CMU Puzzle Hunt
| CMU Puzzle Hunt | |
|---|---|
 Logo of Puzzle Hunt CMU | |
| First hunt | 2007 |
| Most recent hunt | 2022 |
| Number of hunts | 32 |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Links | |
| Link | Link |
CMU Puzzle Hunt is a biannual puzzle hunt run by Puzzle Hunt CMU, a student organization at Carnegie Mellon University. In most years since 2007, Puzzle Hunt CMU has run two puzzle hunts, one in the spring semester and one in the fall semester. Hunts typically have around 20 puzzles, with a team size limit of 6; they typically lasted 8 hours each until 2020, when they were made about a day long each to accommodate non-local solvers. CMU Puzzle Hunt is typically aimed at novice to intermediate solvers.
Previously, the CMU Puzzle Hunt was known as the KGB Puzzlehunt, and was organized by members of the student organization of the same name. Originally it was an internal event for KGB members, but gradually became more popular to other CMU students as well.[1] The name was changed sometime between 2012 and 2013.
From 2007 to 2011, answer checking for the hunts were done via phone line submissions. After that, the hunt switched to using online answer checkers.
Starting in 2019, a prepuzzle is released before each hunt, teasing the theme in the form of a small puzzle. Starting in 2021, an annual orientation week hunt has also been hosted, for incoming freshmen.
List of Hunts[edit | edit source]
| Year | Launch Date | Number of Puzzles | Link | Theme | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 23 | ??? | ??? | CMU Hunt Spring 2023 | Prehistory Hunt | |
| Fall 22 | ??? | ??? | CMU Hunt Fall 2022 | Monopoly Hunt | |
| Spring 22 | 2022-04-23 | 24 | CMU Hunt Spring 2022 | This Is Not A Puzzlehunt | |
| Fall 21 | 2021-11-20 | 21 | CMU Hunt Fall 2021 | Spam Hunt | |
| Spring 21 | 2021-04-10 | 22 | CMU Hunt Spring 2021 | Pirate Hunt | |
| Fall 20 | 2020-11-14 | 21 | CMU Hunt Fall 2020 | Oregon Trail Hunt | |
| Spring 20 | 2020-04-25 | 18 | CMU Hunt Spring 2020 | Getaway Hunt | |
| Fall 19 | 2019-10-05 | 20 | CMU Hunt Fall 2019 | Anomaly Hunt | |
| Spring 19 | 2019-04-06 | 19 | CMU Hunt Spring 2019 | The Quest for the Dragon's Riches | |
| Fall 18 | 2018-10-06 | 18 | CMU Hunt Fall 2018 | Time Travel Hunt | |
| Spring 18 | 2018-03-31 | 19 | CMU Hunt Spring 2018 | Apocalypse Hunt | |
| Fall 17 | 2017-10-14 | 20 | CMU Hunt Fall 2017 | Aperture Science Student Testing Initiative | |
| Spring 17 | 2017-03-25 | 17 | CMU Hunt Spring 2017 | CarnivalHunt | |
| Fall 16 | 2016-11-05 | 18 | CMU Hunt Fall 2016 | Harry Potter and The Hunt of Puzzles | |
| Spring 16 | 2016-03-26 | 18 | CMU Hunt Spring 2016 | Puzzlehunt: The Musical! | |
| Fall 15 | 2015-11-07 | 23 | CMU Hunt Fall 2015 | Adventure Hunt | |
| Spring 15 | 2015-03-21 | 15 | CMU Hunt Spring 2015 | Space Hunt | |
| Fall 14 | 2014-10-14 | 8 | Ornithology Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Spring 14 | 2014-03-22 | 17 | Zombie Apocalypse Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Fall 13 | 2013-10-12 | 22 | An Infinitely Improbable Puzzle Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Spring 13 | 2013-2-23 | 16 | Pirate Treasure Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Fall 12 | 2012-10-23 | 22 | Weather Machine Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Spring 12 | 2012-2-18 | 22 | The Great Library | No longer playable | |
| Fall 11 | 2011-11-12 | 13 | Babel Systems Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Spring 11 | 2011-4-23 | 22 | Jackson Detective Agency | No longer playable | |
| Spring 10 | 2010-04-03 | 16 | The Wizard's Elemental Tower | No longer playable | |
| Fall 09 | 2009-11-07 | 11 | Clone Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Spring 09 | 2009-03-28 | 12 | Time Travel Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Fall 08 | 2008-11-01 | 15 | Geller Hotel Psychic Convention | No longer playable | |
| Spring 08 | 2008-03-01 | 17 | Hackorp / Trust Busters Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Fall 07 | 2007-10-26 | 12 | Carmen Sandiego Hunt | No longer playable | |
| Spring 07 | 2007-02-23 | 12 | Alice in Wonderland Hunt | No longer playable |
Orientation Week Hunts[edit | edit source]
Starting in 2021, an annual orientation week hunt has also been hosted, for teams of incoming CMU freshmen. Unlike the main CMU hunts, these hunts generally do not have a particular theme. The hunts consist of five puzzles and a metapuzzle.
| Launch Date | Number of Puzzles | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-25 | 6 | CMU Orientation Week Hunt 2023 |
| 2022-08-26 | 6 | CMU Orientation Week Hunt 2022 |
| 2021-08-26 | 6 | CMU Orientation Week Hunt 2021 |
Other Hunts[edit | edit source]
| Launch Date | Number of Puzzles | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-02-23 | 10 | CMU CS Hunt | Organized for SCS day at the request of the college |
