Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That...

If you're looking for massive time-wasters and/or a little diversion from your daily routine, look no further than the lovely webspawn called 'Web Riddles'. Web Riddles are puzzles that can be solved using anything and everything computer-related (and sometimes even your cellphone), all with a single purpose: advance to the next level.

I've put together a list of some of the more interesting ones, along with my thoughts on the types of puzzles you will encounter therein. The boy and I have been solving some of the harder puzzles together, as sometimes they require brains that think in different ways. If you don't understand that, don't worry. You will. ;)

1) QWeb Riddle
This is a good start-off point if you don't know what web riddles are. It explains how they work quite efficiently (as opposed to entry 5 which just throws you into the deep-end with nary a usable hint in sight), and the levels get progressively harder as you go along.

It's a bit boring if you played NotPron before, because it uses a lot of the same devices and isn't particularly shy about the puzzle-aping. Still, it's worth a look if you're stumped and/or tired of weeping into a corner about how unfair NotPron gameplay is.

2) Mr Logic's Simple Code Works
A plethora of riddles to choose from, all with a handy set of instructions. Great for if you want to practice one way of answering web riddles at a time, or if you just like straightforward riddles with set parameters.

Please note that the design of this site is visually unappealing and may induce vomiting and/or an epileptic seizure. Go for the puzzles and ignore the rainbows. :P

3) The Web Riddle One and The Web Riddle Two
This riddle has a set of rules that, unlike the other riddles, should not be skimmed over. This riddle rivals NotPron in difficulty but has very specific parameters. Please note that having parameters does not make it in any way easy. It's only 20 levels long but it has no 'starter levels'-- it's extremely difficult right off the bat.

I highly recommend this riddle for masochists, codebreakers, and geniuses. Everyone else, feel free to check it out so you can sit there and feel stupid for a couple of hours. :)

4) P4X the Riddle
This riddle rivals NotPron in number of levels, and the first three levels are back-breakingly easy. Level 4 is a bit of a leap in difficulty, but not so much for the Image-editing savvy. ;) Level 5 is more of the same, though at this point I was starting to wonder if this game was target-marketing just a little too much.

The game boasts that it may not be the hardest riddle, but it is definitely "fair". Not entirely sure why anyone would want a fair web riddle, but I suppose it's still worth a look. See how far you can get in 15 minutes, then move on to NotPron.

5) The NotPron Web Riddle
The Mecca of web riddles. NotPron's not going to hold your hand or give you a nice little set of instructions like other riddles, which is why it's not a great idea to start off with this one. It requires a creative, logical, think-out-of-the-box type of head, and also really random trivia knowledge (though google is always readily available... provided you know what to look for).

Still, it should be noted that the first 8 levels can be considered "starter levels", and even though they don't spell out the rules for you, they are there to teach you the different ways of furthering the game.

NotPron is a massive, sprawling riddle with 140 levels, and different minds will find different levels of the NotPron riddle easier. As with some cases (like tone-deaf me), you'll require an actual helping hand from the more musically-inclined. Still, being able to beat each level of this game is infinitely worth it, as it's a pretty damned hard test of trying to find patterns in seeming chaos. There are 140 levels and only 8 people have played it all the way through.

Good luck!

Special Mention: If you're tired of web riddles, how about checking out this point-and-click Adventure game? Modelled after all those LucasArts, Sierra, etc. adventure games of old, the Crimson Room is bound to make you go 'huh?' a few times. :P