Have you ever wanted riddles that make you scratch your head and say “Hmm…” before you know the answer? Mystery riddles guessing is just that kind of fun.
These riddles give clues that feel puzzling, and you have to think hard before you get the answer. Below are different styles of mystery riddles.
Each style has riddles with emojis and answers. Even an 8-year-old can enjoy them and share with friends or family.
Let’s dive in!
Classic Mystery Riddles
- 🕰 I run but never walk, I have a bed but never sleep. What am I?
Answer: A river - 🔥 The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps - 🌓 I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch will soon turn red. What am I?
Answer: Fire - 🌙 I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have nobody, but I come alive with wind. What am I?
Answer: An echo - 🧊 I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?
Answer: A candle - ⌛ I have cities but no houses, forests but no trees, rivers but no water. What am I?
Answer: A map - 🔑 What has keys but can’t open locks?
Answer: A piano - 🐾 What has many teeth but can’t bite?
Answer: A comb - 🐣 What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?
Answer: A penny
🎤 Johnny Cash First Wife: The Untold Story of Vivian Liberto
Mystery Riddles with Objects
- 📞 I can ring but I have no bell, I can talk but I have no mouth. What am I?
Answer: Telephone - 🖼 I hold many pictures, yet I never speak. What am I?
Answer: Photo album / picture frame - 🛏 I’m soft, I’m cozy, used at night. Without me people often shiver. What am I?
Answer: Blanket - 🍯 I am sticky, sweet, made by bees. What am I?
Answer: Honey - ⏱ I count minutes, hours without fail. I never stop though I never walk. What am I?
Answer: Clock - 🔐 I keep things safe, I can be tiny or big. What am I?
Answer: Lock - 🪞 You look into me to see yourself. What am I?
Answer: Mirror (yes, again!) - 🧮 With beads on rods, I help solve sums. What am I?
Answer: Abacus - ✈️ I fly without wings, I transport people far away. What am I?
Answer: Airplane
Mystery Riddles about Nature
- 🌲 I have roots nobody sees, I am taller than trees. What am I?
Answer: Mountain - 🌊 I dance over the land as a white lace sheet, then retreat. What am I?
Answer: Snow - 🌬 I can’t be seen, hear me roar. I fill sails and knock on doors. What am I?
Answer: Wind - 🐚 I live in a shell but sing no tune. What am I?
Answer: Sea (an oyster or seashell) - 🌼 I open by day, close by night. Colorful petals in the light. What am I?
Answer: Flower - 🔥 I glow without fire, sparkle without flame. What am I?
Answer: Stars - 🌍 I give life, I spin every day. What am I?
Answer: Earth - 💧 I fall from sky but do not scream. I make rivers, lakes, and streams. What am I?
Answer: Water / Rain - 🌸 I bloom in spring, show bright color, then fall away. What am I?
Answer: Cherry blossom / flower petals
Mystery Person or Creature Riddles
- 👑 Born with no crown, I rule but never sit on a throne. What am I?
Answer: King of hearts (card) - 🦁 I’m the king of beasts, my roar shakes hills. What am I?
Answer: Lion - 🧙 I wave a wand, cast spells. Wise and ancient in many tales. What am I?
Answer: Wizard - 🐉 Scales, wings, fire—I guard treasure in caves. What am I?
Answer: Dragon - 🐍 I slither, hiss. Some fear me though I heal others. What am I?
Answer: Snake - 🧛 I sleep by day, thirst at night. Mirror hides me. What am I?
Answer: Vampire - 🧜 I live under waves, half fish half human. What am I?
Answer: Mermaid / merman - 🐺 I howl at moon, become beast when moon is full. What am I?
Answer: Werewolf - 🧞 I grant wishes when you rub my jar. What am I?
Answer: Genie - 👻 I’m white, see-through, spook but disappear at dawn. What am I?
Answer: Ghost
Mystery Sound & Rhyme Riddles
- 🔔 My first is in bell but not in ring, my second in song but not in sing. Combine me, I bring melody. What am I?
Answer: Bell - 🌙 My rhyme is moon, I dance at noon, I drop at night. What am I?
Answer: Shadow - 🐦 Tweet is my sound, I nest in trees. Feathered friend flies with ease. What am I?
Answer: Bird - 🌊 My rhyme is sea, I crash on sand, sailboats slide on my hand. What am I?
Answer: Wave - 🔑 I open door, rhyme with key. What else could I be?
Answer: Key (this one is tricky) - 🎵 My sound is cheer, you hear me when people shout, I rhyme with dear. What am I?
Answer: Cheer / Cheer! - 🕰 Time creeps, rhyme with chime, I ring at every hour. What am I?
Answer: Clock / Chime - 🐬 I swim so free, rhyme with core, I jump near the shore. What am I?
Answer: Dolphin - 🍯 Sweet and thick, rhyme with funny, I drip like money. What am I?
Answer: Honey - 🍎 I grow on trees, rhyme with apple? No. But crunch and snap-ple when you bite. What am I?
Answer: Apple
Mystery “What Am I Doing” Riddles
- 👀 I watch without eyes, I follow you. What am I doing?
Answer: Shadowing - 🗣 I talk but have no mouth. What am I doing?
Answer: Echoing - 📸 I freeze moments in frames. What am I doing?
Answer: Taking pictures / Photography - 🌀 I twist and turn, clothes go round. What am I doing?
Answer: Washing - 🌅 I rise without legs, call everyone to wake. What am I doing?
Answer: Sunrising / Dawn - 🔥 I burn bright, providing light. What am I doing?
Answer: Burning - 💡 I glow when darkness comes. What am I doing?
Answer: Illuminating - 🛏 I hold you when you sleep. What am I doing?
Answer: Resting / Lying down - 🎈 I float high, carried by air. What am I doing?
Answer: Floating - 🚪 I open paths, let people in or out. What am I doing?
Answer: Opening
Conclusion
Mystery riddles guessing are a wonderful way to train your brain, laugh, and share fun moments with friends and family.
The riddles above cover many kinds—classic, nature-based, creatures, objects, sounds, actions—so there’s always something new to guess.
Try making your own mystery riddles too! Seeing how clever you can get is all part of the game.
I create Riddlistic.com to share the funniest, trickiest, and smartest riddles that make you think and laugh.
Every riddle is made to challenge your mind and bring a smile to your day! 😄