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The Vault 2: Treasure & Faries has been released!!! $1000 in cash prizes – and lots of other treasures to claim! Now available on Amazon! Join the adventures! (for those who enjoyed VAULT 1 – there is also a solution section for Vault 1 inside Vault 2)
The Vault is a collection of original puzzle hunts crafted by a talented group of creators, each bringing their own imagination, logic, and storytelling style to the chase. Every hunt is self-contained, with its own clues, and hidden solution. Some may seem straightforward; others will send you spiraling through layers of codes, patterns, and meaning. But all share one thing in common—a genuine love for puzzles that challenge how you think and invite you to see the world a little differently.
Today, we’re taking a look inside The Vault 2 with Sundai – who is one of the clever puzzle creators! The seventh in this Six Questions Series (Other Six Q’s here)
Six Questions with Sundai:
- Q1) What first sparked your interest in puzzles or treasure hunts?
The world of The Secret and its rich online community made me fall in love with puzzles. Studying it led to a new passion: creating puzzles and treasure hunts myself!
- Q2) What advice would you give someone who is first getting into the hobby of puzzle hunts?
Start small and stay curious! Puzzle hunts can feel overwhelming at first, but the joy is in the journey. Begin with puzzles that spark your interest, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or collaborate with others. The community is incredibly welcoming, and you’ll learn so much just by exploring different solving styles. Most importantly, trust your instincts and have fun—every puzzle solved is a little victory, and every misstep is part of the adventure.
- Q3) What do you enjoy most in the treasure hunting hobby?
The people! There’s something truly special about the connection that comes from discussing and debating ideas—and the friendships it builds.
- Q4) When you start designing a new puzzle, where do you begin—story, solution, or structure? How do you balance making a puzzle challenging yet fair?
For me, it all starts with one question: What is the target difficulty for the project? Once I’ve decided on the level I’m aiming for, the mechanisms for delivering the information start flying through my mind. Ironically, the actual puzzle solution (word or phrase) is often the toughest part to settle on. I try to choose something relevant to the method of delivery—or, if the solution comes first, I’ll design the puzzle type to hint at the nature of the answer. For example, if the solution is a location, I might incorporate map elements; if it’s a famous quote, I’ll use a puzzle format that reflects traits of the person or time period.
- Q5) Please share a quick peek into your particular puzzle in THE VAULT 2! How would you describe it?
There’s something truly magical about the way The Vault books materialize from concept to reality. Contributors have months to plan and create their submissions, but the actual manuscripts blossom almost overnight—driven by a shared desire to build something together. Being part of the process, figuring out how to build upon the success of the first Vault book and make The Vault 2 a more cohesive experience for readers, has been a true honor.
My puzzle in The Vault 2 is multi-faceted, inspired by tales of whimsical fairy mischief and a desire to weave yet another layer of collaboration into the project.
- Q6) What do you hope solvers take away from your puzzle beyond just the answer? Do you have other puzzles or a social channel to follow?
Our greatest hope is for people not only to enjoy The Vault series, but also to feel inspired to create in their own lives—whether through connections with family, in a community, or with us in The Vault!
