Parallel Path Hunts

Create competitive multi-team experiences with parallel tracks and sync moments

What are Parallel Path Hunts?

A Parallel Path hunt allows multiple teams to race through different sequences of clues simultaneously. Each team follows their own track with unique clues, and teams can sync up at designated gates before continuing.

Key features:

• Multiple teams on different tracks: Each team has a unique path through the hunt
• Sync gates for shared moments: Teams can wait for each other at key checkpoints
• Great for team building and competitions: Perfect for corporate events, camps, and large parties
• Avoid bottlenecks: Teams don't crowd the same physical locations

When to Use Parallel vs Classic

Choose the right hunt type for your event:

Classic Hunts

Best for:

• Single groups (1-10 players working together)
• Linear, story-driven experiences
• Simpler setup and management
• Cooperative play (everyone works together)
• Solo adventures

Parallel Path Hunts

Best for:

• Multiple teams competing or playing simultaneously
• Large groups (20+ players)
• Team building events and corporate activities
• Competitive racing experiences
• Events where you want sync moments (shared reveals, group photos, coordinated finales)

Setting Up Tracks

Tracks are the separate paths through your hunt. Each track has its own sequence of clues, allowing teams to play without interfering with each other.

How to Add Tracks

1. Open your hunt in the editor
2. Click "Add Track"
3. Configure the track properties (see below)
4. Save the track

Track Properties

• Name (required): Give each track a distinctive name (e.g., "Red Team", "Blue Team", "Blackbeard's Crew")
• Color: Assign a color for visual differentiation in the monitoring dashboard
• Icon/Emoji: Add an icon or emoji to help players identify their track
• Description: Provide context shown to players when selecting tracks (optional but recommended)

Assigning Clues to Tracks

Once you have multiple tracks, assign each clue to a specific track:

1. Create or edit a clue
2. Select the track from the "Track" dropdown in the clue editor
3. Save the clue

Players assigned to a track only see clues belonging to that track. Clues appear in order within each track.

Track Assignment

When players join a hunt with multiple tracks, they can be assigned in several ways:

Player Choice

Players choose their own team when joining the hunt. This works well when:

• Players want to pick their friends and form teams
• Track descriptions help players choose (e.g., different difficulty levels)
• You want a casual, self-organized experience

Random Assignment

The system randomly assigns players to available tracks. This is ideal for:

• Mixing up social groups
• Ensuring balanced team sizes
• Quick, automated team formation

Host-Assigned

You pre-assign specific players to tracks and send personalized invitations. Best for:

• Corporate team building (assign by department)
• Structured competitive events
• When you want full control over team composition

Sync Gates

A sync gate is a checkpoint where teams must wait for each other before continuing. When a team reaches a sync gate, they see a waiting screen until the sync conditions are met.

When Sync Gates Appear

How to Create a Sync Gate

1. Create or edit a clue in the hunt editor
2. Toggle "Sync Gate" to enable it
3. Select which tracks must sync together (you can choose all tracks or specific ones)
4. Add a custom waiting message (optional but recommended)
5. Save the clue

Current Sync Mode: Wait for All

Currently, only the "Wait for All" mode is implemented. When you enable a sync gate, all selected tracks must complete the clue before any team can continue.

Example: If you select Tracks A, B, and C for a sync gate, all three teams must reach and complete that clue before any of them can see the next clue.

Why Use Sync Gates?

• Shared moments: Bring teams together for important story reveals
• Dramatic tension: Build anticipation as teams wait for each other
• Coordinated finales: Ensure everyone finishes together
• Photo opportunities: Gather teams in one place for group photos
• Fairness: Prevent one team from racing too far ahead

Custom Waiting Messages

When you create a sync gate, set a custom message that players see while waiting for other teams. This message replaces the default "Waiting for other teams to arrive..."

Use custom messages to:

• Build excitement: "The final treasure awaits all teams..."
• Give instructions: "Head to the pavilion. The hunt continues when everyone arrives."
• Add story elements: "The ancient vault requires all three keys to open..."
• Provide context: "You've found checkpoint 2! Wait here for the other teams."

Examples of Good Waiting Messages

• "The treasure chest requires both keys. Waiting for the other team..."
• "You've reached the summit! All teams must gather here before the final clue is revealed."
• "The dragon won't appear until all heroes are assembled. Hold tight!"
• "Checkpoint! Take a water break while we wait for the other teams to catch up."

Best Practices

Balance Clue Count Across Tracks

Ensure all tracks have the same number of clues (or very close) so teams finish at roughly the same time. Unbalanced tracks create frustration when one team finishes much earlier.

• Same number of clues per track
• Similar difficulty levels
• Comparable distances to travel

Place Sync Gates at Natural Story Points

Common sync gate placements:

• End of hunt: Most common - bring everyone together for the finale
• Mid-hunt checkpoint: Regroup teams before the second half
• Before major reveals: Ensure everyone witnesses key moments together
• Physical gathering spots: Sync where teams can actually meet (pavilions, landmarks, etc.)

Test with Multiple Browsers or Devices

Before running your live event, test your parallel hunt by:

• Opening multiple browser windows or devices
• Joining as different players on different tracks
• Verifying sync gates work correctly
• Confirming clues appear in the right order for each track
• Testing the complete experience from start to finish

What Players See at Sync Gates

When a team reaches a sync gate:

1. They complete the clue normally (answer the question, etc.)
2. A waiting screen appears with your custom message
3. Progress indicators show which teams have arrived
4. Once sync conditions are met (all required teams arrive), all waiting teams automatically proceed to the next clue

Example: Birthday Party Parallel Hunt

For a 20-person birthday party at a park, create two tracks:

1. Track A - "Gold Seekers": 8 clues around the north trail and picnic area
2. Track B - "Diamond Hunters": 8 clues around the south trail and playground

Both tracks have a sync gate at clue #8 with the message: "The treasure chest requires both keys. Waiting for the other team..."

When both teams arrive at the pavilion and complete their 8th clue, they're revealed the final treasure location together!

Example: Corporate Team Building

For a 40-person corporate event, create four tracks:

• Sales Team (Red)
• Marketing Team (Blue)
• Engineering Team (Green)
• Operations Team (Yellow)

Use host-assigned invitations to place employees on their department's track. Add sync gates at the midpoint and finale to create shared moments where teams reconnect and celebrate together.

Related Topics

• Getting Started - Create your first hunt
• Live Monitoring - Watch all teams' progress and sync gate status
• Clue Types - Learn about different clue formats