Create an Escape Room with ChatGPT or Claude in Minutes

You can now build a CrackAndReveal escape room without ever opening the dashboard: describe the riddle to ChatGPT or Claude, and the assistant creates the lock, picks the right type for your scenario, and hands you a link to share — all inside the same conversation.

This works through a single address, https://crackandreveal.com/api/mcp, which plugs into ChatGPT, Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, and VS Code. You sign in once with your Google account (a free CrackAndReveal account is enough), and from then on your assistant can create locks on your behalf whenever you ask.

What Your Assistant Can Do For You

Once connected, your assistant isn't just brainstorming riddle ideas — it can actually build the game for you, step by step.

Create a lock. There are 12 lock types to choose from: numeric code, password, pattern, 4-direction arrows, 8-direction compass, colors, switches, switches in a set order, username + password, musical notes, geolocation on a map, and real GPS. The assistant looks at who's playing and what the scenario calls for, then picks the type that fits — a numeric code for a kid's birthday, a password for a word riddle, real GPS for an outdoor scavenger hunt.

Chain several steps together. For a full escape room or a multi-stop scavenger hunt, ask for a chain of 2 to 10 locks that open in order. Each one reveals the clue for the next, so players move through the story instead of solving isolated puzzles — the same treasure hunt vs. scavenger hunt logic applies whether you build it by hand or through chat.

Manage your locks afterward. The assistant can list your locks along with their stats, fix a typo in a code or a message, or delete a lock — always after you confirm.

Never hand you a broken code. The server checks every code before the lock is created. If you ask for something outside the allowed format, the assistant explains the rule and tries again, so you never end up with an escape room nobody can open. Before creating anything, your assistant also double-checks the exact code with you — it never invents one silently.

Once the lock exists, you get a share link and a QR code right there in the chat. Players open it on their own phone — no account, no app to install.

Installation

One server address works for every assistant: https://crackandreveal.com/api/mcp. Paste it wherever your assistant asks for an MCP server or a custom connector.

Claude

Available from Claude's free plan, both on claude.ai and in the desktop app.

1. Open Settings → Connectors, then click Add custom connector.
2. Name it CrackAndReveal and paste the server URL above.
3. Click Connect: a CrackAndReveal page opens — sign in with Google and allow access.
4. In a conversation, turn on the connector and ask for a lock.

ChatGPT

This runs through ChatGPT's apps and connectors, in developer mode, while CrackAndReveal awaits a listing in the official directory.

1. Open Settings → Apps & connectors, then enable developer mode under advanced settings.
2. Click Create, name the connector CrackAndReveal, and paste the server URL. Keep OAuth as the authentication method.
3. Confirm: sign in with Google on the CrackAndReveal page and allow access.
4. In a conversation, pick CrackAndReveal from the apps list and describe your riddle.

Claude Code

If you live in the terminal, this is the fastest setup — the Google sign-in opens in your browser.

claude mcp add --transport http crackandreveal https://crackandreveal.com/api/mcp

Then type /mcp inside Claude Code, select crackandreveal, and choose Authenticate. From there you can simply ask: "Create a password lock for my team's happy hour."

Cursor and VS Code

Both editors support MCP servers through their agent chat.

Cursor: open Settings → MCP → Add server and paste the server URL (or use an "Add to Cursor" one-click button if your version offers one). Then click Connect next to crackandreveal and allow access.

VS Code: this needs the GitHub Copilot extension running in agent mode. Add the server URL under the MCP settings, and on first use VS Code will ask you to authorize the connection with Google. From there, ask for a lock directly in Copilot chat.

Example Conversation

Here's roughly how a real exchange plays out — this one is for an 8-year-old's birthday party.

You: I'm setting up a scavenger hunt for Maya's 8th birthday this Saturday. The prize is hidden in the garage.

Assistant: Great idea! I'd suggest a 4-digit numeric lock — it's perfect for that age. What code do you want? Her birthday, like 0714?

You: Yes, 0714. And the message should say: "You did it, Maya! Your treasure is waiting behind the car."

