The best scavenger hunt ideas for adults
You literally can't beat a bit of organised fun. Whether it's a Love Island-themed quiz, a game of beer pong, or a boozy cocktail-making class, sometimes, injecting a little structure into our Friday nights can elevate it from a 5 to a 10.
But if you've been there done that with every drinking game under the sun, or your pals aren't the quizzing types, it can be tricky to find an activity that is not only unique but also guaranteed to please every member of the crowd.
Which is where scavenger hunts for adults come in. A little different to the Easter egg trails you did as a kid, the 18+ versions are tailor-made for those who may have a millennial D.O.B. but are not quite ready to ditch their inner uni student.
From NSFW hen do editions to alcohol-infused house party offerings, here are some of our fave scavenger hunt ideas that will provide *hours* of fun over and over again...
What is a scavenger hunt?
Traditionally, a scavenger hunt is a game where players compete to see who can gather the most items from a specific list, usually within a certain time limit. It's either played individually or as part of a team, with the scale of the whole operation typically down to the organiser.
The person behind the activity is also the mastermind behind the theme of the hunt, typically coming up with very unusual and particular items/locations to increase the stakes of the game.
Think half escape room, half orienteering.
As well as being tasked with actually finding the supplies on the list, things are often complicated further with added rules that must be followed throughout, too. Examples include not purchasing anything on the list to not conferring with opposing teams. But more often than not, the do's and don'ts are different for every hunt and are decided upon by the SHC (scavenger hunt chief - we just made that term up, btw.)
The winner of a conventional game is usually the first person or team to get all of the items. Or, those who obtained the majority of them within the set time limit.
In terms of prizes, again, it's completely up to the organiser, who can go as wild or as savage as they so wish. There are no rules, really.
How to make a scavenger hunt
As we've said, there's no one-size-fits-all scavenger hunt model. But for the sake of this guide, we'll take you through the most traditional setup so that you've got a general idea of how things work. You can then tweak to your situation.
Organising a scavenger hunt for adults is actually pretty easy, too. It's the coming up with the creative ideas that is usually the hardest part...
Decide when and where you want to have it
Scavenger hunts can be held night or day, indoor or outdoors. From the comfort of your own home to hired-out venues to your local park to the street you live on, the location of the hunt all depends on three things: the size of the group, the type of SH you're doing, and the weather.
Figure out the type of scavenger hunt you're doing
There are a number of already-established approaches with clear formulas that you can either strictly follow or adjust. The only constant is that they all involve ticking items off a list:
Hide the items around your location of choice. Then, give the players/team your curated list. The first to find them all wins.
Create a list of items that are likely to be found in the location you choose. Then, make each team photograph them as evidence rather than physically obtaining them. These types of hunts are more catered to the outdoors.
Make sure the prize at the end is worth it
Humans are naturally competitive, so if you want people to really get stuck in and take it seriously, make sure that the prizes on offer are worth fighting for. If your hunt has a concept, consider making the prize related to the event.
For example, say you're hosting an Italian-themed dinner party for your mates but the ingredients/wine need to be found before cooking can commence. Why not offer up a dinner-for-two voucher to your local Italian restaurant, or if you're keeping the expenses down, have a couple of bottles of wine up for grabs?
Incentive is *everything*.
Scavenger hunt ideas
Now we've roughly worked through the SH handbook, let's get creative. Here are some of the best scavenger hunt for adults ideas, from quick and easy to as extra as the outfits on Selling Sunset...
The classic treasure hunt
Starting with the classics, because they're a favourite for a reason. This scavenger hunt sees players tasked with solving puzzles or finding hidden objects to progress to the next level of the challenge/find the hidden treasure.
Whether you do it on a small back garden scale or a full-blown city centre mission is your call.
Hen do themed hunt
If you're the maid of honour looking to organise something a little different for your bestie, look no further than a naughty scavenger hunt. You can either add the game to an already planned night out (where you get the hen party to complete a series of genuinely hilarious tasks throughout the night, like making a veil out of toilet paper or ordering drinks in a different accent) or create a whole hen-themed scavenger hunt as the actual hen do.
In this case, the bigger the better. You could hire out a lodge for the weekend and each day organise a different hunt. From hiding different alcohol and mixers for an evening of cocktail-making to hiding NSFW items of clothing belonging to the hen's significant other, you can really go to town on this one.
Seasonal themed hunt
Whether it's winter, spring, summer or autumn, inject some fun into each season with a holiday-themed SH. If you're getting ready for festival season, have a festival-themed scavenger hunt where players have to locate all of their camping/fezzy essentials, like hip flasks, sun cream, and of course, glitter.
Or if you're heading on a girls' summer trip courtesy of the bride-to-be, get the players to find all of the holiday non-negotiables to get you excited for the getaway.
School reunion themed hunt
This is obviously only doable if you're playing with old school friends. But it can be super fun and gorgeously awkward.
Instead of finding items, hide pictures of people you went to school with along with cryptic clues about who they're looking for. Did you and your BFF date the same person back in the day? Did your bestie have a crush on the captain of the rugby team? Or did a member of your group have their first kiss at someone in your year's 16th birthday house party?
The school reunion SH can get seriously nostalgic and bring back all those cringe memories, and when coupled with a few G&Ts it's a guaranteed giggle sesh.
Prepare to bring back the Dream Matte Mousse foundation days.
Fancy dress scavenger hunt
Because who doesn't love fancy dress? You can go all out with your scavenger hunt and make it into a whole event with this idea. Say you're hosting a 1960s-themed party and everyone is wearing their best hippy attire. Integrate a scavenger hunt into the evening based on the concept of the night, and list items that are related to the theme of your party.
To be honest, all of these different SH ideas are perfect for a hen do individually. So whichever theme floats your boat the most, roll with it and give your bride-to-be a night they'll never forget!
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