About the game
Radio Code is a free word game built around the spelling alphabet used by police, pilots, sailors and emergency services around the world. Every letter has its own code word, chosen so that no two words sound alike, even on a bad line. Kilo Tango Four Seven Romeo can only mean one plate: KT 47 R.
The game has 12 levels of 8 radio calls each. Early levels leave the call on screen while you look for the car. Later levels take it away after a few seconds, plates get longer, more cars fill the car park, and some answers use old-fashioned or made-up code words that only sound right.
Two kinds of radio call
Find the car
The radio display shows a plate spelled in code words. Below it are three to six parked cars. Tap the one with that plate. The other plates are close on purpose: one letter swapped for a similar-sounding letter (B for D, M for N, S for F), a digit changed, or two digits the wrong way round.
Say it right
A stopped car is shown on the left with its plate. On the right are three or four radio calls. Only one spells the plate correctly. The others spell a slightly different plate or use a wrong code word, such as Dog instead of Delta or Gulf instead of Golf.
The radio alphabet
This is the international spelling alphabet used in the game. The official spellings are Alfa and Juliett, written that way so speakers of other languages pronounce them correctly. Numbers are simply read as words: Zero, One, Two…
| Letter | Code word | Letter | Code word |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | N | November |
| B | Bravo | O | Oscar |
| C | Charlie | P | Papa |
| D | Delta | Q | Quebec |
| E | Echo | R | Romeo |
| F | Foxtrot | S | Sierra |
| G | Golf | T | Tango |
| H | Hotel | U | Uniform |
| I | India | V | Victor |
| J | Juliett | W | Whiskey |
| K | Kilo | X | X-ray |
| L | Lima | Y | Yankee |
| M | Mike | Z | Zulu |
Plates in the game never use the letters I and O, because they are too easy to confuse with the digits 1 and 0. So India and Oscar never come up in the game, but every other letter does, and they are still worth learning for real life.
Score and stars
- Points: 100 for each correct answer, up to 50 more for answering quickly, plus a streak bonus of 10 points for every correct answer in a row (up to +50).
- Mistakes: a wrong answer or running out of time counts as a mistake. Three mistakes end the level.
- Stars: no mistakes gives 3 stars, one mistake 2 stars, two mistakes 1 star. Any finished level unlocks the next.
The twelve levels
| Level | Calls | Plate length | What's new |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Radio School | Find the car | 3 | Three cars, the call stays on screen. |
| 2. First Patrol | Find the car | 4 | Four cars. |
| 3. Say It Right | Say it right | 3 | Pick the correct radio call. |
| 4. Busy Car Park | Both | 5 | The two kinds of call take turns. |
| 5. Old Codebook | Say it right | 4 | Wrong answers may use old code words like Baker or Sugar. |
| 6. Crackly Line | Find the car | 5 | The call disappears after 4 seconds. |
| 7. Night Watch | Both | 6 | Five cars and look-alike words. |
| 8. Look-alikes | Say it right | 6 | Four radio calls to choose from. |
| 9. Stadium Traffic | Find the car | 6 | Six cars, the call disappears after 3 seconds. |
| 10. Long Plates | Both | 7 | Seven-character plates. |
| 11. Static Storm | Both | 7 | The call disappears after 2.5 seconds. |
| 12. Chief's Challenge | Both | 7 | Two seconds to read, nine seconds to answer. |
Tips
- Read in groups. Plates are shown in groups such as KT 473 R. Remember the call the same way: "Kilo Tango, four seven three, Romeo".
- Check the digits last. Letters usually differ more; if two cars share the same letters, the difference is in the numbers, often two digits swapped.
- Every code word starts with its letter. That makes reading easy, and it is also the trap in "say it right" calls: Dog starts with D too. Only the words in the table above are correct.
- Say it out loud. Reading the call aloud once helps you remember it after it disappears.
Frequently asked questions
Is Radio Code free?
Yes. It is completely free to play in any modern browser with no download, account or in-game purchases.
Why does it say Alfa and not Alpha?
The official international spelling is "Alfa" (and "Juliett" with two Ts), so that people who do not speak English still pronounce the words correctly. Both spellings are common in everyday writing.
Do real police use this alphabet?
Many police forces and emergency services use it, along with pilots and the military. Some police departments, especially in the United States, still use older alphabets with words like Adam, Boy and Charles. In this game only the international alphabet counts as correct.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Turn your phone sideways for the biggest plates. Every car and every radio call is a large tap target.
Is it good for learning?
It is a relaxed way to memorise the alphabet, which is handy for spelling names and codes on the phone. After a few levels most players find they know many of the words without looking.