For those safely at home, I imagine you want to keep your mind occupied as we get through these uncertain times. Since it seems best to avoid ordering things at the moment (we gotta think of those postal workers and delivery men too!) I thought it would be good to compile a list of puzzle resources and games that can be played online/at home.
I am also aiming to post a new puzzle online once a week for the foreseeable future, so keep an eye out on the PostCurious Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. The first one is at the bottom of this post!
Free puzzles to play online
PostCurious free puzzle archive - includes free puzzles old and new, with hints and solutions.
(Pictured: Wish You Were Here cover via Enigma Emporium)
Key Enigma is a current box game on Kickstarter with a free online demo (UPDATE: Kickstarter campaign has ended but demo appears to still work.)
Cryptex Hunt 2020 - challenging puzzle hunt in the form of a novel
Puzzled Pint archives - puzzle hunt style puzzles, more approachable than the MIT ones below
The Riddles of Dr. Xor - this page hasn't seen updates in a long while but is basically a puzzle archive in itself
UPDATE, APRIL 9, more free puzzles:
Alone Together is a cooperative online puzzle by Enchambered for 2 people to play from different locations. <45 minutes.
Palace Games has created online puzzles with 10 rooms so far, with more to be added. ~45-60 mins for the first 10. This one requires some googling.
Escape the Room Herndon has an online Harry Potter themed mini escape room. Great one to play with kids. ~30-40 minutes.
Scavenge in the Attic is a free print-and-play game for kids made by Clever Kids Mysteries
Be the Escape has created 2 virtual mini escape games with 2 more on the way. ~15-25 minutes
Escape From Home has 3 virtual escape rooms that can be played for free.
Secret City Trails has a play-at-home version of an outdoor puzzle hunt in Europe.
Armchair Escapist has a free puzzle series on their blog.
The first season of Cryptogram Puzzle Post is available online.
Mystery City Games has some fun historically themed puzzles on Instagram.
Other online puzzles
PuzzleCraft by Mike Selinker & Thomas Snyder is a book about creating all kinds of puzzles, and has puzzles you can try to solve as well. You can download the PDF for $5 and either print it out or read/play on your chosen device.
YouEscape offers online escape rooms via video chat. These can be played remotely from several locations at once, and cost $30 for a session.
(Pictured: YouEscape's Magnum Opus, via Room Escape Artist)
Subtext is a cool puzzle game that is played via text messages. You can play a free demo and the full version is $6.99. you may need a U.S. phone number to play this.
Nadia Arbach makes print-and-play escape rooms for kids based on primary school learning, meant for parents and schools. Price varies.
Trapped makes really fun audio escape rooms that use the medium very well. $15 per person with a min. of 3.
A Death in the Red Light is an online puzzle by Mystery City.
Other online things
Girls Game Shelf compiled a list of websites for playing board games on the web (free and paid).
Find and read about ARGs on ARGnet
Check our No Proscenium's list of online interactive experiences.
My puzzle video game recommendation lists (another one coming soon)
UPDATE: A new post with more puzzly video game recommendations.
(Pictured: Return of the Obra Dinn, see narrative-driven games list above)
Some Relevant Favorite Podcasts
Escape This Podcast - play-along audio escape rooms. They also have materials for their games available online if you want to GM a session for your friends and family. You can even do it remotely via phone or video chat.
Tanis - a narrative podcast about a supernatural mystery
Serial (season 1) - an engaging story about a true crime investigation
The Adventure Zone - an adventure "actual play" podcast based loosely on D&D and other RGPs (I haven't listened to this one personally but have heard great things!)
Board Game Design Lab - insightful interviews with people in the board game industry
The Cardboard Herald - board game focused interviews and reviews (also has a YouTube channel)
What are you doing to stay occupied? Do you have any other puzzle or game resources to recommend?
Here's my first online puzzle, based on a bizarre medieval graphic that seemed perfect for these strange times.
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