An
internet-based
pay-once-to-play-forever puzzle game which contains
treasure hunt-style puzzles. You can try some
sample puzzles at
www.thestone.com or
www.thestone.net.
As of this writing there are 48 puzzles available on The Stone, but you
won't have access to all of them immediately. As you solve puzzles,
gradually more are made available to you; in theory, the easier ones
are made available first. Players who stick with it eventually catch up
and solve most or all of the puzzles available, but they slowly add
puzzles over time.
Most of the puzzles have a single word or short phrase for an answer;
variations are sometimes accepted, and most puzzles have some "close"
answers for which you'll be told you're on the right track.
The puzzles are Javascript-based. A few puzzles use Flash but
provide non-Flash versions. Some of the puzzles are multi-part; you'll
solve an easier part (like reassembling an image, playing Mastermind
or Memory, etc.) and then you'll be given the question you have to
answer, or if you were already given it, you'll get a clue. On the other
hand, on some puzzles you'll never get a question to answer, but just a set
of clues, mostly visual.
Search engines are your friend for The Stone. This is a game that really
harnesses the power of the internet, as without it, the amount of research
required would probably turn most players away.
There is an overriding theme of mystery, the unexplained, etc.
"Time is the answer" is one of their slogans, and this theme often
shows up in the puzzles.