Scavenger hunt app with no download
Scavenge.rs lets you play a shared hunt in your phone browser. Open a link or scan its join QR: no required app installation and no player account required. You still need an internet connection, and paid hunts or scheduled events keep their admission and timing rules.
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Players: open the link and check the hunt
- Open the full link. Use Safari on iPhone or Chrome on Android. If a QR scanner opens an embedded preview browser, open the link in your normal browser so permissions and session storage work consistently.
- Read the detail page. Check the hunt title, meeting point, location, admission and any scheduled dates. A shared link can lead to a paid hunt.
- Start when ready. Shared hunts support guest play. Keep the same phone and browser during play; changing browsers can lose access to the current guest session.
- Allow only the needed permissions. GPS tasks need location access. Photo or QR tasks may need camera access or an upload. Read the clue before granting permission.
- Follow the task instructions. Stop somewhere safe to read and submit. If a task will not load, check connectivity and reload the page in the same browser.
Start with Lower Manhattan Heritage Walk if you are at its stated location, or choose a nearby hunt from the city directory. Preview the location before travelling.
Hosts: prepare a no-download event
- Build the tasks at Create, or edit and verify an AI draft. State the start, finish, time limit and how answers are judged.
- Use a text task for the first clue so players can check the session before walking. Add photo, GPS or QR tasks only where they serve the hunt.
- Save and open the exact participant link on a second phone. Test both iPhone and Android if your group uses both.
- Share the link, or print its join QR with the written URL underneath. A join QR opens the hunt; a QR clue is a separate task within it.
- Tell participants to bring a charged phone and a data connection. Arrange a shared-device or paper alternative for people without a suitable phone.
For indoors or remote groups, prefer text, photo and opinion tasks that can be completed in the agreed setting. An outdoor GPS route needs a checked walking route and functioning location access.
If the phone does not cooperate
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| GPS does not update | Check location permission for the browser and phone, step into an open safe area, and wait for a fresh position. Do not walk into traffic to reach a checkpoint. |
| Camera or QR does not open | Check browser camera permission, use the normal browser rather than an embedded preview, or type the printed hunt URL for joining. |
| The hunt asks for payment | Check its admission on the detail page. No download does not mean every hunt is free. |
| The page stops loading | Check data coverage. Scavenge does not promise offline play. Use the organizer’s fallback while connectivity is unavailable. |
What is free, and what can cost money?
Scavenge’s basic builder and free hunts are free to use. The hunt’s detail page states whether admission is paid: opening a browser link does not make a paid hunt free. Creators who charge admission need payment setup. Date Hunt for couples is separate from the basic builder and normally displays $29; confirm the amount shown at checkout.
Guest play does not require registration. An optional account can keep your hunt history and connect you to account features. Keep using the same browser for a guest session; do not clear its storage during the outing. For a group event, test the exact link and first task on a participant’s phone before sharing it.
Other tools and similarly named sites
Goosechase also documents browser play and guest access; compare its event limits before choosing. Actionbound requires its app and documents preloaded offline use in its FAQ. Scavify describes native-app and browser participation in its own comparison; confirm access for the programme you select. See the full access and cost comparison.
This guide is for scavenge.rs. A link to scavenge.me opens a different website; check the domain in the invitation so you use the intended product.
Frequently asked questions
Can iPhone and Android players use the same hunt?
Yes. Share the same hunt URL. Players open it in their phone browser; test the event on both kinds of phone before the day.
Does no download mean offline play?
No. Plan for an internet connection on Scavenge. A browser link avoids an installation, but tasks, uploads and progress still need connectivity.
Is a QR join link the same as a QR clue?
No. A join QR opens the hunt. A QR clue is a task inside the hunt. Test both separately before printing.
Do I need an account to play?
No. Shared hunts support guest play, with optional accounts. Paid admission and scheduled start times still apply.
Reviewed 8 October 2026. Product FAQ · Builder documentation