Mastermind Modes - Daily Challenge, Solo, Duplicates & Two-Player

Q: Which mode is best for beginners?

Start with Solo on Starter (6 colors, 4 slots, 10 guesses). It has the most room for error while you learn to read the feedback pegs. Move up to Classic and Hard once the reasoning clicks.

Q: Does the Daily Challenge change every day?

Yes. Everyone gets the same code each day, and solving it builds your daily streak. A new puzzle unlocks after midnight in the Asia/Shanghai time zone.

Daily rhythm

Daily Challenge

One shared puzzle for everyone, every day. Solve it to extend your daily streak; a fresh code unlocks after midnight (Asia/Shanghai). It's the same 7-color, 4-slot, 10-guess setup for all players, so scores are directly comparable.

If you miss a day, a Streak Freeze keeps your streak going.

Single-player

Solo across four difficulties

Starter — 6 colors, 4 slots, 10 guesses. The gentlest way in.
Classic — 7 colors, 4 slots, 10 guesses. The standard game.
Hard — 7 colors, 5 slots, 12 guesses. A longer code with more room.
Expert — 8 colors, 5 slots, 10 guesses. More colors, less margin.

In these modes each color appears at most once in the code.

Advanced rule

Duplicates mode

The same color can appear more than once in the code, so after confirming a color you also have to work out how many times it appears. If standard Mastermind feels easy, this is the next step up.

Social play

Two-Player

One player sets a secret code, the other cracks it. Play pass-and-play on one device, or send a link so a friend solves your code in their own browser. Shared results show the feedback progress and keep the answer hidden.

Quick pick

How do you choose a mode?

New here? Start with Solo · Starter. Want a shared, comparable puzzle? Play the Daily Challenge. Standard game solved and looking for a real test? Try Duplicates or Expert. Want to play a friend? Two-Player.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which mode is best for beginners?

Solo on Starter. It has the fewest colors, so it is the easiest place to learn the pegs. Move up to Classic and Hard when you're comfortable.

Does the Daily Challenge change every day?

Yes — one shared code per day, tracked as a streak. It refreshes after midnight (Asia/Shanghai).

Why is Expert harder than Hard?

Both use a 5-slot code. Expert has 8 colors and 10 guesses; Hard has 7 colors and 12 guesses. More colors and fewer guesses make Expert the harder test.

Not sure yet? Learn the rules first, then jump into whichever mode fits.

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Mastermind modes: pick how you want to play