Malls aren’t just for shopping; they’re perfect playgrounds for scavenger hunt ideas that work for kids, teens, and adults alike. A mall scavenger hunt offers a weather-proof, safe environment full of fun clues and hidden gems around every corner. Whether you’re planning a youth group outing, a teen birthday party, or a team-building event, these fun mall games can be tailored to any age.
A classic photo scavenger hunt where players must find and photograph various items or scenes in the mall. Using PlayTours, each clue can be a photo task requiring players to upload pictures as proof. The app’s digital progress tracking will organize all photo missions in one place, and automatic scoring can award points for each successful upload instantly. This means no judges running around, the live leaderboard updates in real time as teams submit photos, sparking friendly competition on the spot. A timer feature can also be added, give teams 30 minutes to complete as many photos as possible, using PlayTours’ countdown timer options to keep everyone on their toes.
This scavenger hunt is all about discovering information rather than collecting items. Players roam the mall to answer trivia questions and solve riddles based on mall details (number of exits, store names, etc.). PlayTours makes this easy by letting you set up text-based or multiple-choice questions that auto-validate answers and score points immediately.
For example, if the clue asks for a number or name, the app can automatically check the answer. To avoid GPS issues inside the mall, clues can be given as text or image prompts, or even a static map pin of the mall without requiring live GPS. Players can prove they found the answer by inputting it, rather than needing a location check-in.
In this hunt, teams see who can gather the most free items from around the mall; no money required. It’s a great indoor mall scavenger hunt idea for parties or youth groups on a budget. Using PlayTours, you can list each freebie as a task where players either scan a QR code you’ve placed at that location or snap a photo of the item collected as proof.
For example, you might generate a simple QR code for the mall map stand or info desk that teams scan when they get a mall map. The app’s QR scanning feature will verify the things instantly, so teams can move on quickly. Alternatively, a photo of the item (like the menu or sample) can be uploaded for points.
This hunt adds an educational twist: teams must find items or locations in the mall that begin with each letter of the alphabet (or a shorter word/phrase for younger kids). It’s a fantastic educational activity for keeping kids engaged and thinking creatively. Using PlayTours, create a task for each letter with either photo or text submissions. The app’s digital task list helps players track which letters they’ve completed, and you can disable forced order so they can tackle letters in any sequence they want.
In this vibrant hunt, each team is tasked with finding items only in their assigned color. With PlayTours, you can set up color-coded missions. For example, Team 1 sees only the “Red List” of tasks, Team 2 sees the “Blue List,” etc., by using task categories or separate chapters for each colour. Players simply upload photos of each color item they find, and the app verifies the submission. The automatic scoring gives points for each find, and you can even use AI image checking to ensure the color is present (or just have a facilitator quickly review the photos since all uploads are centrally collected).
This hunt turns the mall into a bargain-hunting arena. Teams are given a small budget (e.g. $5 or $10) and challenged to buy items that fit certain criteria or simply to maximize the number of items without going over budget. While real money is involved (so this one’s for older participants), PlayTours can facilitate this by having teams upload a photo of each purchased item along with the receipt as proof for each task. An organizer can verify receipts via the app’s photo judging feature.
Add a time limit to the spending spree and use the app’s timer to enforce it. For example, give teams 45 minutes, and the PlayTours game timer will count down in their interface. When time’s up, tasks can be configured not to accept submissions, or simply no points are awarded for late entries.
Inspired by pop culture, this mall scavenger hunt idea challenges players to find people (or things) in the mall that remind them of celebrities. It’s a hit with teens who are tuned into famous faces. If approaching strangers, teams should always be polite and respectful. This hunt can even be done using only posters, products, and mannequins if interacting with random people isn’t comfortable. With PlayTours, teams can upload each “celebrity look-alike” photo for points. In fact, PlayTours allows you to use AI or a judge to evaluate photos.
After the hunt, use PlayTours’ Live Leaderboard or Gallery Exhibit mode to show all the photos on a screen. Have an impartial judge or the participants themselves vote on the “best look-alike” for an extra prize. Another twist is to incorporate clue branching: for example, once a team finds 3 look-alikes, a secret task unlocks (“Now find someone who could be a royal family member!” or some themed bonus). This encourages teams to go beyond the obvious. With the hide-next-task feature, you can ensure this bonus only appears after they’ve completed a set number of photo tasks. It adds an element of surprise and extra challenge for those racing through the basics.
Essentially, it’s like a list of mini challenges to complete in the mall environment. PlayTours supports this by allowing video upload tasks and photo evidence for each challenge, ensuring teams provide proof of their antics. You can set each challenge as a separate task, and even include a brief description or rules in the task text (e.g., “Make sure not to disturb other shoppers or store operations during your dare”).
