Some games start as a surprise idea and turn into a real adventure. This one was just like that.
In June 2025, we received a request from a man who wanted to give something different to his buddy who had a birthday – not just a gift, but an experience. The goal was clear – to create a game that would be fun, challenging, and long enough to become a fond memory.
And so began the preparation of the longest custom quest for a team that we have created to date.
Team Members with Adventurous Spirit
Right from the start, we knew this wasn’t going to be a standard urban quest game.
We were told that the celebrant loved the mountains, long walks, and off-road trips. On the day of the game, he even brought his dog along, making the team consist of three people and one dog.
The Route – Starozagorski Bani and the Village of Sulitsa
The location for the game was chosen in advance – the area around the village of Starozagorski bani in central Bulgaria.
After a detailed field study, we decided to create a route that would pass through different locations in the village and even outside of it. Most of the riddles were located in the village area, but the game also took the team to the village of Sulitsa, as well as to several points along the road between them.
The participants walked over 7 kilometers, searching for hidden clues and solving riddles.
The beautiful nature and cool weather of that summer day made the experience even more enjoyable – both for them and for us as organizers.
An Agent Story with over 15 Mysteries
The entire game was built around a special agent story. It led the team from riddle to riddle and gradually revealed each new location.
Some of the riddles included:
- colored glasses that reveal the correct code in a multicolored puzzle
- glowing elements that reveal a secret message
- scrolls with hidden ciphers
- clues hidden in signs around the village
- various physical props
As with all our games, the solutions to the riddles remain a secret, but we can say that each of them required a combination of observation, logic, and teamwork, which the team handled wonderfully.
The Moments When They Almost Gave up
The game lasted much longer than the participants (and we ourselves) expected.
There were moments when it seemed that the team would give up. Fatigue was setting in, the riddles were getting harder, and evening gradually turned into night.
But something interesting happened – with each riddle solved, the participants became better and more confident. Instead of giving up, they became even more excited about the next challenge.
The Finale – A Hidden Treasure in the Forest
After more than 8 hours of play, the final riddle led the team into the forest.
There, the man of the day had to complete the last task – to dig up a hidden treasure. In the chest, he found a message from his team and a small gift from us.
By the end, it was a little after 3 a.m. We were all tired, but also very happy. For us, as the creators of the game, the strongest feeling was one of satisfaction – the satisfaction that we had managed to create something which truly delighted the person for whom it was made.
It is precisely for moments like these that such custom quests exist.
