Palm Cracker

Fun little cypher cracking game! In the palm of your hand! Since it is styled like an old looking phone-thingy, that would fit in your hand, you know? [i]Palm Cracker[/i]... You can type the letters to solve riddles with your keyboard, but that is a bit glitchy, because it recognises Shift, CapsLock and Arrow Keys as characters. But you can also use an in game drawing pad to draw and input each letter. But yeah, the cyphers are fun, and the game explains them to you very well, so you don't need to be a code cracking expert to play this, just read the explanations and you'll be able to solve everything! Some require some digging through the phone/device (that also has some easter eggs and achievements), and some might be easier with some paper and pencil.

Palm Cracker takes an unusual approach to the detective puzzle genre by making an old-fashioned handheld computer the center of an entire mystery. Developed and published by Petter Malmehed, the game places you in possession of a PalmPilot connected to the infamous “Crypt Killer.” Instead of walking around conventional crime scenes or questioning suspects, you investigate the contents of this small digital device in search of clues that could eventually uncover a hidden confession. It is a simple premise, but the commitment to presenting the PalmPilot as an interactive environment gives the experience a distinctive personality. The simulated handheld device is far more than a decorative menu. Its applications, interface, input methods, games, stored information, and other functions become pieces of the investigation. Exploring them feels similar to examining someone's abandoned computer, where seemingly insignificant files or programs might contain important information. The recreation of older technology also gives the game a strong nostalgic character. Players who remember personal digital assistants may recognize many of their quirks, while those unfamiliar with them get to exp…

Palm Cracker is a really clever detective puzzle game that I liked almost immediately because of how unusual its setting is. Instead of searching a normal crime scene, I am investigating an old PalmPilot that once belonged to the notorious Crypt Killer. The whole idea of finding a criminal confession buried inside an outdated handheld device is strange in the best possible way, and I enjoyed how much personality comes from that simple setup. The gameplay is centered around cracking codes, solving riddles and figuring out how information on the device connects together. I have to inspect different parts of the PalmPilot and use logic rather than simply clicking through dialogue until I reach the next clue. I liked that the game expects me to actually think about the puzzles, especially when the solutions involve real cryptographic ideas instead of completely arbitrary game logic. The PalmPilot simulation is probably my favorite part. The old interface, notes, apps and handwriting recognition make the device feel like a real object rather than just a menu used to deliver puzzles. I enjoyed exploring the little details because they make the investigation feel more believable. Even t…

it was short but nice. For free it was good and introduces interest on cryptography. Make another long game, make it difficult and put some price tag for your benefit. Just don't make it too pricey.

I like the game and the way it was made. It's just the right thing to spark an interest in cryptography—or to keep that interest alive if you already have it. A little brain teaser to break up the boring monotony on Steam. Thanks a lot, Crypt Killer.

Simple and to the point. Took me just over half an hour to complete. A few of the ciphers need a pen and paper, but other than that there's no other required knowledge or items that the game doesn't give you (except for one very quick google search). My only gripe is that it felt a little hand-holdy to have each puzzle correspond to a number, which in turn corresponds to a cipher. Kinda wish I could've explored a bit more to find which code maps to which cipher, but it's also understandable to make it easier.