The Game

We've turned Iowa State University into an incredible outdoor digital adventure. Our PokemonGo style app will take you to 10 iconic places around Iowa State University. At each location, you will need to solve a puzzle before advancing. It is part Scavenger Hunt and part Escape Room! You can play solo or in a group. Besides completing fun puzzles, you will learn fascinating details about different places like Anderson Sculpture Garden, Curtiss Hall and Marriage Ring. You will walk around 1.4 miles as you find clues, solve puzzles and get closer to completing the adventure. You can go at your own pace, but it should take around 60 minutes to complete the adventure. Over 200,000 players have used our app to explore the world. We can't wait for you to play as well!

Duration

60 Min

Location

Memorial Union

Exploration Spots

Anderson Sculpture Garden

Snap a team photo at Anderson Sculpture Garden, a tranquil outdoor gallery wrapping around Morrill Hall in honor of legendary sculptor Christian Petersen.

Curtiss Hall

Solve a sound puzzle at Curtiss Hall, the 1909 agriculture landmark that hosted Iowa State's very first Homecoming pep rally in 1912.

Marriage Ring

Solve a riddle at Marriage Ring, an endearing fountain featuring sculpted children representing the precious gems of matrimony.

Beardshear Hall

Solve a rebus at Beardshear Hall, the stately administrative center built to replace a predecessor that infamously burned down twice in two years.

Birthplace of the Computer

Solve a riddle at Birthplace of the Computer, a historic campus marker commemorating Iowa State's revolutionary contribution to global technology.

Three Athletes

Decode a morse code message at Three Athletes, a 1936 bas-relief sculpted from humble Iowa farm drain tile terra cotta.

Campanile

Crack a coded note at Campanile, a 110-foot landmark housing a 50-bell carillon whose heaviest bell weighs more than 5,400 pounds.

Lake LaVerne

Snap a team photo at Lake LaVerne, the storied home of campus swans continuing a student-funded tradition dating back to 1935.

And Much More...

These are just the highlights. There are hidden corners, secret statues, and lost history waiting for you to discover.

Player Reviews

Be one of the first!

Here's what players say about our experiences elsewhere:

Grand Forks, ND

“All of it”

Team: OG roomies

— Grace H

Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

“The Morse code riddle was pretty amazing”

Team: ctrl alt defeat

— Neeraj M

Brooklyn, NY

“The cypher puzzle by the fish tanks”

Team: Wales Booner

— Lillie S

Richardson, TX

“I really really enjoyed the narrative and the rhyme scheme that was used, it added a lot to the sense of adventure. My favorite puzzle was the love Jack photo, purely because it felt like very simple fun and it made the experience revolve more around the people I was with.”

Team: C+ at Best

— Murphy V

Hobbs, NM

“All of them were fun”

Team: birds

— Jessica A

Auburn, AL

“Having to solve riddles about auburn was informative and fun.”

Team: Women in STEM

— Alyssa W

Questions & Answers

What is the Iowa State University Scavenger Hunt and Escape Game?: A self-guided outdoor adventure around Iowa State University that's part scavenger hunt, part escape room. Your team follows clues on your phone to 10 spots, solving a puzzle and learning something at each one.
Where does it start?: At Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50011.
How long does it take?: About 60 minutes, covering roughly 1.4 miles on foot. You can go as quickly or slowly as you like!
How much does it cost?: $10 per player.
How many people can play?: Teams can be 1 to 8 players. For bigger groups, split into several teams and race each other on the leaderboard.
What do I need to bring?: A charged phone with mobile data and location turned on, and The Great Game app (free on the App Store and Google Play). We'll send you instructions on how to create a team when you book. Comfortable shoes help.
Does everyone need their own phone?: No. One phone per team is enough, and up to 8 teammates can join on their own phones if they want to.
What if we get stuck?: There are hints at every step, so no team ever gets stuck.
Is it good for kids?: It is great for families! We see multi-generational teams all the time!
What if it rains?: There's no set start time, so you can play any day. If the weather's bad, just go another day, and we'll refund you if your plans change!
Can we book it for a group or event?: Yes. We run custom games for team building, orientations, clubs and conferences, including games built around your own venue, and we've hosted events for over 1,000 people. Book a demo.