Cipher methods Symbols
Betamaze (maze alphabet)
Betamaze is a pseudo-labyrinth alphabet designed by Swedish graphic designer Bjørn Wahlström in the 2010s and popularised in the cryptopuzzle community (dCode, Cipher Tools). Visual quirk: each character occupies a 2×2 square whose inner edges trace a maze fragment. Fragments link up when glyphs are placed side-by-side, giving ciphertext the appearance of a continuous maze on the page.
The effect is purely aesthetic — there isn’t actually a puzzle hidden in the frieze — but it makes Betamaze instantly recognisable and photogenic, which explains its spread across logic puzzle sites, paper escape rooms, and fan-con riddles. 26 Latin letters + 10 digits (0-9), no punctuation.
How does the alphabet work?
The cipher relies on a monoalphabetic substitution: each cleartext character (letter or digit) is replaced by a fixed Betamaze glyph. Same mechanic as the Caesar cipher (~50 BC), except the “key” is not a shift but a table of maze fragments.
The table holds 36 glyphs: 26 for Latin letters + 10 for digits. Each glyph is a 2×2 square whose inner edges draw a unique pattern; the patterns are designed to chain visually.
Cryptographic strength: low. Like any monoalphabetic substitution, frequency analysis breaks it in a few dozen words. Betamaze is valued for its graphic look: a ciphertext resembles a dungeon map, which works very well in an escape room or a gamebook.
Historical and modern usage
- Online cryptopuzzles — dCode, fan-con riddles, r/codes community.
- Paper escape rooms — the labyrinthine frieze acts as a visual clue.
- Gamebooks — popular with kids’ publishers for its decorative look.
- Graphic design — experimental typography (Behance, Dribbble).
Related variants
- Pigpen — see our entry, geometric graphic substitution.
- Hexahue — see our entry, colour-square substitution.
- Standard Galactic — see our entry, decorative pop-culture alphabet.
What are the weaknesses?
- Monoalphabetic substitution — frequency analysis is immediate.
- No polyalphabetism — no key, so nothing to guess beyond the table.
- Public table — available on dCode and Wahlström’s portfolio.
The 36 glyphs
