ABSTRACT
Making a game can be as simple as hiding an object and sending players on a hunt to find it. This simple mechanic of seeking out a hidden object informs everything from scavenger hunts to Easter egg hunts to hidden object video games. This simple mechanic comes with many advantages for game designers. It’s straightforward and easy to implement. The idea is so simple even small children instantly understand. You can scale it from easy to difficult simply by leaving objects in plain sight or burying them under layers of other objects. Seeking and finding mechanics tap into the natural playful instinct to find things. Just look at how peek-a-boo entertains babies for hours. The puzzlement of the search and the sheer of joy of finding the hidden object play across their faces each time they discover it.
