Enhancing Your Game Night

At Puzzling Pursuits, we create exciting, immersive puzzle adventures. Our games transport you into the midst of a compelling story, during a specific time period, and make you the protagonist. In an effort to create an even more immersive and exciting experience, we created Enhance Your Game Night, a curated list of recipe, costume, and music recommendations that are custom tailored to the settings and events within our games. Whether you're just interested in adding a fun drink to your solo evening, or you want to cook a full-blown meal, dress-up, and have themed music for a multi-member adventure, you can pick and choose elements to suit your interests. We sincerely hope you enjoy! 

Step Into A World Of Cryptids

For centuries, cryptids—those elusive creatures rumored to exist but never officially proven—have captured the imaginations of adventurers, storytellers, and curious minds alike. From the murky depths where Nessie swims to the shadowy forests that hide Bigfoot, these mysterious beings spark endless speculation and wonder.

The following set of recommendations are an custom picked to immerse you, the puzzler, into a world of fantastical creatures, while providing some fun facts along the way. You will find recommendations for:

 

P.S. Yes, for you cryptid enthusiasts out there, many of the creatures below would fall more squarely under the classification of mythical, from folkore, or fantasy rather than a classical cryptid, but it turns out the intersection between food and cryptid is a bit limited - hopefully you can forgive us!

Beverages 

Kraken Cocktail

The kraken is an enormous sea monster said to lurk in the sea between Norway and Iceland. It is described as a cephalopod-like creature that destroys ships and drowns sailors, and was feared for hundreds of years. However, it is now said that many of the stories of this monster were based on sightings of giant squid. Nevertheless, it is still quite a popular and gripping legend, and there is even a spiced rum brand inspired by it called Kraken Rum! This Sea Monster Cocktail recipe uses spiced rum and recommends this brand, though you can use whatever you like. It also features ginger beer and grapefruit.

Loch Ness Shot

The Loch Ness monster is one of the most well known cryptids, a creature commonly referred to as Nessie that lurks in the Loch Ness of Scotland. It is described as being large and long necked, and there has even been a picture of it taken showing a silhouette similar to a plesiosaur emerging from the water. Although it was a sensational allegation when it was first sighted, the Loch Ness monster is generally viewed as a mere myth today. This drink inspired by the creature is just as whimsical and unique, with layers of Jagermeister, Bailey’s, and Midori!

Mermaid Cocktail

Mermaids are aquatic creatures that are half-human and half-fish, and can be found in the folklore of various cultures across the world. They can be viewed as fun and fantastical, such as how they appear in some movies or media, but have also been associated with darker events such as shipwrecks and drownings of sailors. Technically, mermaids are female and their male counterparts are called mermen, and they can be collectively referred to as merfolk. This mermaid cocktail is perfect for representing the sea in which these creatures live, as it is made with blue curaçao!

Leprechaun Smoothie

Commonly associated with the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns are well-known creatures in Irish folklore. They are mischievous and wily creatures said to possess pots of gold and are very hard to capture. They are depicted as male fairies or goblins and almost always shown wearing green, hence the color of this smoothie! This leprechaun smoothie features simple and healthy ingredients such as yogurt, banana, and spinach, creating a delicious (and very green!) drink.

Unicorn Lemonade

A less feared and rather adored mythical creature, the unicorn is a legendary horse-like creature with a horn on its forehead. They are typically depicted as being white, but are often associated with rainbows and a variety of colors. This fun lemonade recipe reflects this, with colorful ice cubes and sparkling sugar! Try it out here.

Food  

Vampire-Free Garlic Dip

Vampires are fanged creatures that prey upon humans, typically by consuming their blood. They are said to be undead, as in revived after death, and pale in appearance. They are quite popular characters in fiction, media and entertainment and are generally well-known. Vampires are also often seen as being repelled by garlic, which is the inspiration of this recipe! This dip is chock full of garlic to ward off these blood-sucking monsters, not to mention it’s a delicious appetizer when paired with crackers! Try it out here.

Kappa Cucumber Bites

Kappa are creatures from Japanese folklore and are green and humanlike with webbed hands and feet and turtle-like shells on their backs. They are said to assault, kidnap, and drown humans in water. Cucumbers are known to be their favorite food, and people have traditionally made offerings of cucumber to the kappa in order to appease them. In fact, cucumber sushi rolls are called kappamaki after them. Try making them yourself with this simple recipe!

