Age range: 10–18 years (youth), 55–75 years (elderly)

Number of players: 3–6 teams of 3–5 members each

Duration: 2–3 hours

Primary focus of the game: Complete the trail, gather story fragments, and collaboratively solve the mystery. Earn points for creativity, puzzle-solving and team cooperation.

• Story cards: A deck with starting prompts, story elements and twists (provided in the box)
• Puzzle cards: Cards containing riddles, mini-games or challenges tied to the story
• Trail map: Marked checkpoints for players to stop, collect clues and continue the story
• Scorecards to track points
• Creative materials (Small whiteboard or notebook, markers, and sticky notes for drawing or jotting ideas)

• Teams begin hiking to the first checkpoint
• At each checkpoint, they draw a Story card and a puzzle card

• Points are awarded for solving puzzles, completing checkpoints and storytelling creativity
• Extra points for finishing the trail first, but storytelling quality remains crucial to winning

Checkpoint 1: The mysterious map- Solve a cipher to reveal the next part of the map.

Story prompt: “A hidden symbol on the map begins to glow. What does it reveal?”

Checkpoint 2: The riddle by the river- A classic riddle, “The more of me you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?” (Answer: footsteps)

Story prompt: “A figure is seen near the river. Describe who they are and what they say.”

Checkpoint 3: The keeper’s test- Use materials from the environment to build a small structure (ex: a shelter or tower)

Story prompt: “The Keeper appears and sets a challenge. What happens if you succeed or fail?”

Final Checkpoint: The forest’s secret- combine clues from previous checkpoints to solve the final puzzle and reveal the “secret.”

Story prompt: “The forest reveals its secret. What does your team learn or achieve?”

1. Teams must complete each checkpoint before moving forward
2. Players take turns narrating or contributing ideas to the story
3. Teams self-score their puzzles and storytelling based on creativity and completion

1. The game master should guide players to ensure fairness and clarify instructions, especially with complex puzzles.
2. The game master provide answers to riddles and puzzles ahead of time so the game master is prepared to validate solutions and keep the game progressing smoothly.

• Including optional “power-up” cards that let teams skip a puzzle if they’re stuck or adding an exciting twist to their story
• Hidden bonus story cards along the trail for teams to discover (to be added)

Story prompts and puzzles for this game

Checkpoint 1: The mysterious map

• “The map has faint symbols etched on its edges. They seem to form a pattern. What do you think they mean?”
• “A sudden gust of wind flips the map, revealing an inscription on the back. it reads, “only the patient will see the path.” How do you interpret this?”
• “A patch of sunlight highlights a specific area on the map. describe what you see and where it leads.”

Puzzle ideas

• Solve a simple maze drawn on the back of the map to find the next checkpoint
• Unscramble a set of letters to reveal the name of the next destination
• Fold the map correctly to align hidden symbols and reveal the route

Checkpoint 2: the riddle by the river

• “The river flows strangely here almost as if it’s speaking. What do you hear?”
• “A floating object drifts past. It carries a clue written on its surface. what does it say and what does it mean?”
• “A small bridge across the river creaks under your feet. a carving on the bridge reads, “look below for answers.” What do you find?”

Puzzle ideas

• Find three items near the river that can spell out a word or symbol
• Match symbols from earlier story cards with patterns on the bridge to cross safely
• Arrange rocks to form a pattern seen on the bridge

Checkpoint 3: the keeper’s test

• “The keeper watches silently as you approach. They point to a circle of stones and say “complete what nature began” What do you do?”
• “The keeper hands you a small object and asks, “what does this mean to you and the forest?” Describe the object and your answer.”
• “The keeper offers you two paths: One leads to the answer but is difficult, the other is easy but will test your teamwork. what do you choose, and why?”

Puzzle ideas

• Solve a riddle to unlock the next part of the trail: “I am taken from a mine and shut inside a wooden case, from which I am never released. what am I?” (answer: pencil)
• Build a small structure (ex: a tower or shelter) using natural items within 5 minutes
• Recreate a symbol shown on a card using only stones, leaves or sticks…

Checkpoint 4: the forest’s secret

• “As you reach the heart of the forest a glow surrounds you. The secret is revealed, but it’s not what you expected. What is it?”
• “The forest whispers its thanks and offers a gift. What is the gift and how does your team use it?”
• “A choice appears: leave the secret untouched or share it with the world. what does your team decide and why?”

Puzzle ideas

• Combine all the symbols or clues from previous checkpoints to form a word or phrase
• Decipher a message written in a mix of trail signs and symbols to find the final treasure
• Complete a scavenger hunt to find key items mentioned in the story cards, then arrange them to reveal the secret.
• Riddles & Puzzles: Answers to all riddles and puzzles have been included to ensure the game master is prepared to adjudicate each checkpoint. This also allows the game master to focus on guiding the storytelling process while ensuring the puzzles align with the overall mystery-solving theme.

Bonus checkpoints

• Checkpoint prompt: “You stumble upon an abandoned campsite. there’s a journal with torn pages scattered around. What does the journal say, and why was it left behind?”
  Puzzle idea: reassemble torn paper fragments (included in the game materials) to read a clue.
• Checkpoint prompt: “A tree near the trail has carvings of strange symbols. when traced, they seem to form a pattern. What do you discover?”
  Puzzle idea: Match the symbols to a key provided earlier in the game to decode a hidden message.

Checkpoint prompt: “The trail splits into three. Each path seems equally inviting, but only one is safe. what clues help you decide?”
Puzzle idea: USe previous story clues to deduce the correct path (“follow the sun” or “find the stone with a mark”)

After the implementation, start the conversation with participants about the experience they just had. Check with them what were the most valuable learning points for them.

1. How was it for you?
2. Were the rules of the game clear and simple?
3. Are you now able to solve riddles and puzzles easier?
4. Did you get to cooperate closely with other team members to solve the tasks?
5. What are the specific skills that the best players have shown and from which you could learn the best?
6. What did you learn about the environmental protection during the activity?
7. Did you manage to cooperate with other team members?
8. Was this a result of a teamwork?
9. What did you learn from younger/older team members?
10. Did you manage to have fun on the way?

How to solve riddles: https://www.wikihow.com/Solve-Riddles

Problem solving challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4rm8twIy_c