It’s perfect for competitive groups and can accommodate multiple teams racing simultaneously without them all piling on top of each other. PlayTours is ideal here because you can create different task routes for different teams, the platform’s flexible chapter and point system lets you assign teams to start on different “chapters” or paths. For example, Team 1’s Chapter 1 leads them to Fashion stores while Team 2’s Chapter 1 sends them to Tech stores, then they might swap in Chapter 2.
This clue branching and multiple route capability ensures teams cover all tasks but in varied order, preventing congestion at any one clue. The app’s GPS-free location pins can guide players to spots in the mall by showing a map or describing the location without needing precise GPS check-in (which is great since indoor GPS can be spotty). You can also use QR codes as clue envelopes: for instance, a QR code hidden near the fountain might reveal the next riddle when scanned.
This hunt is a narrative-driven mall mystery game. Players aren’t just collecting random items; they are detectives following a trail of clues to solve a case or find a “hidden treasure” in the mall. Each clue leads to the next location or gives a piece of a puzzle. You can incorporate multiple PlayTours features here: QR codes hidden at clue locations, the “hide next task” feature to ensure they only get Clue 2 after finishing Clue 1, and even the ability to input a secret code at the end as the solution. The app makes it easy to sequence clues in chapters, so the story progresses logically for each team. Automatic scoring isn’t the focus here, but you can still award points for each solved clue to keep a bit of competitive edge (or simply track who finishes first).
With these mall scavenger hunt ideas, you have a mix of photo challenges, trivia, problem-solving, and goofy dares to choose from. The key is to keep it fun and safe: always follow mall rules, be respectful of shoppers and staff, and ensure kids have supervision when needed.
Whether you’re exploring these scavenger hunt ideas with a youth group, your family, or coworkers, the mall’s familiar setting will turn into an exciting playground of clues and laughter. So next time you need a rainy day activity or a fresh team event, register free account with playtours, and watch the ordinary transform into extraordinary adventure!
Q: What are some tips to ensure a mall scavenger hunt is safe and fair?
A: Safety and fairness are top priorities. For safety: if kids or younger teens are involved, require adult chaperones or put players in groups; no one should roam alone. Establish clear boundaries (e.g., which floors or areas are in play, and any out-of-bounds areas like parking lots or back hallways). Remind everyone to use “mall etiquette”: no running, no shouting, and be respectful to other shoppers and staff. For fairness, using the PlayTours app, all teams will have equal access to clues and timing, which helps. You might also use the app’s friendly leaderboard mode to keep competition healthy (hiding the exact points so no one gets discouraged). With these guidelines, you’ll minimize risks and ensure everyone has a positive experience.
Q: Can mall scavenger hunts work for adults and corporate team building?
A: Absolutely! Adults can have a blast with them, too. In fact, a mall provides a convenient, weather-proof environment with food, restrooms, and a variety of settings, which is great for corporate or adult group events. For a team-building twist, you can incorporate company-themed trivia at store locations (e.g., answer a work-related question to get the clue for the next shop), or focus on skills like creative problem solving (with puzzles in the mall) and collaboration (team photo challenges).
With PlayTours, you can even customize the branding of the hunt (like naming the game after your company or event) and use the live leaderboard to stoke some friendly rivalry among coworkers. We’ve seen everything from bachelorette parties to corporate sales teams do mall hunts. The key is to dial up the difficulty or strategy a bit for adults, for example, requiring clever riddles to find certain stores, or using the timer and point deduction features to emphasize time management under pressure.
Q: How can I use PlayTours to host a mall scavenger hunt?
A: First, sign up and use the PlayTours game builder to create your hunt. You can input all your clues and tasks (photos, trivia, QR codes, etc.) into the platform. Assign point values and add any timers or branching logic you want. Once your game is ready, you’ll get a unique game code or link. On the day of the hunt, players just open a link on their phone browser and enter the code; no app installation required.
The hunt will start, and players will see the tasks you created, one by one or in a list (depending on how you set it up). As they submit answers and photos, the app will automatically validate responses and update the live scoreboard. You can monitor progress from the facilitator dashboard in real time, send announcements (like hints or updates) to all teams, and even manually adjust things if needed. In a mall environment, you might disable GPS check-ins and instead use clues, QR scans, or site-specific questions as proof of location; PlayTours supports all those task types.
After the hunt, you can download results and media to share the memories. It’s a great tool to host a mall scavenger hunt because it eliminates paperwork, prevents cheating (everyone must submit proof), and adds excitement with real-time feedback.
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