Chupacabra Sausage Skillet

The chupacabra is a vampire-like cryptid that is said to attack and drink the blood of livestock such as goats at night. Its name comes from Spanish and uses the word chupar, which means “to suck”, and the word cabra, which means “goat”, overall translating to “goat-sucker”. It is described as having large fangs, red eyes that glow, and a fierce nature. The original sightings occurred in the 1990s in Puerto Rico, and reports of physical appearance can vary, from a reptilian kangaroo of sorts to more canine-like and smaller. It is a popular legend and has even inspired spices named after it! This recipe for a sausage skillet uses a seasoning called 2 Gringos Chupacabra, which can be used on all types of meats or as a general seasoning. You can try out the recipe or make your own dish as you see fit!

Mothman Pizza

Mothman is a human-like cryptid that was spotted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the mid 1960s. A couple reported seeing a tall, gray creature with large wings and glowing red eyes that flew over their car and pursued them on their way back to town. A local pizza restaurant named Village Pizza serves a Mothman Pizza with a body made of mushrooms, pepperoni, green peppers, and cherry peppers. Although no recipe is formally offered, you can easily replicate this recipe by buying or making a cheese pizza and adding on toppings following the reference picture!

Thunderbird Chicken Wings

Thunderbird Chicken Wings: The Thunderbird is a cryptid whose legend originated in North American indigenous peoples’ history and culture. It creates thunder by flapping its wings, and creates lightning by flashing its eyes, and is overall said to have great power and strength. In modern times, it is used as a name or a symbol for sports teams and even appears in the Harry Potter franchise. Though the two birds are quite different, try out this chicken wing recipe, which is inspired by the legendary creature!
 

Bigfoot Cookie Footprints

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is a classic cryptid that almost everyone knows. Bigfoot is a large, hairy, ape-like creature inhabiting forests in North America, and has caused multiple sightings in the area. It has since evolved into a popular character in media and entertainment, and has been frequently referenced throughout the years. These bars replicate its most well known feature: its foot! Using chocolate, almonds, coconut, and pretzels, this recipe will help you create a tasty and fun dessert.

Yeti Snowball Bites

The yeti is a popular and widely recognized cryptid, otherwise known as the Abominable Snowman. It is described as being enormous and covered in white fur, and is said to roam the Himalayas. It is present in many forms of entertainment, such as the movie Abominable, which inspired this adorable dessert! These snowball-like treats are made of cake, with blue frosting and coconut flakes. Try the recipe here.

Extras 

Attire

Cryptids are typically a bit more of a niche costume category, and it may be difficult to find affordable options online that are pre-made. However, you can also try a DIY costume based on a cryptid of your choice! Here are some ideas for popular cryptids:
Bigfoot: Start with a brown/dark colored bodysuit or dressing in clothes of that color. If you can find any, add Bigfoot feet or furry slippers! Lastly, top it off with a faux fur mask or makeup to create a hairy face.
Mothman: Wear all black or gray, and add fake wings if you can find any at a costume shop or already have some! Paint red eyes onto your face, and wear fake claws for hands.

Yeti: As you may be able to guess, all-white is the way to go for this costume! Any white clothing will work, but preferably material that resembles fur, since the Abominable Snowman is known for being quite shaggy. Like the Bigfoot costume, adding large fake feet or shoe covers and a furry mask or makeup will finish the look - just make sure the fur is white instead of brown!

If you’d prefer to feel like an explorer or cryptid hunter instead, you can easily create an outfit that will help you to dress the part! Here’s a simple guide:

Clothing:

  1. Boots: Grab some sturdy, waterproof boots for trekking through various terrains - these cryptids can be found in all parts of the world!
  2. Cargo Pants: These are the ideal pants as they are comfortable and durable, with plenty of pocket space for equipment. 
  3. Long-sleeved Shirt: Simple yet essential, this will help to protect you from insects and undergrowth! 
  4. Hat: A wide-brimmed hat, preferably one with a chin strap, will come in handy for sun protection purposes.

Accessories:

  1. Backpack: This is a must-have for explorers, as it is used to hold field guides, notebooks, and supplies.  
  2. Gloves: Thick gloves will help with handling equipment and potential wildlife encounters - better safe than sorry!
  3. Belt: A sturdy belt can be a useful accessory, especially those with loops for hanging tools such as a flashlight or pocketknife.

Music/Podcasts

Based on what you prefer, there are tons of playlists and collections of music associated with cryptozoology, which is the subculture that studies and searches for cryptids. Here is a shorter playlist fittingly entitled “Mothman” on YouTube, but there are many more that can easily be found!
Sips and Spirits is a podcast hosted by a couple that tells creepy tales and mixes cocktails! They have many Cryptid and Cocktail episodes where they discuss different types of cryptids and create cocktails based on each one. Their website links their podcast episodes and features the cocktail recipes as well. Check it out here!