About Loot Hunt

What is Loot Hunt?

Loot Hunt is a digital treasure hunt game. Organizers hide QR codes in the real world and players scan them to earn points. Think geocaching, but entirely digital — no swapping trinkets, just bragging rights and leaderboard glory.

Each QR code is called a package, and packages are grouped into hunts. A hunt might be a set of codes hidden around a neighborhood, an event venue, a campus — anywhere, really.

Scoring

Most packages award points based on how early you find them:

500
1st Find
250
2nd Find
100
3rd Find
50
4th+ Finds

Being first matters! Race to discover new packages before anyone else to maximize your score.

Some organizers also hide flat-points bonus packages — surprise finds that award every player the same fixed points on their first scan. They won't show up in a hunt's package list, so you'll only know you found one when it happens!

How to Play

  1. Create an account — pick a username and you're in.
  2. Find a QR code — look for Loot Hunt stickers, cards, or signs in the wild.
  3. Scan it — use our built-in QR scanner or any camera app. The built-in scanner verifies the code is a legit Loot Hunt link.
  4. Claim your points — log in (or sign up) and the points are yours.
  5. Climb the leaderboard — check the global leaderboard or per-hunt rankings.

Features & Quirks

  • First finder photo — the first person to scan a package can upload a photo as proof of discovery. Show off where you found it!
  • Hints — the most recent scanner can leave a hint for future hunters. Be helpful, be cryptic, or be funny — your call.
  • Package descriptions — organizers can leave their own hint or description on a package before anyone finds it.
  • Display names — set a display name on your profile that's different from your login username. Express yourself.
  • Hunt scheduling — hunts can have start dates. Some are hidden until they begin — keep checking back!
  • Unlisted hunts — some hunts are always kept off the public "All Hunts" list. If you have a direct link, you can still play.
  • Safe scanning — the built-in QR scanner checks that codes link to this site before opening them, protecting you from shady QR codes in the wild.
  • Each package can only be scanned once per player — no farming the same code for infinite points.
  • Dark mode — toggle it in the header. Your eyes will thank you.

For Organizers

Want to create your own hunt? Ask an admin to grant you the Organizer role. Once you have it, you can:

  • Create hunts with any number of packages
  • Set expiry dates and start dates
  • Hide hunts until they start, or keep them permanently unlisted
  • Add packages individually or in bulk, and edit or remove them anytime
  • Set a package to flat-points bonus type for a surprise fixed-point reward
  • Add an optional description or hint to any package
  • Download printable PDF cards with QR codes (Avery 5371 format, 10 per page)
  • Monitor scan activity and leaderboards for your hunts

Interested? Apply to become an organizer.

Sustainability

Loot Hunt should not create litter, waste, or friction with the places people live, work, and share. The goal is to keep the game fun while aiming for zero environmental impact.

Organizers are expected to place materials thoughtfully, avoid problematic or prohibited locations, and clean up after themselves. If a package becomes damaged, misplaced, or unwelcome, it should be removed or relocated quickly.

If you find a card causing an issue, you are welcome to recycle it and submit a complaint from that package page so the organizer can review and respond responsibly.

Get in Touch

Have questions, ideas, or found a bug? Reach out!

🐘 Mastodon 📦 Source Code

Loot Hunt is open source. Contributions, bug reports, and forks are welcome!

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