to that will reveal that) Following the route provided in the journal entry (use the map found in the first box) will tell us where Alex came from.
Solution Follow the route in the journal backwards from “home” (Maple Hill Apartments- the address is on the postcard, the sign is on the photograph and the location is on the map). The reference to how much money Alex has and needs means Alex may need to stop at the bank. Following all the reference points backwards will bring you to Cliff’s Coffeehouse. Write down “coffeehouse” or “Cliff’s Coffee” near this journal page and save this. You’ll need it later.
Click hints below for the postcards
Hint 1 Notice the arrows on these postcards. They may be telling you something about how to read the message.
Hint 2 If you’ve figured out how to follow the arrow from the message, apply that to everything Alex’s friend wrote that you see and you’ll get instructions on how to solve the next lock
Solution Read each of the messages down vertically using only the first word of each line (on each postcard and the airport parking lot picture) This tells you how to find each number. The first is found by counting what’s in the “proof of purchase” (the stamp on the postcard) There are 4 strawberries. The second is found by counting the sides on the shape of the “pass”- the boarding pass from earlier. There are several shapes, but read the next clue: Figure out what everything has in common (everything is red- corresponding with the red lock) and count. Red strawberries (4), red triangle (3 sides), red cars (7). The code is: 4-3-7
See below for the clues in the red locked bag
Click hints below for the box
Hint 1 This looks like a "jumbo box". What does the note and journal entry say about that? What is on the buttons on this box?
Hint 2 Pay attention to the underlined text in the journal. You're looking for something that "isn't there." The box seems to contain all the letters. What about the note?
Solution There are 5 missing letters from the note: I, E, R, D, and S. If you look at the box and start on any one of those letters and follow it to the next "missing letter" (and if it doesn't point to one, you've reached the end, and you'll need to start over) you'll get "R-I-D-E-S." The missing word in this journal entry is "rides"
Click hints below for the subway station
Hint 1 Where else do you see switches that look like this? (look in pieces you found previously). One shade is marked clearly. What about the rest? What do you notice about the different switches?
Hint 2 These switches correspond to the train station photograph. You’ll have to eliminate some. It’s hard to tell what to eliminate when the diagram is in black and white, but you should notice something about the wires vs the switches.
Solution Eliminate the switches that have the SAME color wire as the switch and keep the switches that are a different color than the wire. Also eliminate ALL purple switches (regardless of the wire color). This will give you a message: platform. Write down this work near the corresponding journal entry and save it. You’ll need it soon!
Click hints below for the photos with sticky notes
Hint 1 Each of these messages on the sticky notes seems to either be a “hit” or a “miss”
Hint 2 It seems these are 2 sets of 2 photographs of the same part of the map with sticky notes put in different places.
Solution Imagine the photos with duplicate parts of the maps are transparent and laid over top of the photograph with the same part of the map. Then orient the pairs top and bottom and you’ll see 8 sticky notes in sets of 2. The sticky notes also indicate a couple of the the numbers (6 and 8) Pushing the buttons on the lock that are “hits” will open it. The combination is: 1-6-4-7
See below for the clues in the push button locked bag
Click hints below for the token payout chart
Hint 1 The diagram shows the tokens that will pay out each day, but is there any other way to read this?
Hint 2 Use the “Casino Night” flyer to gather some information on how the tokens work, use the related journal page to see how Alex would approach it and pay close attention to details
Solution The flyer says that tokens of any 2 colors can be combined for triple rewards and Alex will utilize this since the journal page says Alex always “maximizes earnings” Following the pattern of the arrows in the “O” on the Casino Night flyer, the pattern of the payout becomes clear: red, red, blue, blue, yellow repeat. The final tokens will be red and blue which is purple combined (see reflection in photo). The only purple indicator is “slots”. Write this down and keep it near the related journal page and save it for later.
Click hints below for the outline cards
Hint 1 Notice the white card with the diagram of shapes with + and - This will guide you.
Hint 2 Following the diagram, use the included black marker to color in shapes that are specified then follow the rest of the diagram. If you’ve already gotten the message to appear, pay attention to the “i”. What does it look like? Then pay attention to the arrows at the bottom and follow their direction.
Solution Color in all the shapes with the + symbol and leave the shapes with the - symbol alone. Then stack the 3 papers and hold them to the light. A message will appear: “i hold the key.” The “i” resembles a marker, and the arrows on the bottom show a turning motion. Twist the top of the marker and it will open. Inside is the key to the journal lock.
See below for the clues in the red locked bag
Click hints below for the final letter (from previous bag)
Hint 1 Reading this letter carefully will tell you exactly what to do with all the journal pages you’ve collected and decoded (as well as the ones in the journal)
Hint 2 Pay close attention to words that can be taken literally like “first” “next” “in between”, “started”, “switched around” etc.
Solution The poem references the journal pages and instructs which order to put them in (“scattered” are the pages you’ve gathered, and “contained” are the ones in the journal. Now, referencing one of the two main words in each entry, we’ll put them in order. “Start” with fear references “anxiety”. Next security will disappear references “insecurity.” “Elimination” is the “very last step”, which references “termination” so put that aside for the last page. After insecurity is “worldview” (“view of the the world”) then “barefoot” (“removing my shoes”) but then switch them! (“this and the previous thought switched around”) So now we have: anxiety, insecurity, barefoot, worldview and we’re saving “termination” for the end. “Fear leads to lack of security too, but between them requires a passage through (put the “alleyway” between these two which has the decoded word “cliff’s coffee”). After the passage some knowledge obtained, knowledge that only books can explain (library is placed after these which decoded word is “weapon”). Next security is taken away, then the train will leave for the day (train station, decoded word “platform”). This comes before all is laid bare (barefoot) So now , using the words with the ink blot symbol, we have: anxiety, cliff’s coffee, weapon, insecurity, platform, barefoot, worldview (and holding “termination” for the end). “To think this actually started with fun, with carnival rides after games that were won”. START the whole sequence with “rides” AFTER “slots” (games that were won). Now we have: slots, rides, anxiety, cliff’s coffee, weapon, insecurity, platform, barefoot, worldview, and finally termination. Now going through the sequence explained, we take the first letter of the first word followed by the second of the second, the third of the third, all the way until the tenth of the tenth: slots, rides, anxiety, cliff’s coffee, weapon insecurity, platform, barefoot, worldview, and finally termination The final code is six four two
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON THE GAME!
For a full walkthrough, click below:
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