By participating in this contest, you agree to follow all rules and terms of service below:
Cicada Detroit is dedicated to fairness, integrity and the principle of solving challenges through individual effort. Our game is designed as a single player experience and sharing answers online is not only against our code of conduct but it diminishes the challenge for others - and yourself. Players found sharing or using shared answers will be disqualified and ineligible for all prizes.
- Rule Changes and Updates:
- The contest organizer reserves the right to change or update these rules at any time, without notice.
- Eligibility:
- The contest is open to legal residents of the United States who are 18 years or older.
- Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of the contest organizer are not eligible to participate
- Prize:
- Prize winner(s) will be solely responsible for any taxes related to the prize.
- Prize winner(s) must supply all necessary tax information and will receive a Form 1099 which requires them to declare the amount of their winnings to IRS.
- Puzzles must be solved in their correct order and by the player to be eligible to win the prize.
- Prize winner(s) must be able to demonstrate how they solved each puzzle by providing detailed explanations or proof of work to be eligible for the prize.
- Selection of Winner(s):
- The First Place Prize of $21,347 will be awarded to the first player to complete all 42 puzzles successfully, assuming this player meets all Eligibility requirements and has followed all contest Rules/Terms of Service.
- The Secondary Prize (or Second Chance Prize) of $11,239 will be divided equally among all players who complete all 42 puzzles successfully by December 31st, 2025 at 11:59PM, assuming individuals meet all Eligibility requirements and have followed all contest Rules/Terms of Service.
- Puzzles:
- Puzzles may change at any time without notice.
- Some puzzles will contain multiple parts that require solving to move on.
- For many puzzles, the solution to the puzzle will be appended to the www.cicadadetroit.com URL
- For example, if the puzzle was “What is a baby cicada called?” the next puzzle would be found at https://www.cicadadetroit.com/nymph
- Some puzzles are limited by geographic location and contain physical clues.
- The contest organizer makes no claims to maintain those physical clues in the instance of damage or vandalism.
- Purchases:
- No Refunds and No Returns. All Sales are Final.
- No Purchase Necessary
- There is no purchase necessary to enter or win.
- One entry per person.
- Liability and Release:
- By participating, contestants agree to release the contest organizer from any liability related to the contest.
- The contest organizer is not responsible for technical issues, lost user info, or any other problems that may arise during the contest.
- Publicity:
- Prize winner(s) may be required to provide a photo and a brief statement for promotional purposes.
- The contest organizer reserves the right to use winners’ names and likenesses in marketing materials.
- Disqualification:
- Contestants who are unable to solve rounds of the puzzle can be eliminated from the contest.
- Players found sharing answers online and/or using shared answers for the first 37 puzzles will be disqualified and ineligible for the prize.
- From puzzle 38 to 42, users are allowed to collaborate as long as said collaboration is not publicly available to be seen online.
- If requested, failure to provide satisfactory proof of solving the puzzles may result in disqualification and ineligibility for the prize.
- Any violation of the contest rules may result in disqualification.
- The contest organizer reserves the right to disqualify any participant for any reason.
- Governing Law:
- The contest is governed by the laws of the state of Michigan.