The Game

We've turned University of Northern Iowa into an incredible outdoor digital adventure. Our PokemonGo style app will take you to 7 iconic places around University of Northern Iowa. 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 Commons, Porta Largo Sculpture and Maucker Union. 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

Commons

Exploration Spots

Commons

Solve a riddle at the Commons, an early 20th-century Collegiate Gothic hub featuring grand interiors like the Slife Ballroom and Georgian Lounge.

Porta Largo Sculpture

Snap a team photo at the Porta Largo Sculpture, a fifteen-ton Sardinian marble gate whose contrasting columns bridge ancient Greek style with modern architecture.

Maucker Union

Crack a coded note at Maucker Union, a sprawling 120,000-square-foot student center that welcomes roughly 5,000 daily patrons across more than 4,500 annual events.

UNI-Dome

Solve a rebus at the UNI-Dome, a 16,000-seat multi-purpose landmark known for its iconic roof and hosting major concerts alongside Panther football.

Russell Hall

Decode a morse code message at Russell Hall, home to the School of Music and a concert hall celebrated for its world-class acoustics.

Campanile

Solve a riddle at the Campanile, a 100-foot-tall 1926 bell tower with 47 carillon bells and a midnight kissing tradition.

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:

Montgomery, IL

“I enjoy my team and how we worked together to solve the scavanger hunt”

Team: Moldovan Menaces

— Patricia

Saint Cloud, MN

“They were all very fun”

Team: Trash Mammals

— Zay

Nanaimo, British Columbia

“I enjoyed the puzzles inside VIUSU building, and generally how the map was set up to explore each department.”

Team: team 19

— Lucy S

Jacksonville, IL

“The whole game was super fun. It got me a lot closer to newer people as well.”

Team: Fantastic 4

— Allison I

New London, CT

“Yes I did I loved the Morse code part when my flash turned on and off that was a great addition to the game.”

Team: The Mimes

— Jennifer I

New London, CT

“I really enjoyed the random grouping as it gave us all a better chance to connect with people on our floor instead of just our roommates. I also liked the decoding puzzles.”

Team: morrisson 5th 3

— Lindsay B

Questions & Answers

What is the University of Northern Iowa Scavenger Hunt and Escape Game?: A self-guided outdoor adventure around University of Northern Iowa that's part scavenger hunt, part escape room. Your team follows clues on your phone to 7 spots, solving a puzzle and learning something at each one.
Where does it start?: At Commons, W 23rd St, Cedar Falls, IA 50614.
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.