Brainteasers are fun puzzles, and you may even own one or two already that you can hand your players as a physical prop. But It’s hard to fit them into a dungeon and have them make sense. They’re just a bit “gamist”.

Here are some good uses:

• It’s a decorative lock that opens a display case in a castle or temple for a ceremonial item kept on display.
• It’s a lock on a ceremonial gate opened in front of cultists to show the high priest’s secret knowledge.
• It’s a cryptex case for secret messages between villain and henchmen.
• It’s a puzzle box for a small, extra-valuable treasure within a vault
• It’s a lock to stop people from casually or mistakenly turning a valve that should normally be left open or closed.
• It’s a challenge to prove someone is worthy or clever enough to be deserving.
• It’s a challenge to prove someone’s identity because they are in possession of secret knowledge (the password, etc.).

For boxes and cases and certain kinds of locks, you’ll need to account for the Ron Swanson solution.

This can be done with a prominent warning that vandals and looters will suffer a curse or noting that noise will likely draw unwanted attention. Or… not. Just let them smash it open. Of course, maybe something inside it fragile, so part of the treasure (a potion in a ceramic bottle) is lost.

Common Brainteasers

Puzzle Boxes

Cryptexes