Room Escape Artist

Do you have what it takes?

Duration: Runs until April 19, 2026

Location: City of Industry, CA

Date Played: February 19, 2026

Team Size: Any number; we recommend 1-4

Duration: 60 minutes game time, 110 minutes total

Price:  $55-58 per player

Ticketing: Public

Accessibility Consideration:  None

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

SCRAP has hosted many public puzzle events in the US over the years. I have played several of them, but checking my calendar, it is hard to believe the last one was eight years ago. It was exciting to see them return with a new offering: The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026.

The SCRAP games I previously attended were all fun and followed a fairly similar format. The Hunter Exam preserved that familiar SCRAP DNA while changing enough of the structure to feel genuinely fresh.

This was not a traditional ballroom-style event where each team sits at a table and works through a packet of puzzles. There were no tables or chairs but instead, up to 45 players per session moved freely around the space. The game followed a pre-determined structure with everyone working on the same puzzle at the same time. However, the fully standing format created a more kinetic, competitive energy than the usual seated experience.

I chose to play solo, and it didn’t feel like a handicap. That said, in classic SCRAP fashion, the puzzles often appeared simple on the surface but required surprisingly tricky logic. There were moments when I would have appreciated a teammate to bounce ideas off.

I was attending a pre-event session, so there were only about a dozen players in the room. Because some puzzle targets were limited physical resources, I can imagine a fuller session feeling more competitive, and potentially more challenging for solo players.

I was not familiar with the Hunter × Hunter franchise going in, but that didn’t hinder my experience at all. All necessary information was provided during gameplay. If there were subtle nods or Easter eggs for fans, I likely missed them, but the puzzles stood firmly on their own.

SCRAP events often follow a recognizable arc: approachable puzzles culminating in an almost impossibly complex final challenge. (For details on this ō-nazo structure, read Mathew’s recent piece The Brilliance of Japanese Puzzle Culture.) The Hunter Exam broke that pattern with greater variability throughout. By design, it was impossible for every player to achieve a perfect score, yet no one was shortchanged. The final stage struck a satisfying balance by being challenging yet solvable.

SCRAP doesn’t visit the US often, and that scarcity is part of what makes their events feel special. The Hunter Exam honored their signature style while confidently trying something new. If this is the direction they’re exploring next, I’m all in.

Who is this for?

• Fans of SCRAP
• Fans of Hunter X Hunter
• Any experience level
• Puzzle lovers who appreciate clever design

Why play?

• The puzzles at SCRAP games are refreshing in how they creatively challenge one’s ability to pay attention and interpret information.
• The event was designed to be perfectly enjoyable even without any prior knowledge of the theme.

Story

Attendees were taking the legendary Hunter Exam to try and get a coveted Hunter License.

Setting

The game was held in a mostly empty room that contained only the required equipment for administering the exam.

Gameplay

SCRAP’s The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026 was a unique ballroom-style puzzle game with a low-moderate level of difficulty.

When I checked in, I received a clipboard folder containing game materials. It also functioned as my writing surface.

The game was played in multiple rounds. In each round, there was a goal to accomplish. The round would end after enough players had accomplished the goal, but before everyone had. When the round ended, the puzzle was explained, and all players moved on to the next round.

The tasks in the game were not complicated, but demanded careful observation and the ability to think beyond the obvious.

Analysis

➕ Any number can play! Despite attending alone, I had a successful game.

➖ The ambiance was great, but the lighting ran a little low for reading, and I sometimes needed to borrow light from a nearby lamp.

➕ The game structure allowed every player to actively solve puzzles for the most part. Even if someone was not able to work on a specific puzzle, the story progressed quickly enough that they would not be left stuck for very long.

❓ Due to the design of some of the puzzles, a fuller session of players might make them more challenging, and could potentially negatively impact the game experience. This is not something that previous SCRAP puzzle events were affected by, at least, not in this way.

➕ The traditionally practically-impossible last puzzle of a SCRAP puzzle event was broken up into smaller tasks, which made them seem a little easier than I was expecting (albeit still challenging!)

Tips For Visiting

• This game is located in a mall with plenty of free parking. Fun fact, this is the mall where Back to the Future was filmed!
• There are numerous restaurants within a few minutes drive of the venue. Round1 also has a snack bar with a small menu, close to where the game is located.

Book your hour with SCRAP’s The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you. This game is running in Los Angeles through April 19th, 2026.

Disclosure: SCRAP comped our tickets for this game.