Decipher

About this board game

Decipher is a word game for 2–4 players, with each round taking place around a secret word puzzle built from four differently shaped letter pieces.

One player becomes the puzzle builder and creates a secret word. The other players know which letter pieces are included, but not how they are arranged. By asking questions about where the pieces go, they gather clues and work toward deciphering the hidden word.

The game combines wordplay with spatial reasoning. Builders are challenged to think of clever words that will be difficult to solve, while the other players must interpret the available information and make smart guesses. Players can also earn points through their questions and deductions.

• For 2–4 players
• Approximately 30 minutes of play
• Secret-word puzzles built from four shaped letter pieces
• Question-driven clue gathering and point scoring
• Semi-transparent colored plastic pieces

Decipher uses the Letter Piece Game system, a distinctive method of building letters from four basic shapes. The system comes from the designers of Wordsmith: Bill Eberle, Greg Olotka, Peter Olotka, and Jack Kittredge, whose other credits include Cosmic Encounter, Dune, and Hoax.

The components include the same playful semi-transparent colored plastic letter pieces found in Wordsmith. A special plastic insert also transforms the game box into part of the game, giving Decipher a tactile presentation alongside its clever word puzzles.

Released in 2020, Decipher offers a compact contest of creative word construction, careful questioning, and deduction for groups looking for a different kind of word game.