Assistant: Done! Lock "Maya's Treasure Hunt" created. Share link: crackandreveal.com/o/k7Q2xd Code: 0714 — that's for the players to find, so don't share it directly!

Notice that the assistant confirmed the code before creating anything, and reminded you to keep it secret from players. That's by design: the code is the whole point of the game.

5-6 Ready-to-Copy Prompt Ideas

Copy one of these into ChatGPT or Claude once you're connected, and adjust the details to fit your event.

• Birthday party: "Create a numeric lock for my son's 10th birthday. The code is his age doubled, and it reveals a clue leading to his next present."
• Classroom activity: "Build a chain of 4 locks for my history class, each one about a different century, ending in a fun fact reveal for whoever finishes first."
• Team building: "Create a password lock for our team offsite. The password should be our team's inside joke, and the message reveals where to meet for lunch." (More ideas in our office team building treasure hunt guide.)
• Multi-step scavenger hunt: "Set up a chain of 5 locks for a neighborhood scavenger hunt — each step's clue should point to the next hiding spot, ending with a map link to the final prize location."
• Gift reveal: "Create a pattern lock that reveals a video message announcing our pregnancy to the grandparents."
• Outdoor GPS hunt: "Create a real GPS lock at the entrance of the park near my house, revealing directions to the next checkpoint." (See our full outdoor GPS scavenger hunt guide for setup tips.)

Best Practices

A few habits will save you time and keep the game fair for your players.

Test once, not ten times. The free plan includes 30 cumulated player attempts across all your locks — and your own test clicks count toward that total. Ask the assistant to read the code and the message back to you in the chat instead of opening the lock yourself every time you tweak something.

Keep the code to yourself. The assistant will hand you the code so you can verify it, but it should never end up in the message players see. Share only the link (and the QR code, if you're printing one).

Double-check the revealed message. Before sending the link to your group, read through what the lock reveals — a typo in a birthday message or a wrong meeting point is much easier to catch in the chat than after your guests are already stuck.

If you're planning a bigger event with unlimited attempts, the Event Pass ($9/month, or 9 euros in the eurozone) removes the attempt cap for as long as you need it, with no long-term commitment. For ongoing use, the Pro plan ($39/year, or 29 euros/year in the eurozone) adds competition mode and drops the watermark. Both are subscriptions with taxes included, and you can cancel in one click.

FAQ

Do I need a paid plan to use ChatGPT or Claude with CrackAndReveal?

No. The connector works with a free CrackAndReveal account: you get unlimited locks and 30 cumulated player attempts across all of them. Paid plans only matter once you need more attempts or extra features like competition mode.

Which assistants can I use besides ChatGPT and Claude?

Any assistant that speaks the MCP protocol works, including Claude Code, Cursor, and VS Code with GitHub Copilot in agent mode. The setup steps differ slightly, but the server address is the same for all of them.

Is my secret code safe when I share it with the assistant?

The code travels over HTTPS between the assistant and CrackAndReveal and is never shown to players. Just make sure you don't paste it into the message you send to your guests — share the link only.

Can the assistant add a photo or a sound clip to a lock?

Not yet. From an assistant, the hidden content you can set is a text message, a link, or a video. If you want to attach an image or an audio file, open the lock afterward from your dashboard — the edit link is included every time a lock is created.

What happens if I ask for a code format that isn't supported?

The assistant won't create a broken lock. The server validates every code first, and if your request doesn't fit the format for that lock type, the assistant explains the rule and asks you to adjust — for example, a numeric code needs between 3 and 8 digits.

Conclusion

Building an escape room or a scavenger hunt with ChatGPT or Claude turns a task that used to mean opening a dashboard, picking settings, and copying links into something you can do entirely by chatting — connect once with your Google account, describe the scenario, confirm the code, and share what comes back. Whether it's a living-room birthday puzzle or a five-stop outdoor hunt, your assistant handles the setup while you focus on the story. Head to the CrackAndReveal MCP page to connect your assistant and create your first lock.