Hunt: FlatDurian Hunt

FlatDurian's first time making a puzzlehunt.

What is a puzzlehunt?

• In a puzzlehunt, each puzzle has an underlying pattern or insight, which you need to figure out (somewhat like the theme of a crossword puzzle).
• Puzzles can come in many different forms; the only real commonality is that you usually receive no direct instructions, so it’s up to you to figure out how to make sense of the information you’re given.
• You can read a longer introduction to puzzlehunts here.
• If you are new to puzzles and are interested in seeing some examples, or if you’re looking for some practice, I recommend looking at puzzles from other online hunts such as Galactic Puzzle Hunt, Edric's Hunts or Brown Puzzlehunt.

What are the rules?

• The puzzlehunt starts on December 2, 2025 at midnight UTC and ends on August 12, 2026 at midnight UTC.
• However, the hunt will still be available to everyone after it ends.
• Teams have no maximum size. However, this hunt is recommended for solo solvers up to groups of three people.
• If you have any questions about the hunt, or if you found errors in any puzzle, feel free to email me. Remember to email me to ask about the secret task for the Round 2 puzzle.

What is and isn't allowed?

• You may use any external sources for help, including other people, as long as they aren’t helping other teams and aren’t actively participating in the hunt.
• You may not stream or post spoilers for the hunt in a place where other teams might see them.
• You may not create multiple accounts or be on multiple teams.

What is the format of this hunt?

• The hunt consists of 36 puzzles over six rounds, consisting of 25 feeder puzzles, 4 "interlude" puzzles, five metas and two final puzzles.
• Each of the first five rounds will be released every two months.
• The first round will release on 2 December 2025, the second on 2 February 2026, the third on 2 April 2026, the fourth on 2 June 2026, and the last two rounds will be released on 2 August 2026.
• "Interlude" puzzles will be released between rounds, on 2 January 2026, 2 March 2026, 2 May 2026, and 2 July 2026.

How will the points system, hints and solutions work?

• Solving an "interlude" or a feeder gives the team 10 points. Solving a meta gives 20 points. Solving a supermeta gives 30 points.
• GoogleSheet versions of the puzzles will be available.
• Hints will be made available for the first round. For the second round, solving the Interlude puzzle gives hints. For the third round onwards, solving the Interlude puzzle gives hint tokens which you can use to email me to get help.
• Solutions to the puzzles in each will be revealed after the meta is solved.

Puzzles