Les Loufoques - Secret Code

One player sets a secret code of four colours, hidden behind a wooden screen. The other guesses, row by row, using black and white pegs to signal how close they are. It is Mastermind, essentially, and it is as completely absorbing as it has always been, in a beautiful pine wood version with the Les Loufoques detectives on the box looking extremely pleased with themselves.

We love it because:

• The wooden version is so much nicer than the plastic one you might remember from childhood: solid pine, satisfying coloured pegs, the kind of game that looks good on a shelf and feels good in the hands
• The logic of it is genuinely compelling: each guess narrows the possibilities, and the moment you crack the code in three rows feels like a proper achievement
• It works for a surprisingly wide age range: a five-year-old can play it, and so can a very competitive adult who takes it slightly too seriously (no judgement)
• The Les Loufoques packaging is characteristically brilliant: two dogs in detective hats, one looking very smug about the code they've set

What's in the box:

• 1 pine wood game board with hidden code compartment
• Coloured code pegs in 6 colours: blue, green, pink, yellow, red and purple
• Black and white scoring pegs
• Instructions included
• For 2 players

Great for:

• Suitable for ages 5 and up, and adults who enjoy a logic game with real depth
• A birthday gift, a holiday game or a two-player game for any evening when you want something properly engaging
• Logical thinking, deduction and the extremely satisfying moment of cracking someone's code in three guesses

Important to know:

• For 2 players
• Dimensions: 27 x 4 x 15cm (10.6 x 1.6 x 5.9 in)
• Materials: Pine Wood and Cotton
• Wipe clean with a soft damp cloth
• Not suitable for children under 3; small parts, choking hazard