Your Complete Guide to Creating Scavenger Hunt with QR Codes

Technological advances in the gaming landscape over the past decades have led to the evolution of scavenger hunt games. QR Code scavenger hunt is a highly immersive digital version of this classic game, and is way more engaging than traditional scavenger hunts. 

This game offers an excellent learning experience for its players, as it helps improve decision-making and problem-solving skills and fosters creativity and imagination. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to create a highly engaging QR code scavenger hunt with various ideas, examples, and use cases. 

What is a QR code scavenger hunt?

A QR code scavenger hunt game is just a traditional scavenger hunt with a modern twist. This game requires players to scan QR codes placed in different locations using their smartphones or tablets to find a list of objects, discover hidden clues, or solve riddles.

How is a QR code scavenger hunt better than its traditional counterpart?

Integration of QR codes in scavenger hunt games has given these games a whole new dimension, making them more convenient and interactive than ever before. QR code scavenger hunts have made game organizers’ jobs much easier and cost-efficient, eliminating the need for printing numerous copies of maps, puzzles, etc., for the players. 

QR code scavenger hunt games not only offer a seamless game experience, but also help boost creativity of participants and promote social interaction. Many educational institutions and corporate offices use these games as team-building and student/professional engagement tools. 

Moreover, QR code scavenger hunts have now become part of innovative marketing and promotion strategies, thus helping to enhance customer engagement. With these games, brands can turn their marketing campaigns or events into a gamified experience for customers, engaging them in an exciting quest for QR codes hidden in various locations. 

Take your QR code scavenger hunt up a notch with QRCodeChimp

QRCodeChimp offers a wide array of QR code solutions you can incorporate into your scavenger hunts to take them to the next level. Our solutions, such as Text QR code, PDF to QR code, and URL QR code, among others, can be used to make these games all the more intriguing. 

• Text QR code: One of the most commonly used QR code solutions for scavenger hunts is the Text QR code. It is used for sharing simple text, including words, sentences, numbers, etc., which is displayed on scanning the QR code. The best part about them is they don’t require an internet connection.

• PDF to QR code: PDF QR codes contain a list of objects, game rules, or instructions in the form of a PDF document. Participants can simply scan these QR codes to access the information contained in them. 

• URL QR code: The URL QR code solution has made it easier for organizers to add online resources like websites and landing pages to the QR codes. You can use this solution to create QR codes for clues in the form of images, short videos, and even audio files. Participants can then discover the clues with just a single scan.  

To create URL QR codes for images or audio files, you can upload the file on some platform such as Dropbox or Google Drive, and use the file URL for creating your QR codes.

How to create QR codes for scavenger hunt

QRCodeChimp provides multiple QR code solutions to help make your scavenger hunt more engaging. Here, we demonstrate the process of creating text QR codes, since these are among the most widely used QR codes for scavenger hunts and do not require internet connection. 

Below are the key steps to create a text QR code using QRCodeChimp’s QR Code Generator for Text:

Step 1: Log in to www.qrcodechimp.com and click on ‘Solutions’. Then select the ‘Text QR Code’ solution.

Step 2: Enter your text in the ‘Text’ field of the QR code generator. 

Step 3: Select ‘’Design, Color and Decorate QR Code’ option for customizing your QR code. Add a logo, shape, color, sticker, and pre-designed template to your code to make it visually appealing. 

Step 4: Finally, click on ‘’Save QR Code’, enter the name of your QR code campaign, and click on ‘Save’ to save the code you just created. 

Note: Once your QR code is saved, just scan it from your Android or iOS device before printing it to ensure it is functioning. 

Step 5: To download the saved QR code, go to Dashboard on your QRCodeChimp account. Then click on the ‘Download’ option next to your QR code. 

Explore our article on how to create PDF QR codes. Check out How to Convert PDF to QR Code? 

Also, read How to make QR code for your website? to learn how to create URL QR codes to include image or audio clues in scavenger hunts 

Some common use cases and examples 

Following are some use cases of QR code scavenger hunts, supported by examples. 

For students 

QR code scavenger hunts are a fun-filled, effective way to both engage and educate students. At schools, these games are based on various educational themes such as science, history, art, geography, and literature. These games combine learning with entertainment while also encouraging teamwork among students. 

QR codes can be placed under different objects like classroom tables and chairs, on blackboards, floors, and walls. They can also be placed on outdoor objects such as playground benches, slides, sand pits, lamp posts, etc. These QR codes, when scanned, serve as clues and lead the participants to their target. 

For corporate offices

Corporate offices can promote skills such as teamwork and creative thinking among employees via fun activities like QR code scavenger hunts/treasure hunts. 

Participants usually split into teams and compete against each other to solve riddles, brain teasers, etc, and even complete real-time tasks like taking photos. Moreover, with games like these, new hires in an organization get a chance to become more familiar with the office space.  

For parties and social events

Unlike the old-school scavenger hunts, scavenger hunt games with QR codes make parties and other social gatherings more fun and enchanting. 

Easter egg hunts could be a perfect scavenger hunt game for theme parties like Christmas Eve celebrations. Murder mysteries and haunted houses are some of the best ideas for scavenger hunts at Halloween parties. 

A QR code-powered Easter egg hunt is a highly interactive version of this popular party game that is loved by both children and adults. QR codes are placed on or inside Easter eggs, and these codes, on being scanned, lead the participants to the following clues.  

For marketing and promotion

In a bid to boost brand awareness and increase customer engagement, many businesses find new ways to conduct scavenger hunt games as their marketing campaigns. 

Many brands are increasingly turning to AR (Augmented Reality)-powered QR code scavenger hunts to offer customers a highly interactive and immersive experience. These games include interactive maps and clues to help participants navigate through specific locations, and virtual rewards that unlock into product discounts or offers. 

For instance, leading telecom company Verizon hosted an AR scavenger hunt, titled “Score the iPhone”, in September 2018 to offer Snapchat users a chance to win iPhone XS by Apple. To open the game, the participants needed to scan a Snapcode on scoretheiphone.com – a microsite created for the scavenger hunt. As part of the game, they had to collect music loops and arrange them into a final mix.

Conclusion 

QR code scavenger hunts are a unique combination of technology, education, and fun that has significantly transformed traditional scavenger hunts. In this guide, you have learned how QR codes can be created for scavenger hunt games to make them more engaging and immersive than ever. 

If you’re looking to create an unparalleled game experience with your QR code scavenger hunt, head over to QRCodeChimp. We offer top-rated QR code solutions, along with an extensive range of customization options to make your QR codes engaging and appealing.  

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