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For Teens Adventures

Everything in the library worth setting up for for teens.

Teenagers will play almost anything, on one condition: it must not be obviously made for younger children. That is not about theme or artwork. It is about whether the puzzles trust them.

A teenager can tell within one puzzle whether a game has been made easy for them, and once they have decided that, the phones come out and the afternoon is over. So use ciphers that are genuinely coded rather than decorated, let the chain be long enough to get lost in, and allow a puzzle that stalls the group for five minutes. Being stuck is the part they are there for.

Mysteries and heists work better than treasure hunts from about thirteen, because the pleasure is in reasoning and arguing rather than in finding. And resist supervising. The fastest way to lose a room of fifteen year olds is to stand in it explaining. Hand over the first page, say how long they have, and leave.

Ready to Play

Cover art for The Haunted House Escape.The Haunted House EscapeThe front door locked itself. Four rooms stand between you and it.13+ · 45-60 min
Challenging · Moderate setup$12.99NewCover art for Spy Mission.Spy MissionA dead drop in the kitchen and a code word nobody has yet.8+ · 20-30 min
Easy · Quick setup$7.99View

Build It Yourself

A hand-cut paper decoder wheel of two discs joined by a brass pin.Codes & CiphersCodes and Ciphers That Kids Can Actually CrackA cipher is only fun if the solver can get in without being told how. Four that teach themselves, and one to avoid.
  • Kids & teens
  • Printable
5 min readThree padlocks in a row on a wooden table beside a closed box.Escape RoomsHow to Build an Escape Room in Your Living RoomThree padlocks, one afternoon, and nothing you have to buy twice. The layout that keeps six people busy for 45 minutes.
  • 45-60 min
  • Light setup
4 min readThree interlocking wooden puzzle pieces on a warm surface.Game Design7 Puzzle Types That Make Players Feel SmartDifficulty is not the same as fun. These seven shapes cover the thinking instead of punishing the guessing.
  • Moderate
  • All ages
4 min read

Other Collections

A carved pumpkin lit from within on a wooden step under a crescent moon.Halloween11 adventuresBalloons above a simple frosted cake with confetti in the air.Birthday6 adventuresAn open umbrella in falling rain under heavy clouds.Rainy Day6 adventures