Decyphering the Language of Hyper Light Drifter

Within this guide is a cypher that will show you how to translate the HLD language to English. Also included are the translations for all the monoliths and the Library (hidden behind spoiler tags for those who want to decode them themselves).

Introduction

Throughout the world of Hyper Light Drifter you will come across glyphs such as at the shops or on the monoliths. This got me curious and thinking, what do they say? I used the glyphs at the shops in town as a starting point and managed to create a full cypher for decoding the glyphs throughout the game. If you're thinking about decoding them yourself be ready to spend quite a bit of time decoding!

Cypher

This cypher shows the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding in-game glyphs. Some glyphs represent two letters instead of one and are color coded accordingly.

Using the Cypher

The glyphs are read from top to bottom instead of from left to right.



With this knowledge, we can start matching glyphs to our cypher. Let's decipher the sign above.



Using the cypher we can see that the first word on the sign is "Sword". Try using the cypher to translate the second word. The completed translation should spell out "Sword Master".

Decoding the Monoliths

This is what many of us are really here for, so let's get to it! Myself and my friend NoDuckNoDodge have spent hours going through and decoding each of the 16 monoliths.


⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Click for enlarged image

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀N⠀O⠀R⠀T⠀H ⠀—

• Monolith 1: TRANSCENDENCE FAITH IN MORTALITY
  
  
• Monolith 2: RIFTS CRAFTED, DANGEROUS POTENTIAL
  
  
• Monolith 3: A FOUNDATION FOR FAITH & VIOLENCE
  
  
• Monolith 4: A LOSS OF SELF, A NARROW PATH TRAVELED

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀S⠀O⠀U⠀T⠀H ⠀—

• Monolith 5: OVERWHELMING WONDERS AND POWER
  
  
• Monolith 6: DESPERATE HUNGER FOR PROGRESS
  
  
• Monolith 7: DISTORTION OF LIFE, DEVOURING BODY
  
  
• Monolith 8: THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE INVASION

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀E⠀A⠀S⠀T⠀—

• Monolith 9: AN ISOLATED PEOPLE FEARFUL & OBSESSED
  
  
• Monolith 10: OFFERING OF A GREAT CLEANSING FLAME
  
  
• Monolith 11: A POISONED, MADDENED HOMELAND
  
  
• Monolith 12: FRAGILE BALANCE SCORCHED, UNDONE

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀W⠀E⠀S⠀T⠀—

• Monolith 13: PRECIOUS MOMENTS CAPTURED BY CRYSTAL
  
  
• Monolith 14: A STILLNESS OF MIND, SKILL HONED SHARP
  
  
• Monolith 15: MIDNIGHT LOOMING
  
  
• Monolith 16: TRAPPED BY DESPERATION TO REMAIN

The Library

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Click for enlarged image

After finding all 16 monoliths the full text of the library is revealed. This text translates to the following:

HARNESSING A GREAT WELLSPRING, A PERFECT IMMORTAL CELL WAS CRAFTED TO BE IMBUED WITHIN ALL SENTIENT LIFE A NOBLE GOAL, THOUGH SUCH A POWER TERRIFIED OTHERS, AND BROUGHT RUIN AS ITS PURPOSE WAS TRANSMOGRIFIED
THE ABHORRENT CELL STILL FESTERS DEEP IN THE CHAMBERS OF THIS WORLD

If you have any suggestions on what you want me to add, feel free to ask below!

[heartsocket]

If anyone's wondering, the missing letters were filled in in teasers for Breaker, J is the same as P, X = L, Q = C, and Z = S :>

[THEChicken_God]

Hey, just found this and I don't know if anyone said this yet, but on the idea that the monoliths should be read from top to bottom, I read the monoliths in such an order as well (1,9,2,10, etc.) and in my honest opinion I feel like it makes more sense, a few more statements line up I believe.

[TotoPower]

So buying the Collector's Edition is not worth it for the glyph, since you've shown the guide

[Maxar]

Great editing and design!

[Mr_Misterioso]

I have used your cypher to decode some glyphs outside the horde arena; however, it makes no words that I can understand. From top to bottom, it reads: ASTI, and AAT. I'm not sure what to make of it and I thought you may have a better chance than me.

[Zekava]

For the Library text, while "a noble goal" definitely makes sense and is probably the intended meaning, it is worth noting that the character translated as the "a" in "goal" is actually the h/b character. It's only because basically no English words end in "hl" or "bl" that I'd overlook that, unless the text is actually "a noble kohl" or something.

[Aevoa]

I really need to replay this game, haven't touched it since launch but it's always been a favorite.

[Shrieki]

Long live this thread! I still open this to read these ruinous musings while chilling in game.

They do seem to have a summary sort of vibe for each area, like 'MIDNIGHT LOOMING' right after walking up the hallway with the fallen giant looming above you in that crystalline war remnant.

[Aevoa]

that was weird, idk how the image was deleted. I readded it to the guide lol

[Power Boy]

It says to use the cipher to translate. But what is and where is the cipher on this page?