Here are the top 10 armchair treasure hunts solved in 2022! Many of these had been released in 2022 and quickly solved. Others were released earlier and took a little longer. But while the following listed hunts have been solved, there are many more waiting to be solved or being released. A list of active treasure hunts in progress can be found here: Treasure Hunts
It should be mentioned that below is a list of only ten of the hunts solved in 2022. There were many more which were listed on the MW Forum and Website.
Congrats to both the winners and the creators of the hunts for their successful adventures!
Let’s get to the top ten treasure hunts solved in 2022!
1) Treasure Island Treasure Hunt edition
In November of 2021, the Treasure Island Treasure Hunt edition by David Jacobsen was released ($20). Anyone who could find and solve the clues hidden within the unique edition of the beloved classic by Robert Louis Stevenson would be led to a proxy item which could be used to claim a treasure valued at over $10,000. On December 7th it was announced on the MW Forum by Agnesdei (MW username) he found the treasure! David soon after sent out a newsletter confirming the discovery and end to that particular hunt.
Not to despair though! Another hunt by David Jacobsen, The Hatter’s Hat remains unsolved. It too holds clues to a hidden treasure valued at over $10,000.
The solution for Treasure Island has not yet been released as of this writing. For updates on the solution check the MW Forum here: Treasure Island discussions
2) Max Fosh GoldFosh Treasure Hunt
The hunt for the $100,000 Goldfosh was released on August 4th, 2022 by Max Fosh. The diamond and sapphire studded treasure was claimed 3 months later on November 7th by a searcher from the US. Max, a popular UK Youtuber released clues to the treasure in a video, where he sang a silly song. The lyrics held the clues to finding the treasure. With the help of a clue confirming the use of spoonerisms it was realized the method to claiming the treasure was to ‘Fax Mosh’. But where to find him? Another clue helped lead to a website which provided clues for the number to fax mosh and say, “In the Name of Max Fosh, Dish Out the Fish!”.
Written summary of solution on Max’s SillyCompany website: Treasure Hunt answer
3) Forgotten History Hunts
Forgotten History Hunts released numerous puzzle hunts during 2022. Some required physically heading out and searching, but others were armchair and could be claimed at home. All were free to join and offered entertaining fun! Please visit the forum to see the list of archived Hunts. Although the prizes have been claimed, anyone can still enjoy the puzzles and try to solve them. It is great practice and a way to get familiar with the armchair treasure hunting hobby. Solutions, as well as new released puzzles, are posted there. Join the fun!
4) The Masquerade Tribute 2
Each year Armchair Treasure Hunters come together as a community to participate in the annual Masquerade Tribute of Hunts for Charity. All proceeds of this yearly event are given to charity. To date over $8,500 has been donated. The event is to honor not only the 1979 treasure hunt entitled Masquerade, which coined the term of ‘armchair treasure hunt’, but to pay tribute to the entire hobby.
Multiple Treasure Hunts for The Annual Masquerade Tribute are released on the Spring Equinox. The second annual Masquerade Tribute launched with Six different hunts with six different treasures to claim. Clues were given in each of the hunts for their individual treasures. The first person/s to solve the clues claimed the treasures. Hunts varied from being fully armchair or BOTG.
In 2022, the creators of the hunts for the event were Forgotten History Hunts, The Art of Hidden Messages, TC Treasure, David Cohen, Domino Ireland, and Mysterious Writings. However, numerous other treasure hunt creators or active members donated prizes for the hunt. George Ward of The Secret, David Jacobsen of The Hatter’s Hat, Natalie Nelson of The Last Echo, Sean Cronin of Xavier Marx, Lisa Finch and Adrian K of Rhapsody in Grey, Kit Palencar of The 13th Casque, 3D Bronze of DB Copper was here, Copper Dan of The Troll’s Cache, Michel Becker of The Golden Casket, Professor F of CRACKED, Candy and Mindy of The Houses Asunder, and other anonymous donors.
A huge thanks to all for making it a great event!
Please see more details, hunts, and solutions on the MW Forum and Website.
The Third Annual Masquerade Tribute will be released in March 2023. Again, all proceeds will go to charity.
