Non-Text Clues

Non-text clues are an alternative to the default clue-presentation method. They can come in multiple different forms, but the most common are image clues and spoken-word. This can be done either as a puzzle gimmick or for accessibility purposes (in the form of Supplemental Information).

Puzzle Application

Clues to words and phrases being presented in ways other than just writing them is rather common in the grand scheme of puzzle hunts. In particular, clues in the form of picture ID or Rebus-like sequences are likely the most common way of doing this. Another common form is presenting clues in an audio format. Both of these methods can provide a new solving experience or allow for more gimmicks to be applied (such as slipping homophones into spoken clues or metadata into image clues).

Presenting clues in a non-text format does produce some problems for accessibility, however. If a solver uses a screenreader of some sort, it won't be able to identify image clues (unless alt text is applied), and deaf solvers will struggle with audio clues without any sort of transcript. That's not to say either of these must have measures taken to allow for maximum disability accessibility, simply that if that is the primary goal, this element may prove difficult to use.

Examples

• False Prophets (MITMH 2017) (web) - Used image ID to clue single words.
• The Horse Whisperer (MITMH 2020) (web) - A notable use of non-text clues along with Something Different-style clues. This make is much more difficult to figure out exactly what the puzzle wants solvers to get.
• Fret Not! (MITMH 2021) (web) - Uses audio clues as a way to play with homophones.

See Also

• Puzzles with Non-Text Clues