Design Your Own Treasure Hunt App

You found our list of the best scavenger hunt apps.

Scavenger hunt apps are mobile software applications that facilitate treasure hunts or adventure games. These games are playable on smartphones and tablets, and often require players to move between different locations. The purpose of these apps is to encourage users to interact with other players and their environments for a more engaging experience.

These tools are a way to facilitate digital scavenger hunts, and are a type of team building app. The apps are ideal for virtual team retreats or remote family reunions.

This list includes:

DIY scavenger hunt apps
outdoor scavenger hunt apps
photo scavenger hunt apps
event scavenger hunt apps
free scavenger hunt apps

Here we go!

List of scavenger hunt apps

Here is a list of treasure hunt apps suitable for a variety of groups and occasions. These games are sure to shake up your normal remote team building routine!

1. Scavify

Scavify is one of the best scavenger hunt apps for team building. The app prompts players to complete challenges in a variety of ways, such as submitting photos or videos, filling out forms, answering multiple choice questions, scanning QR codes, or checking in to locations. Participants can play on their own schedules over set periods of time. A leaderboard tallies current scores and a feed displays other players' photo submissions. Gamemasters can also automate games and schedule challenges to send at intervals, and send push notifications to players. The app measures participation and engagement levels and shows game organizers activity data in a handy dashboard. Scavify is suitable for many occasions including conferences and retreats, company outings, and group trips. Best of all, it is easy to use virtually, so players can enjoy the platform and interact with each other even when far apart.

Learn more about Scavify.

2. TurfHunt

TurfHunt is one of the coolest DIY scavenger hunt apps. The program is a fully-customizable location-based treasure hunt game. Gamemasters create quizzes and courses with an easy-to-use design and publish tool. Players can download the app and join the hunt by entering a custom code. The game requires participants to travel to different locations, and prompts players with GPS-triggered challenges. Users can also access the game through an offline mode. Plus, the app has multilingual options that translate the game into multiple languages. TurfHunt provides several game formats to entertain players. The company that designed the program also offers a SmartGuide Tour app for more educational experiences.

Learn more about TurfHunt.

3. TwoDots

TwoDots is a popular adventure-themed puzzle game renowned for beautiful artwork and zen gameplay. The original version of the game is single-player but contains leaderboards that rank worldwide competitors weekly. If you and your team play together, then you can regularly compare scores. The game is also available on the Sparcade platform, which allows friends or colleagues to compete head-to-head. TwoDots is visually appealing and mentally stimulating, not to mention relaxing. The developers regularly release new adventure boards, meaning you and your crew can play the digital puzzles as an ongoing team building exercise.

Learn more about TwoDots.

4. CameraHunt

CameraHunt is one of the more straightforward photo scavenger hunt apps. The game gives players 60 seconds to find and show as many objects as possible. Participants use smartphone or tablet cameras to capture the images. Players do not have to snap and submit photos of the items, only show the objects on screen. The game uses machine learning to distinguish and identify clues, and awards players points accordingly. CameraHunt can serve as a quick warmup for a virtual meeting or a short icebreaker game.

Download CameraHunt on Google Play or the Apple app store.

5. Eventzee

Eventzee is one of the better event scavenger hunt apps. Users can either choose from pre-made party packs, or contact the Eventzee team to commission a game for a custom event. Participants do not need to be in the same locations to play together, and using the app is simple and straightforward.

Most games involve 25 challenges, with a combination of photo, video, and quiz responses, and are suitable for up to 25 players. The party packs revolve around themes like holidays or fantasy adventures, making them an option for distant family gatherings or remote company parties. Since customization is an option, gamerunnings can ask designers to create a game tailored to fit particular teams, events, or brands.

Learn more about Eventzee.

6. Actionbound

Actionbound is one of the more basic free scavenger hunt apps. The platform originally started as an educational tool, and has since morphed into a digital scavenger hunt provider for companies, educational institutions, and individuals.

Using the program requires signing up for an account, however the basic plan is free and enables users to create simple hunts. Individual bound designers create the hunt from a desktop device, and can include media files like video and photos. Players download the app and scan a QR code to start the hunt.

The hunts, or bounds, are location-specific, and playing as a team requires users to share a device. Thus, the game is not appropriate for a dispersed workforce. However, colleagues in distant cities can use the app to explore and learn about each other's home towns. The more advanced versions of Actionbound include fun features like countdowns, tournaments, missions, and surveys. The free version is ideal for organizations with limited budgets, or those who want to test-drive distanced scavenger hunts before committing to a platform.

Learn more about Actionbound.

7. Geocaching

Geocaching is one of the best outdoor scavenger hunt apps. The platform bills itself as "the world's largest treasure hunt." Geocaching is a high tech hobby that involves searching for objects by using GPS-enabled devices. Participants hide objects in waterproof containers and post coordinates so that other players can find the caches. Typically, players replace the caches so that other players can uncover them after entering the find in an online log.

To use the Geocaching app for team building, you can deposit items in your teammates cities while visiting or enlist the help of a local to hide items for you. Or, you can encourage your crew to hunt nearby treasure and share their findings in a group chat or cloud photo album.

Learn more about Geocaching.

8. Huntzzz

Huntzzz is half treasure hunt and half tour guide. The app facilitates digital scavenger hunts in real life locations by providing a list of clues to follow. Users can choose from a variety of existing hunts, or can create and share a new game. Players can adjust the difficulty level of the clues throughout the game, or can trade virtual coins in exchange for hints. Participants hunt for treasure chests, each of which contains a digital scroll full of fun facts. The app is free, however you can contact the Huntzzz team to commission extra features to make the game run more smoothly.

