Cypher on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Cypher is a first person puzzle game about cryptography.
Cypher is a puzzle, indie and difficult game
developed and published by Matthew Brown.
Released on February 20th 2018 is available in English only on Windows.
It has received 854 reviews of which 777 were positive and 77 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 4.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Cypher into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Cypher through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows Vista (64-bit) or later
- Processor: 2.8 GHz+
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Shader Model 3.0
- Storage: 250 MB available space
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Cypher is a quietly ambitious and intellectually demanding puzzle game that sets itself apart by treating cryptography not just as a theme, but as the very foundation of its gameplay. Developed and published by Matthew Brown, the game places players inside a stark, minimalist first-person environment where progress is earned entirely through thought, deduction, and persistence. Rather than relying on traditional videogame mechanics such as platforming, reflexes, or resource management, Cypher asks the player to slow down, observe carefully, and engage directly with real-world cipher concepts in a way that feels closer to solving a series of logic problems than playing a conventional game. The structure of Cypher is deliberately restrained. Players move through clean, museum-like spaces filled with terminals, plaques, and coded messages, each presenting a new challenge that must be deciphered to advance. Interaction is almost entirely text-based, with many puzzles requiring players to manually input solutions rather than selecting from predefined options. This design choice reinforces the game’s core identity: success depends on understanding how a cipher works, not on guessing or trial-and-error alone. Early puzzles introduce relatively accessible concepts, easing players into substitution ciphers and basic encoding logic, but the game steadily escalates in complexity, eventually touching on more advanced ideas such as historical encryption methods, layered codes, and hidden information embedded within seemingly ordinary text. What makes Cypher especially distinctive is how unapologetically it embraces its educational nature. The game does not shy away from presenting puzzles that may require note-taking, external research, or careful rereading of earlier clues. In some cases, players are encouraged—implicitly or explicitly—to look beyond the game itself, researching cryptographic history or techniques to fully understand what is being asked of them. For some, this blurring of boundaries between game and study is part of the appeal, turning Cypher into a kind of interactive lesson that rewards curiosity and intellectual effort. For others, it can feel intimidating or disruptive, particularly if they expect all necessary information to be contained neatly within the game world. The pacing of the experience is entirely player-driven. There are no timers, no penalties for taking too long, and no pressure beyond the desire to move forward. This creates a contemplative atmosphere where progress can stall for minutes or hours depending on the puzzle and the player’s familiarity with the subject matter. When solutions finally emerge, however, the sense of accomplishment is genuine and deeply satisfying. Cracking a difficult cipher feels less like completing a level and more like solving a real problem, delivering a quiet but powerful sense of mastery that few puzzle games achieve. Visually and aurally, Cypher remains understated, deliberately avoiding distraction. The environments are simple and clean, directing all attention toward the information being presented rather than visual spectacle. Subtle ambient audio supports concentration without intruding, reinforcing the meditative tone of the game. This minimalism may come across as sterile to some players, but it aligns perfectly with the game’s focus on clarity and cognition, ensuring that nothing pulls focus away from the puzzles themselves. Cypher’s difficulty curve is one of its most defining and divisive traits. While early sections are approachable, later puzzles can become extremely challenging, especially for players without prior exposure to cryptographic concepts. The game offers little in the way of traditional hints or safety nets, trusting the player to persevere or seek knowledge independently. This design philosophy makes Cypher feel demanding and occasionally unforgiving, but also deeply respectful of the player’s intelligence. It is a game that assumes its audience is willing to struggle, think deeply, and learn. Ultimately, Cypher is not a puzzle game designed for quick entertainment or casual play. It is a focused, cerebral experience that rewards patience, curiosity, and a genuine interest in codes and hidden meaning. Its minimalist presentation, real-world puzzle design, and educational underpinnings make it stand out sharply within the genre. For players who enjoy mental challenges, cryptic logic, and the satisfaction of unraveling complex systems through understanding rather than reflex, Cypher offers a memorable and intellectually rich journey that lingers long after the final cipher is solved. Rating: 8/10
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A really calming and thought provoking experience, I actually really enjoyed the atmosphere even though it its literally just a white place, might just be the liminality that I enjoy. I did need assistance from guides though because obviously the puzzles are super complex (at least they are to me) but it was still really cool to see what the answer was and try to link it to the question.
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I read in the reviews of this game saying that the first couple puzzles are quite easy, then they progressively harder as you go, until they become practically impossible. Now, I'm no ♥♥♥♥♥, so I gave it a go. After stepping into the first room and solving the very first puzzle lightning fast, I had hope. I moved on to the very next puzzle and immediately got stuck, had an aneurysm, and left the game after half an hour of feeling my ego diminish. I later came back and solved most of the first room's puzzles, but this game if ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ HARD man... Or maybe I just suck balls at these types of puzzles...
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Definitely very challenging! But you can learn a lot about cryptography. I had a lot of fun with the game! The music is also great and relaxing!
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This ♥♥♥♥ had the whole group chat conversing like we were intellectuals, only thing to ever make all of us lock in, 1000% recommend, fantastic game
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Frequently Asked Questions
Cypher is currently priced at 4.99€ on Steam.
Cypher is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 4.99€ on Steam.
Cypher received 777 positive votes out of a total of 854 achieving a rating of 8.56.
😎
Cypher was developed and published by Matthew Brown.
Cypher is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Cypher is not playable on MacOS.
Cypher is not playable on Linux.
Cypher is a single-player game.
Cypher does not currently offer any DLC.
Cypher does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Cypher does not support Steam Remote Play.
Cypher is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Cypher.
Data sources
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 17 April 2026 23:17 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 29 April 2026 11:21 |
| Steam price | 29 April 2026 12:41 |
| Steam reviews | 28 April 2026 10:00 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Cypher, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Cypher
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Cypher concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Cypher compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
2
Developer
Matthew Brown
Publisher
Matthew Brown
Release
20 Feb 2018
Platforms