Overview
Exit: The Game – The Sunken Treasure is a cooperative puzzle/escape-room game. You bought a nautical chart and an odd wooden disk from a street vendor in the Caribbean for $10, rented a sailboat and dive equipment, and set out to find the fabled wreck of the Santa Maria. The map appears counterfeit and shows only riddle after riddle. Work together to crack all the codes to find the wreck and recover the treasure, or be sunk. This is a one-time-play game.
Difficulty level: Beginner (suitable for ages 10+)
Components
- 1 Decoder disk
- 85 Cards:
- 25 Riddle Cards
- 30 Answer Cards
- 30 Help Cards
- 9 Strange items (gold coin, flag, 6 gemstones, mast)
- 1 Book
- 1 Rulebook
Additional required materials (not included): Black felt-tip pen, pencil, at least one pair of scissors, paper for notes, stopwatch/watch (or Kosmos Helper App timer).
Setup
- Place the book and decoder disk on the table.
- Leave all nine strange items in the box.
- Sort cards into three face-down piles: Riddle Cards, Answer Cards, Help Cards.
- Arrange Riddle Cards and Answer Cards in ascending order.
- Sort Help Cards by symbol; stack with “1st CLUE” on top, then “2nd CLUE,” then “SOLUTION.”
- Do NOT look at the front of any card until instructed.
Turn Structure
No individual turns. All players collaborate simultaneously in real time:
- Explore — Examine the book and revealed Riddle Cards.
- Discover — Pull referenced Riddle Cards when found.
- Solve — Enter three-digit codes on the decoder disk.
- Verify — Check Answer Card indicated in viewing window.
- Progress or Retry — Follow instructions or keep working.
Actions
Solving a Riddle
- Find locked objects marked with symbols in the book or on Riddle Cards.
- Deduce the three-digit code logically.
- Enter the code on the decoder disk under the matching symbol.
- Pull the Answer Card number shown in the viewing window.
Using Help Cards
Three Help Cards per riddle symbol:
- 1st Clue — Lists required Riddle Cards and gives initial hint.
- 2nd Clue — More concrete guidance.
- Solution — Reveals the answer.
Manipulating Materials
Writing on, folding, tearing, or cutting materials is allowed and sometimes required. Scissors are especially useful in this edition.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The game ends when the last riddle is solved and the treasure is found.
| Time |
0 Help Cards |
1-2 |
3-5 |
6-10 |
>10 |
| < 60 min |
10 stars |
8 stars |
— |
— |
— |
| < 90 min |
9 stars |
6 stars |
3 stars |
— |
— |
| < 120 min |
8 stars |
6 stars |
3 stars |
2 stars |
— |
| > 120 min |
— |
2 stars |
— |
1 star |
— |
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- One-time play: Materials are permanently altered.
- Logical solutions only: Do not brute-force the decoder disk.
- Always return Answer Cards to the pile after checking.
- Progressive discovery: Some riddles need cards not yet revealed.
- You must find an object before opening it.
- Scissors recommended: This game uses scissors more than other Exit titles.
- Lower age threshold: Rated ages 10+ (vs. 12+ for most Exit games).
Player Reference
| Item |
Details |
| Players |
1-4 |
| Age |
10+ |
| Difficulty |
Beginner |
| Code format |
Three-digit code |
| Strange items |
9 (most of any Exit game) |
| Help Cards per riddle |
3 |
| Required extras |
Felt-tip pen, pencil, scissors, paper, stopwatch |