Each day a new passage from a classic literary work is displayed. Key words are redacted (blacked out). Type your best guess for the novel title or author into the search box and hit Submit. You have 5 attempts. After each wrong guess, more words in the excerpt are revealed, and you'll see colour-coded feedback on six attributes: title, author, country, year, author gender, and genre. Green = correct, yellow = close (within 25 years for date), red = wrong. Use the clues to narrow it down!

A brand new puzzle goes live every day at midnight EST. Everyone gets the same book on the same day allowing you to compare notes with friends without spoiling it.

Redacted features 100+ classic works from the literary canon — all Public Domain works from authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Homer, Mary Shelley, and many more. Think of it as the greatest hits of world literature spanning centuries and continents. Every book in the game is a classic for a reason. These are the writings that shaped everything that came after them.

The reason is two-fold — we want to abide by existing copyright laws while raising awareness of the value offered by the Public Domain. Redacted is built on the belief that these works deserve more readers, not fewer. No paywalls, no licensing headaches, and no shortage of genuinely great writing. Consider every puzzle a small introduction: stumped by today's book? Love the writer's prose? Add it to your TBR.

Yes! Redacted currently features 100+ works of literary fiction. In the near future, we plan to add some of history's most influential non-fiction works.

Your current streak counts how many days in a row you've successfully guessed the novel (in 5 attempts or fewer). Miss a day or fail to guess correctly, and your streak resets. Your max streak tracks your all-time best run. Stats are saved locally in your browser and will persist as long as you're using the same device and haven't cleared your browser data.

The 💡 hint button reveals a short plot summary of the novel. It won't name the book but gives enough intel to point you in the right direction. Pro tip: wait until attempt 3 or 4 before using it. More of the excerpt will be revealed by then, and you may not need it at all!

Stats are stored in your browser's local storage. They'll disappear if you clear your browser data, use a different browser or device, or browse in private/incognito mode. We don't currently have account-based cloud sync, but it's on our roadmap!

Absolutely, feedback is always welcome! Drop a message at hello@playredacted.com or find us on Instagram. Found a typo in an excerpt? A book that seems wrong? Let us know! Every report helps make the game better.

Yes, Redacted is completely free, no account required. Redacted is a passion project built for the love of books. If you enjoy it, the best thing you can do is share your result after each puzzle and tell your friends to play along!

Redacted was built by a book lover who wanted an excuse to think about great literature every single day and thought others might too. It's a one-person project, built with care and a serious lack of sleep. If you love it, share it. If you have ideas, say hello.