The Game

We've turned Central Washington University into an incredible outdoor digital adventure. Our PokemonGo style app will take you to 8 iconic places around Central Washington 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 Barge Hall, Jerilyn S. Macintyre Music Building and Wellington Wildcat Statue. You will walk around 2 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 75 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

75 Min

Location

Barge Hall

Exploration Spots

Barge Hall

Solve a riddle at Barge Hall, the university's oldest, most iconic landmark in continuous use since 1894.

Jerilyn S. Macintyre Music Building

Solve a riddle at the Jerilyn S. McIntyre Music Building, whose exterior panels and paving patterns cleverly mimic musical scores and staves.

Wellington Wildcat Statue

Snap a team photo at the Wellington Wildcat Statue, a bronze landmark celebrating a mascot history that once featured a real runaway lynx.

Horse Sculpture

Decode a morse code message at the Horse Sculpture, an intricate bronze casting that deceptively mirrors found driftwood.

Japanese Garden

Solve a chess puzzle at the Japanese Garden, featuring handcrafted granite lanterns gifted by CWU's sister city, Sanda, Japan.

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:

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

“The one we did on museum was fun. I gave correct answer for 2 of them.”

Team: Five warriors

— Shambhavi A

Brooklyn, NY

“The cypher puzzle by the fish tanks”

Team: Wales Booner

— Lillie S

Saint Cloud, MN

“They were all very fun”

Team: Trash Mammals

— Zay

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

“The Morse code riddle was pretty amazing”

Team: ctrl alt defeat

— Neeraj M

Grand Forks, ND

“I thought that the first puzzle finding the word on the ground was fun as well as the chippers one was really fun too!”

Team: 3pete

— Samantha P

Thibodaux, LA

“I enjoyed the cipher puzzle as well as the “ghost hunting” puzzle!”

Team: Brats

— Rhijah L

Questions & Answers

What is the Central Washington University Scavenger Hunt and Escape Game?: A self-guided outdoor adventure around Central Washington University that's part scavenger hunt, part escape room. Your team follows clues on your phone to 8 spots, solving a puzzle and learning something at each one.
Where does it start?: At Barge Hall, 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926.
How long does it take?: About 75 minutes, covering roughly 2 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.