Learn more about Huntzzz.

9. ClueKeeper

ClueKeeper is a platform for location-based clue hunts. You could either attend a hosted hunt, or launch a self-guided hunt. The site also provides a search option to find nearby and upcoming hosted hunts to join, many of which are free. Players join the game via mobile device, and respond to prompts by traveling around the city and inputting answers into the app. Each clue leads participants to a new location, meaning the game is a great way to explore a destination. ClueKeeper hosts an online leaderboard, so teammates can complete individual challenges and compare performance with peers. The app provides a fun way to participate in similar activities from afar, and encourages remote workers to socialize and interact more with the surrounding environment.

Learn more about ClueKeeper.

10. Hidden Through Time

Hidden Through Time is an online game of hide and seek, similar to Where's Waldo. Participants can play via smartphone, tablet, or gaming consoles such as Playstation, Nintendo, or Xbox. Users can create custom scenes by using the platform's map editor to arrange pre-loaded graphics. Then, those users can send the unique levels to friends or coworkers to solve. Players complete the puzzles by finding and clicking on listed objects, and can get hints in the form of riddles. The game is cute and cartoonish and provides a fun way to blow off steam between Zoom meetings or virtual projects. To up the group bonding factor, you can give every teammate a turn to design a level, and can encourage players to share screenshots of their games.

Learn more about Hidden Through Time.

11. Our Treasure Hunt

Our Treasure Hunt provides a suite of online tools for crafting app-based treasure hunts. After creating an account, users can access or reference existing hunts, or can start building a new scavenger hunt. Gamemakers can set difficulty levels for games and durations for clues, and can create competitive events that occur on specific dates and times. Creators can upload photos and illustrations to make the game more visually appealing, and can require players to submit photos proving that they have visited hunt locations. The game creators can make the hunts private or public and send the games to friends or coworkers, and participants play the challenges by downloading the Our Treasure Hunt mobile app.

Learn more about Our Treasure Hunt.

12. Scavengar

Scavengar's AR-enabled scavenger hunt platform turns real life into a video game. The app enables users to create custom games and challenges equipped with 3D-visuals and prompts such as check-points and pop-up riddles. Participants download the Scavengar app, and use mobile devices to explore the area and play the game. Players solve riddles, tackle tasks, and complete quizzles to solve the puzzles and finish the hunt. Gameplay encourages exercise by requiring players to move between different locations, and online scoreboard instills a sense of friendly rivalry. Scavenger is student-centric and the app's nature is educational. The game can also be an exciting way to train employees and foster teamwork remotely.

Learn more about Scavengar.

13. Social Scavenger

Social Scavenger is a mobile adventure platform that facilitates games like remote scavenger hunts and amazing races. The site offers pre-made games such as "escape the board room," and "who kidnapped the boss?" and can custom-build a challenge or add branded content as well. Social Scavenger offers self-hosted or virtually hosted games as well as 30, 45, or 60 minute versions, meaning teams can tailor the hunt to suit their needs. Gameplay includes live streams, trivia challenges, mini-games, digital stickers, and other fun interactive elements.

Learn more about Social Scavenger.

14. Monkey Spot

Monkey Spot is an educational app designed for children, and is ideal for younger scavenger hunters. The app comes loaded with four free hunts, however you can also purchase additional games. The games prompt players to find lists of items, snap pictures of nearby objects, interact with companions, and act out behaviors. Monkey Spot is a great way to keep kids entertained while out, and also doubles as a fun online classroom game.

Learn more about Monkey Spot.

Conclusion

Remote workers often get less exercise and social interaction than in-office employees. Scavenger hunt apps are an exciting alternative or supplement to traditional remote team building exercises, since these games often involve players travelling to new locations and acting out challenges. These games are easy to build, share, and play. Teammates can take turns designing puzzle maps and challenges, and you can use the app to facilitate regular remote team building activities.

Many of these apps allow participants to play on their own schedules in separate locations, for a low-pressure experience that more folks can take part in. Mobile treasure hunts create a sense of unity even when participants are far apart, and are a more physical take on the standard Zoom scavenger hunt experience that limit players to the confines of the meeting and home offices. These apps are a great way to encourage group members to get fresh air and sunshine, and help telecommuters be more active physically and socially.

Next, check out our list of DIY scavenger hunt clues and this one with photo scavenger hunt ideas.

For more remote team fun, check out our list of Zoom games and virtual spirit week ideas.

FAQ: Scavenger hunt apps

Here are answers to common questions about scavenger hunt apps.

What are scavenger hunt apps?

Scavenger hunt apps are platforms that enable folks to make and play custom scavenger hunt games with groups of friends, classmates, or colleagues. Many of these apps include GPS features that trigger prompts, challenges, and games based on physical locations. Players complete the games by typing responses, completing mini-games, choosing multiple choice answers, and snapping photos. These apps aim to create an interactive, engaging, and often physical experience for players.

What are the best scavenger hunt apps?

The best scavenger hunt apps include Scavify, TurfHunt, and Geocaching.

How do you create a scavenger hunt in an app?

Every app has a unique process for creating shareable digital scavenger hunt. However, most programs require only a few simple steps. First, create an account and build a custom game on the desktop platform. If possible, then sure to upload media like photos, videos, and audio files, to make the game more engaging. Once you input all clues, finalize the hunt and retrieve the invitation code or link. Then, tell your teammates to download the mobile app and follow the instructions to join. When all players are present, then start the game!

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Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.