5) The Incredible Hunt (Cards 2 and 6)
In June 2022 searchers were in a mad dash for treasures hidden in The Incredible Hunt by Nick Owens. Within a few weeks two of the six $10,000 treasures were claimed. However, they were only two of the treasures included in the hunt. There are 4 yet to solve – each worth $10,000, and searchers continue to contemplate the clues!
People can join the hunt for the remaining treasures by purchasing a box ($45)- which holds 6 cards and a map (with poems) – each leading to a treasure location. As mentioned, two have been claimed. Card #6’s treasure was found by a team of searchers on July 7th. Card #2’s treasure was found shortly after on July 13th.
The Clues and Solutions of these can be found on The Incredible Hunt’s Website. Updates are also posted on MW’s social channels.
6) The Golden Oyster
For two years, clues in The Golden Oyster treasure hunt book taunted searchers. From a Six Questions with the creator, Jo Bartley, it wasn’t a secret that 21 of the pages revealed 21 locations in Whitstable. The trick was to discover how those led to one precise location for the hidden treasure. It was in May 2022 that the antique Golden Oyster and the over $1,000 cash prizes were claimed by searcher Dan Worthington. He had figured out where X marked the spot. Dan had plotted the 21 locations which formed a gridded area on a map. He then realized the 4 churches hinted to in the puzzle, within that area, would create the X needed to pinpoint the location! Excellent work!
Discussions and Solutions: The Golden Oyster
7) The Story of Leveret
Over 17 different treasures were claimed in The Story of Leveret: An Enchanting Hare armchair treasure hunt. The hunt was created by Beth Hovanec and Bill Gardner. It was released in April 2022 in traditional style for an armchair treasure hunt: a book – which was purchased for $35. The story was of a group of creatures and magical feys from an enchanted forest. Searchers were to follow the adventures of these creatures in the story as they looked for lost keys that controlled the four seasons. clues were given in both the images and text.
The hunt concluded with numerous searchers claiming the various treasures. They were beautifully jeweled creatures, and some cash. It was a charming and exciting hunt for all those who took up the challenge!
A PDF containing the solution was released in August of 2022 on the MW Forum.
8) The Troll’s Cache
The Troll’s Cache was released in the fall of 2021 by CopperDan. Clues were within a Story, Map, and Coin, which were available for purchase on CopperDan’s website (various options: $20 -$35). A proxy item (the treasure chest without contents) was hidden somewhere in the contiguous United States to claim the treasure. The treasure was: 80 – 2021 one ounce Silver Eagles, Two 10 ounce bars of silver, One – 2021 one ounce gold coin, and a priceless emerald. In January 2022 the treasure was found! Hear their story in a MW Six Questions with the finders.
9) Breakfast Tea & Bourbon Riddle
Clues within the novel Breakfast Tea & Bourbon led to a $50,000 cash treasure. This hunt was solved in 2017 by Coy Lothrop (and family). However, following this successful ending of a treasure hunt, a BT&B RIDDLE was released. It would take over 5 years to solve it. In August of 2022, Pete Bissonette (creator of the hunt and learning strategies) released 3 Words to nudge searchers over the finish line. A drawing from all correct submissions was held and it was announced in September that Goldhunter (MW Forum Username) won the treasure: A case of Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Full details of the riddle and links for the solution are found on the hunt’s website or on the MW Forum.
10) The Great US Treasure Hunt part 2
In the summer of 2022, The Great US Treasure Hunt released a series of six hunts – each in a different city. This was a Part 2 to their successful ending of The Great US Treasure Hunt where there were 4 winners of $10,000 each in 2021. In part 2, Searchers were to register their email, and on the date specified for the city (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Austin, Washington DC, Asheville, and Milwaukee) clues to where the proxy item was hidden were sent. Each hunt resulted in a mad dash to the proxy to claim the $1,000 cash prize. A total of $6,000 cash was rewarded during the summer season by The Great US Treasure Hunt.
Bonus: Houses Asunder
Houses Asunder was released in October 2021 by Candy Irvine and Mindy Montgomery Fausey. Clues were found within a poem available for purchase ($30) on the hunt’s website. It was fully armchair – in that searchers needed to merely submit the correct answer to the riddle of the peom to claim the treasure, which was a beautiful Eric Sloane painting ($5,000), signed Eric Sloane book, Knight Decanter, and Crown.
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