How ObjectionQuest works

ObjectionQuest is a guessing game set in a film-noir interrogation room, a reverse Akinator: the computer doesn't guess who you're thinking of, you find out who's sitting across from you. Free in your browser, no sign-up.

The interrogation

• A suspect sits in the shadows: a famous figure from history, mythology, fairy tales or literature, from Cleopatra and Sherlock Holmes to Little Red Riding Hood.
• You type your questions freely, the way you'd ask a person. He answers yes, no or “no comment”.
• You have 10 questions. A yes is free, any other answer costs a question, even questions that have nothing to do with him.
• Once you know who it is, ask “Are you …?”. If the name is right, the case is solved.

Help

• Name strip: under the lamp his name stands as blanks. Every no that costs a question uncovers letters bit by bit.
• Objection: if you think an answer is wrong, object. The answer is checked again, and if the objection is sustained you get the question back. You have two objections per case.
• Hint: once per case the game suggests a good next question (Tab key).

The run

• A run has 40 cases in four tiers: grey, bronze, silver and gold. The higher the tier, the trickier the suspect and the fewer letters the name strip gives away.
• Every question you have left earns gold. Spend it at the Fence on items: more questions, extra objections, letters or a second chance.
• After every fifth solved case you pick a perk that lasts for the rest of the run.
• Cases 10, 20, 30 and 40 are boss cases: the District Attorney sets conditions that make the interrogation harder.
• Fail a case and the run is over. Solve case 40 and you've won the game.

Tips for good questions

• Broad first, then narrow: “Are you human?”, “Did you really live?”, “Are you from Europe?”
• Then time, place and role: “Did you live before 1500?”, “Are you from a book?”, “Were you a ruler?”
• A yes is free. When you're almost sure, ask so that you expect a yes.
• “No comment” means it isn't known about him or can't be answered clearly.

FAQ

Is ObjectionQuest free?

Yes. You play right in your browser, with no sign-up and no download.

How is it different from Akinator?

In Akinator you think of a character and the computer guesses. ObjectionQuest turns it around: you ask the questions.

Is it like “Who am I?” or twenty questions?

Yes, just one-on-one with a suspect, with questions you type yourself and a run of 40 cases.

Who answers my questions?

A language model on our own server. It answers from a file of facts about the figure. If it ever gets one wrong, raise an objection.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes, on phone, tablet and computer.

Is there a German version?

Yes: Auf Deutsch spielen.