Treasure Hunt Codes

Hidden messages that must be decoded or interpreted.

These ideas give ways to encode clues rather than providing encoded clues, so that you can build your treasure hunt as you like.

physical	not physical	outside only	outside or indoors

		difficulty	min number of people
Alphabet Substitution	Codes written in numbers, where each number represents a letter e.g. 1=a, 2=b... [easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	easy	any
Anagram	The location of the next clue is an anagram. [any difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	any	any
Encryption	The location of the next clue is encrypted with letter replacement. [any difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	any	any
Flag Signals	Hunters are given a clue spelt out with maritime flag signals. [medium difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	medium	any
Foreign Language	The location of the next clue is written in a foreign language. [medium difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	medium	any
Letter Grid	A grid of letters only reveals the clue if read in the correct order. [easy difficulty, 1 people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	easy	1
Letters In A Maze	The letters on the correct path through the maze spell out the location of the next clue. [easy difficulty, 1 people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	easy	1
Miming Letters	Messages are mimed one letter at a time from one person to another. [medium difficulty, 2+ people, physical, indoor or outdoor]	medium	2+
Mirrored Lettering	The location of the next clue converted into mirrored text. Convert the location of the next clue into mirrored text so that it can only be read by reflecting the text in a mirror. The easiest way to create the clue is to write it in front of a mirror, looking into the mirror whilst writing. [easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	easy	any
Morse Code	The location of the next clue converted into morse code. [easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	easy	any
Picture Codes	Clues are converted into pictures, where each word is a drawing. [any difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	any	any
QR Codes	A secret message is coded into an image which can be read by (most) smartphones. [medium difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	medium	any
Quotes	Treasure hunters are given a quote from a book or DVD, in which the next clue is hidden. [any difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	any	any
Riddles	A riddle leads to the next clue, or must be answered by the treasure hunters to earn their next clue. [any difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	any	any
Spelling Errors	Deliberate spelling mistakes in the clue's text hide the location of the next clue. [hard difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	hard	any
Story Map	Hunters must follow instructions using a map to determine letters of the clue. [easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	easy	any
Wingdings	The location of the next clue is converted into the symbols using the Wingdings font. [medium difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]	medium	any