Ring Lock

How to play

Three rings carry the same eight symbols, each a shape with a pattern. Turn the rings until every one of the eight spokes shows the same symbol on all three rings. Each ring has a Left (anticlockwise ↺) and a Right (clockwise ↻) button.

Turning a ring also turns one linked ring: the label beside each button says which, and how many steps. Fewer taps earns a better medal; every tap counts, even one that turns a ring back. You get 3 hints (each highlights the next button and rules out gold and silver). Restart puts the rings back at the start; your taps and time keep counting. Give up shows one way to open the lock and completes the day with no medal.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Ring Lock?

Three rings each carry the same eight symbols, every symbol a shape with a pattern. Each ring has a Left and a Right button. Turn the rings until all eight spokes show the same symbol on all three rings. A small label beside each button tells you which other ring turns with it and by how many steps, so you can read the effect before you press.

What does the label beside each button mean?

Turning a ring also turns one linked ring. A label such as "also turns Middle ↻ 2" means that pressing this button also turns the Middle ring two steps clockwise. Pressing the opposite button reverses everything, so Left always undoes Right on the same ring.

What is par and how are medals decided?

Par is the fewest button taps that can open the lock, found by searching every possible position. Gold: no hint and at most two taps over par. Silver: no hint. Bronze: any solve. Every tap counts, including one that turns a ring back, and Restart does not reset your tap count.

Can I get hints?

Yes, three per puzzle. A hint highlights the next button on a shortest route from where the rings are now and explains it in one sentence. Using a hint rules out gold and silver. Give up shows one way to open the lock and completes the day with no medal — it still counts for your streak, but not as a puzzle solved.

Is today's puzzle the same for everyone?

Yes. Ring Lock is generated from the calendar date (US Eastern), so everyone gets the same puzzle. Open a past day with ?d=YYYY-MM-DD. It gets harder through the week: Monday and Tuesday links turn rings by one step, and later days use bigger links and more different symbols.