I MAKE PUZZLES.
I craft cryptic experiences that prompt discovery, connection, joy, and revelation.
I collaborate with companies, brands, and individuals to manifest magical moments in the mundane for a wide range of audiences.
Puzzles are a pervasive mindset: anything might conceal a secret message or lead to hidden treasure. Stay curious, fellow adventurers.
PUZZLES REVEAL NEW LAYERS OF WONDER IN THE MUNDANE
PUZZLES REVEAL NEW LAYERS OF WONDER IN THE MUNDANE
WHAT I DO
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IMMERSIVE ADVENTURES
With 15+ years of experience creating and consuming alternate reality games (ARGs), letterboxes, and armchair treasure hunts, I love adventures that blur the lines between game and reality.
In the letterboxing world, I’m known as Mu.
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PUZZLE HUNTS
In a puzzle hunt, a puzzle can take any form, from a cocktail recipe to a papercraft sculpture to a mysterious audio file. These puzzles typically don’t come with instructions; it’s up to the solver to notice patterns, make connections, and peel back layer after layer of hidden meaning.
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ESCAPE ROOMS
I fell in love with escape rooms while living in Budapest in 2015, and I’ve played over 700 escape rooms since.
I've taught workshops on escape room design, and I’m also a regular contributor to Room Escape Artist.
FEATURED PROJECTS
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TANGRAM
Puzzles that lead to hidden treasure in Art of Play's biannual art journal Tangram.
The first 4 volumes are available on Art of Play. Read more in our interview with PRINT Magazine.
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PILCROW BAR
A 10,000+ player online puzzle hunt for Michelin 3-star restaurant Alinea, co-designed with Sandor Weisz.
Read our retrospective on the game, and solve the puzzles yourself.
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CELINE ARG
A puzzle-packed alternate reality game for electropop musician Madeon that led into a secret EP launch, co-designed with Emma Liddell.
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ESCAPE THE PLAGUES
A print-and-play puzzletale that explores our modern plagues and what it means to truly be free, co-designed with Lisa Stein.
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TERRARIUM ARG
A remote escape room and multimedia puzzle hunt as part of the University of Chicago’s Terrarium ARG, co-designed with Sandor Weisz.
Winner of the 2020 Indiecade Award for Location-Based and Live-Play Design.
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ENIGMARCH
I designed a new puzzle every single day in March 2022, and again in March 2023.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Matthew Stein is a wizard. His puzzles contain such genuinely surprising twists and turns, use so many unexpected techniques and approaches, your brain will be fried in the very best way. I am a huge fan.
— Avery Monsen, author of All My Friends Are Dead
Matthew’s puzzles have sparkle and wit, and the process of commissioning a puzzle experience was extremely fun. We wanted to build community and connections between our loved ones in different places, and the experience did exactly that, all framed in an experience filled with magic and surprise.
— Sarah L.
"Puzzle" almost doesn't seem like the right word — the experience was a multi-part adventure. All of the steps fit together and built on each other brilliantly and intricately, and made for a connecting, memorable, and delightful experience.
— Olivia L.