We’re grappling with the “hydra,” a complex metapuzzle requiring us to devise a means of leveraging solutions from previously solved puzzles to uncover an additional response. If we successfully rectify this issue, we’ll be generously granted additional brain teasers to solve.
We are well aware that solving these spherical puzzles necessitates constructing a binary tree diagram of their solutions. As the Hydra’s multifaceted heads require constant attention to maintain equilibrium, so too do the puzzles unfold: with each solution, two more departments emerge, eventually yielding a schema of five layers in depth? Despite progress, several unsolved puzzles remain, hindering our understanding of the diagram’s functionality and impeding the extraction of a solution to the metapuzzle. The diagram we’ve scrawled on the chalkboard with unsteady hands will rapidly deteriorate into a tangled mess with every successive revision, correction, or notation. However, we may just need to experience a single epiphany to uncover the solution.
Since its inception by Brad Schaefer ’78, PhD ’83 in 1981, MIT’s Thriller Hunt has been challenging puzzle enthusiasts annually during the Independent Activities Period (IAP). Solvers were thrilled when the clues ultimately revealed a hidden Indian Head penny on campus, a prize left by the cunning puzzle creator. As we speak’s hunts remain built around that core concept, yet what defines a challenge has shifted significantly over four years. In 1981, one subtle clue from the Hunt’s cryptic puzzle remained an enigmatic phrase: “He that performs the king shall be _____; his majesty shall have tribute of me.” Without the aid of modern technology like Google, even those familiar with Shakespeare might have spent hours scouring through his collected works to uncover the solution.
JADE CHONGSATHAPORNPONG ’24/MIT TECHNIQUE
As we progress, we augment the hydra diagram with numerous additional options over the ensuing several hours. While scrutinizing the diagrams’ deeper layers, someone discerns a peculiar pattern: each solution in the fifth degree seems to exhibit an anomalous abundance of L’s and R’s. That is the “aha!” moment: Here’s where they instruct you on how to traverse the binary tree in a straightforward manner. Starting at the root node of the tree, we follow the sequence of Ls and Rs as they appear in each of the 16 options at the fifth level. The storied history of sports unfolded with ease The second fifth-level reply leads us to an expression that commences with the letter E. Repeating the method with all 16 solutions spells out an apt solution to cope with a hydra: HEAD TO HEAD BATTLE. Those of us who’ve been tackling this puzzle take a moment to savour our triumph before dispersing to explore fresh conundrums to conquer.
While certain aspects of the Thriller Hunt can be challenging to describe, it’s the innovative approach that also inspires creative solutions for the Nice Dome and various complex engineering projects displayed around campus annually. While many puzzles stand out for their unique approaches, most often combine logical reasoning with linguistic challenges, alongside more conventional elements such as crosswords, Sudoku, and Wordle. However, virtually anything could become a puzzle. Combining chess puzzles with the popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering could lead to an innovative blend of strategic thinking and fantasy world-building. Solvers may be asked to create a Git repository with 10,000 disordered commits, requiring them to identify the correct sequence of 10,000 modifications to a file as tracked in a version management system? They might also need to extract song duets from musicals or draw upon their knowledge of popular culture trivia.
Throughout much of its history, the Thrillers’ Haunt had enjoyed a relatively low profile on campus, lacking any formal recognition or support. Groups gathered by custom, akin to any organized endeavor, convened in Foyer 7 on the Friday preceding the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. vacation for the kickoff. To ensure seamless continuity between years, the organization was established in 2014 to provide ongoing support, including securing meeting spaces for teams to collaborate and reserving Kresge Auditorium for the prestigious opening ceremonies. Puzzle Membership regularly organizes various events, such as mini puzzle hunts and competitions centered on sudoku and logic puzzles. According to Becca Chang ’26, the current president of the membership, these activities have significantly contributed to outreach efforts, attracting new college students or individuals interested in puzzles.
Significant advancements in know-how have empowered the Thriller Hunt to transform and progress in substantial ways, extending beyond mere enhancements in puzzle types alone. By the mid-1990s, individual ownership was becoming more prevalent, with one person often taking on the responsibility for planning and executing the event. As we speak, it is a year-long commitment for the dedicated team to conceptualize and design next year’s Hunt. Managing inventive output demands a level of organizational complexity equivalent to that of a small-sized business, with technological infrastructure to match. Developing engaging puzzles requires dedicating numerous hours to crafting and refining them, while also designing innovative physical challenges and acquiring necessary props, as well as building a robust website capable of handling the high volume of visitors seeking puzzle-solving entertainment?
JADE CHONGSATHAPORNPONG ’24/MIT TECHNIQUE
Coordinating a distributed team of problem solvers poses significant challenges, especially as the number of remote workers continues to grow. Alumna Anjali Tripathi ’09 founded I’m Not a Planet Both in 2015 after discovering the thrill of puzzle hunts through Simmons Corridor’s annual mini-Thriller hunt, designed specifically for incoming freshmen. While still an undergraduate student, she initially collaborated with the Simmons team on campus before participating remotely for the first time in 2010. “I recall my time spent abroad in England, where I struggled to pursue my passion for Hunt, despite the challenges it presented.” The team lacked a support system for the task.
