Welcome to our 6th annual District Hunt

Welcome to our 6th Annual District Hunt! We’re excited for you, your family, your friends, and your co-workers to join us for this year's puzzle adventure!

Each year, we design our game around a different theme built into the physical and cultural landscape of Washington DC. In 2024, our focus is on Food & Housing. Previous themes covered Women's History (2019), Mental Health (2020), Climate/Environment (2021), Literacy (2022), and Food/Housing (2023).

Play at your own pace or race against other teams anytime during this 48-hour event. Each ticket accommodates up to 8 players...

This year's game is titled "A Playwright’s Last Play" and will revolve around Arts & Culture. It's both a Shakespearean tragic comedy and local exploration into an elderly artist's tantalizing dance with fortune and fame.

Sponsors: Link Strategic Partners, Forbright Bank, JaM Strategies, Playbill, Kahoot!
Partners: AIGA DC, DC Arts & Humanities, Education Collaborative, District Bridges, Dupont Underground, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, Labyrinth, O Museum in the Mansion, Spur Local, The Keegan Theater, Folger Theatre, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Dance Place, Girls Rock!, DC Young Playwrights’ Theater, The Rubell, Pearl Street Warehouse, Porchfest DC, U Street Neighborhood Association, VisArts, The Regular, Heurich House, Golden Triangle BID, St Marks Players, A Beautiful Balance Inc, 9:30 Club

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Thank you to our nonprofit partners and local sponsors. Their dedication to making the DC region a better place inspires us to create fun events like the District Hunt. If you're interested in supporting the 2024 hunt, please reach out to peter@gamegenius.org

There will be 3 tiers of prizes:

Grand Prize: Local Experiences
Top Prizes: Game Products & Services
Fun Prizes: Swag and Small Items

Who can sign up? - Everyone! The District Hunt is open to any individual or team who wants to play.
How much does it cost to play? - Take advantage of our Early Bird Special! Sign up by July 31, and register your team for $50. After August 1, regular tickets cost $100/team. Teams accommodate up to 8 players.
When is the deadline to sign up? - Registration remains open until the event begins on October 5th.
Where does the event start? - On Friday, October 4, we will release a first clue online. The event then runs for the entire weekend, starting with the kickoff (sign in at Folger Shakespeare Library) at 10:30amET. You will be able to check in anytime on October 5-6, but we recommend closer to the kickoff for the best experience.
What are the geographic boundaries of this event? - Our design team plans to build entirely within the DC diamond. There might be clue references about the Greater Washington region (DC, MD, VA), but players will only need to travel within the District.
How does the event work? - Part of this is a secret, but what we can tell you is that teams will progress through clues using a website on a smartphone. We plan to offer the experience in person (physical adventure), with some pieces completable from home.
How long will the hunt take? - This entirely depends on your ability to solve the puzzles and navigate the city. Our goal is to offer several checkpoints that encourage players to determine an appropriate time to stop. Each checkpoint will represent a step up in difficulty. Players are welcome to break up the game over several days or try to finish in a specific time window. For the race, we'll design for the fastest time to be somewhere around 2-4 hours.
What do I need to participate? - For puzzle materials, we suggest bringing a smart phone and charging cable/device, along with pencil and paper to take notes. For the experience, we encourage players to plan accordingly around the weather and wear comfortable clothes/shoes for adventuring around a city. For transportation, we will design around what is safe and accessible for players. We will try to avoid advantaging those who have access to personal vehicles.
Who designed the puzzles? - A small team of Game Genius staff and local volunteers. We're always looking for more designers, if you're interested! Email us at: info@gamegenius.org
What age is this game appropriate for? - Our goal is to make it accessible for everyone by offering levels of the experience and a text hotline for clues. Early puzzles should by approachable by younger players with the right guidance. Later puzzles are longer and trickier, which are typically enjoyed more by adults who want a challenge.
Do I need to have experience solving puzzles? - You don't need previous experience, but it can help identify familiar patterns or logic flows. Puzzles come in many different flavors, and we'll provide hints along the way.
Can I complete the hunt alone? - Yes! It might be a daunting task and we always suggest playing with others, but there are no puzzles that require more than 1 person to solve it.
Can I invite a lot of people to play with me? - Yes, but we recommend 2-5 players. Also remember that 1 team ticket represents up to 8 players. If there are more than 8 people, please acquire another ticket.
How does the District Hunt support the Arts? - Each year's puzzle story is designed around local nonprofits and other changemakers. See above for the list of partners.
How can I sponsor or partner with the District Hunt? - We welcome partners and sponsors that align with the arts event theme in some way. As a small organization and volunteer committee, both monetary and in-kind support is very useful. We plan to grow this event every year, and we look forward to building a strong relationship. Please send an email to info@gamegenius.org for more information.
How are you planning around COVID-19 and other seasonal illnesses? - Game Genius will follow up-to-date CDC recommendations to offer this year's hunt in a safe manner. Game Genius can't control what everyone will do in public, so we ask that you make the best judgment for you and your loved ones.
Can I donate to Game Genius and are donations tax-deductible? - Yes and yes! Game Genius is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Any level of support is much appreciated. Click here to get started.

2024 District Hunt

A Playwright's Last Play