The password game is a joke, but it's rather still a useful tool for creating quick, memorable passwords for either those times a password manager is not usable or for those users that don't use password managers. It's certainly much easier to remember the strangest or weirdest combinations of words than whatever code a computer can generate.

The Password Game

Created by Neal Agarwal, the password game is a unique online puzzle with a simple concept: use the web-based textbox to create you own password, stumble on a new requirement for the password, and revise accordingly. Rinse and repeat.

While the game becomes much more dramatic and hectic after about 15 rules, the reality is that many of the prior rules are more than enough to inspire players with ideas for new passwords, passwords that are not compromised by a traditional dictionary attack.

A bad password is:

1. already used elsewhere
2. easily guessable (or computable)
3. easily sharable

Of course, when it's time to change passwords, either because of a required timely refresh or advance notice of compromise, it can be a pain to have to recreate a password that cannot have already been used. But what if the approach to drafting a new password was simple yet still effective? All this new password needs is to not be bad; it doesn't have to be perfect or personal, especially if it is ephemeral.

I encourage you to play the game in the featured link, but for a refresh on the most important rules to hit:

1. At least 5 characters
2. At least one uppercase
3. At least a special character

Of course, consider: for those strange instances that a password requirement is either: specific characters, no more than this many characters, or is not a word in a dictionary, it can help to deviate a bit with relevance to the service. e.g. Ha!pEykn33dMymed3ciN

Limitation boosts creativity.

And now, the creativity of the password game; use strange yet memorable concepts to make it stand out and be much stronger than any generated password.

I bolded my favorites.

1. Month of the year
2. One of our sponsors
3. Roman numerals multiplied up to 35
4. Today's Captcha
5. Today's Wordle Answer
6. Current phase of the moon
7. Name of a country
8. Specific color in hexadecimal
9. Leap Year
10. Best move in chess notation
11. Atomic Elements, numbers add up to 200
12. The current time

Here is my outcome for today, meeting 18 of the game's rules. Of course, tailor it down to meet whatever service requires this:

2000borneBa🌗🥚7wyp443?JunestarbucksXXXVenezuelaNf5+FmSi

Just For Fun, I Asked the A.I.

Copilot Conversation

Question: I need to change my password but I don't have access to a password manager. What is a way to make fun, memorable passwords?

Copilot (as of 2025) Here’s a method: The Sentence Trick – Think of a phrase that makes you smile, like "My dog jumps higher than my neighbor’s cat!" Then, turn it into a password using the first letter of each word and some tweaks: MdJhtMnc!

Other creative techniques:

• Mash-Up Method – Combine two unrelated but memorable words and mix them with numbers or symbols. PizzaUnicorn42!
• Inside Joke Approach – Use a phrase only you understand. Maybe something from a childhood memory or favorite movie. LukeL0ve5Leia!
• Emoji & Symbol Play – If allowed, mix in symbols and numbers that relate to you. 🌞Beach!2025

One last tip, to hammer home avoiding the traits of bad passwords:

Don't be stale. - ABC Always be changing.