The Game

We've turned Ohio State University into an incredible outdoor digital adventure. Our PokemonGo style app will take you to 10 iconic places around Ohio 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 William Oxley Thompson Statue, The Oval and Mirror Lake. You will walk around 1 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 45 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

45 Min

Location

Ohio Union

Exploration Spots

William Oxley Thompson Statue

Snap a team photo at the William Oxley Thompson Statue, a bronze tribute funded entirely by graduating classes to honor the long-serving fifth president.

The Oval

Crack a coded note at The Oval, where students avoid stepping on the bronze university seal set into the ground for fear of bad luck.

Mirror Lake

Solve a rebus at Mirror Lake, the natural spring whose delicious water originally convinced university trustees to build the campus right here.

Wexner Center for the Arts

Solve a riddle at Wexner Center for the Arts, whose split red brick towers echo an armory that burned down in 1958.

University Hall

Solve a riddle at University Hall, a 1976 replica preserving the historic entrance pillars of the original hall that hosted weddings, funerals, and even a birth.

William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library

Snap a team photo at William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, where staff once moved 100,000 books using a borrowed livestock ambulance.

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:

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

Grand Forks, ND

“All of it”

Team: OG roomies

— Grace H

Winona, MN

“I loved the puzzle by kryzsko commons (I’m not sure what it’s called) and the word search through the camera at the library”

Team: Blondies4Life

— Allie A

Charlestown, RI

“Seeing sights, solving puzzles”

Team: Nadeau

— Bernadette n

Chadron, NE

“The puzzles with the interactions like the lights, sounds, and using the camera were a blast and cool feature!”

Team: Sherlock Homies

— Amanda M

Questions & Answers

What is the Ohio State University Scavenger Hunt and Escape Game?: A self-guided outdoor adventure around Ohio 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 Ohio Union, 1740 College Rd S, Columbus, OH 43210.
How long does it take?: About 45 minutes, covering roughly 1 mile 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.