Example: the bookshelf cipher
Let’s build one real lock start to finish: a bookshelf where the player has to arrange three books in the right order. It’s a photo lock — the most expressive type — and the pattern here works for any arrangement puzzle.
1 · Shoot the key image
Set up the solved shelf — the three books in their correct order — and photograph it. Fill the frame, light it evenly, and shoot straight on. This is the reference every player’s photo is matched against, so a clean, obvious shot pays off.
In the Studio: Your games → your game → Add a lock → Photo → upload this image.
2 · Mark the regions
Draw a tight box around each of the three book spines. Tight boxes on distinctive things match far better than one loose region over the whole shelf. Give each a clear label (“red book”, “blue book”, “green book”).
3 · Add the rule
The books just being present isn’t enough — order is the puzzle. Add an order relationship across the three regions along the horizontal axis, so the lock only opens when they’re left-to-right in the intended sequence.
Only mark what the puzzle is actually about. Extra strict rules (exact colour, exact size) make a lock frustrating to match — add them only when they’re part of the challenge.
4 · Set the reward
When the shelf is right, hand the player their next clue — a line of text, a photo of a drawer key, whatever moves the story on. This lands in their inventory for later locks.
5 · Test, then publish
Use “Test / play” to solve your own lock the way a player will — it’s the fastest way to catch a rule that’s too strict. Happy with it? Set the game to unlisted or public and share the link.
Swap books for spice jars, tools, or tarot cards — the same regions-plus-order recipe becomes a brand-new puzzle. More in building your first game.