There are eight (8) regular puzzles for you to solve plus one (1) metapuzzle.
The answer to each of the regular puzzles is a single word or phrase. Each regular puzzle stands alone and can be solved independently of the other regular puzzles.
You’ll need to use the answers to the eight regular puzzles in order to solve the one metapuzzle. You will need to solve 6 of the 8 regular puzzles to unlock the metapuzzle. The more regular puzzles you solve, the easier the metapuzzle becomes!
First place will be awarded to the team that solves the metapuzzle first. Other places will be awarded according to which teams solve the most puzzles fastest!
You should never have to brute-force, randomly anagram, or read any code in order to solve any of the puzzles. Each puzzle in the hunt is unique and usually has a specific or clever insight needed to solve. Once you deduce or organize the patterns within the puzzle, you should be able to extract a clear word or phrase from the puzzle. Puzzles won't necessarily come with clear instructions; it's up to you to figure out what the puzzle wants from you! If you're new to puzzles and puzzle hunts, you can read more about them at blog.vero.site/post/puzzlehunts. See cs50.ly/practice for a prior puzzle (and solution), if you'd like practice.
Story text, which appears in italics, generally below the titles of puzzles, is part of the background story and theme of the hunt. You don't need the story text to solve any of the puzzles, but it can be helpful when solving them.
Teams of size 2, 3, and 4 are allowed.
Feel free to use any tools you have available, including searching the internet to help you solve any of the puzzles in the hunt. You may also use AI-based software like ChatGPT; you are not restricted to using CS50's own AI-based software. Puzzles sometimes use codes or ciphers for letters of the alphabet. We've given you a code sheet below: the sheet itself is not a puzzle.
Remember that everything, including the title, can be a hint to the solution to a puzzle.
Ready?
For all puzzles, head to the puzzles page! You can check your answers (as many times as you'd like) via that same website.
As soon as you solve the meta puzzle, visit cs50.ly/submit(Harvard) or cs50.yale.edu/submit (Yale) to submit your final answers! You should only submit once during the event.
Have fun, no matter how many puzzles you solve or don't solve!
Gather by projector screen for solutions and prizes at event's end!
Like to hear about opportunities to work at Meta? Visit cs50.ly/meta
FAQ
What kind of puzzles should I expect? How do I solve puzzles?
All regular puzzles in this hunt have a single word or phrase as the answer. Each regular puzzle stands alone and can be solved independently of the other regular puzzles. You should never have to brute force, randomly anagram, or read any code in order to solve any of the puzzles.
Each puzzle in the hunt is unique, and usually has a specific or clever insight needed to solve. Once you deduce or organize the patterns within the puzzle, you should be able to extract a clear word or phrase from the puzzle. Puzzles come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, won't necessarily come with clear instructions; it's up to you to figure out what the puzzle wants from you! If you're new to puzzles and puzzlehunts, you can read more about them here.
We also have a practice puzzle, including a solution, from an old CS50 Puzzlehunt. You can try it out here!
How do I know if I got it right?
You can check your answers to puzzles using the answer checker at the top of every puzzle. The answer checker will sometimes give useful feedback to "partial" answers. Feel free to submit partial answers into the checker to see if you're on the right track, even if you think there's more to a puzzle!
What's the format of this puzzlehunt?
As you explore our perfectly normal house, you’re likely to encounter various challenges and puzzles on your way. In total, there are eight puzzle challenges for you to complete, along with a metapuzzle. You'll unlock the metapuzzle after you have solved at least six(6) of the eight regular puzzles. You’ll need to use parts of the first eight puzzles in order to solve the metapuzzle. The more regular puzzles you solve, the easier the metapuzzle becomes!
Is this page or the Story page a puzzle?
No.
How should I submit answers for the hunt? Note that this website is an answer checker, but does not actively track or save any information for submission. In order to get credit for solving puzzles, please follow the instructions of your hunt administrator. The first team who submits the correct answer to the metapuzzle will win the hunt!
What resources can I use to solve puzzles?
You can feel free to use any tools you have available, including collaborative sheets or searching the internet to help you solve any of the puzzles in the hunt. No puzzle in the hunt will require you to brute force any answers or look at source code to solve.
Puzzles sometimes use codes or ciphers for letters of the alphabet. We’ve attached a code sheet from Puzzled Pint with this document (the sheet is not a puzzle). You’ll find it useful for at least one of the puzzles in this hunt.
I'm having trouble with the site, or would like to reset my progress. Can I do that?
Yes, to reset the site, just click on this button:
Note that this will reset all puzzles and state, so you'll need to reenter any answers to puzzles you've already solved. If the button does not resolve your issues, please try clearing your browser cookies or contacting your hunt administrator.
