There is a unique thrill in unlocking a rare achievement—seeing that notification pop up and realizing you are among the 1% of players who actually pulled it off. It provides a sense of “gamer cred,” a digital badge of honor proving you have the grit to conquer what others couldn’t. But recently, a new challenge emerged that made even the most seasoned veterans look like novices.

Last Saturday, the first-ever Adventure Game Aptitude Test (AGAT) was administered, and the results were humbling. Designed by the creative minds at Woe Industries, the AGAT wasn’t just a game; it was a standardized test of raw problem-solving skills. The mission? Complete a classic ’80s adventure game without a single walkthrough, hint, or external guide.

The Ironclad Proctoring Protocol

To ensure this was a true test of skill and not a “Google-the-answer” contest, participants were subjected to rigorous online proctoring. Using a combination of webcam and microphone monitoring, the software looked for any signs of cheating—whether it was glancing at a second monitor, checking a phone for hints, or receiving help from someone off-screen.

This level of surveillance transformed PC gaming into a high-stakes examination, stripping away the modern safety nets we’ve become accustomed to in the era of instant internet guides.

The Challenge: Maniac Mansion

The 831 participants were tasked with beating the 1987 classic Maniac Mansion. This legendary title from Lucasfilm Games is famous (and infamous) for its complex puzzles and “dead-end” scenarios. Players were given a strict four-hour window to navigate the mansion and reach the credits.

While gaming has evolved significantly since 1987, the inherent difficulty of these early point-and-click titles remains a massive hurdle for those used to modern hand-holding.

By the Numbers: A 0.24% Success Rate

The final statistics for the AGAT prove that today’s gamers might be a bit more reliant on walkthroughs than they’d like to admit. Out of nearly a thousand attempts, only two individuals successfully navigated the mansion within the time limit.

Woe Industries leaned into the absurdity of the difficulty, noting that the AGAT makes prestigious exams like the SAT or MCAT look easy by comparison. “The SAT, MCAT, and most forklift operator certifications lie prostrate at our feet,” the developers joked.

Bribes, Blunders, and Fallout 4?

The test day wasn’t without its share of drama and confusion. Beyond the expected drop-offs from players who couldn’t handle the Saturday morning schedule, some participants tried to bypass the rules entirely. One individual attempted to bribe the proctors by sending a screenshot of a $1,000 bank transfer—a “donation” that was swiftly declined.

In one of the more bizarre incidents, two separate players submitted “win” screenshots from Fallout 4. Whether this was a misunderstood joke or a desperate attempt at a bait-and-switch, it didn’t help their score.

The Verdict on Modern Problem Solving

The two victors finished the game with surprising speed, leading developers to believe they likely had prior experience with the title. However, since the game wasn’t announced beforehand, their success boiled down to either incredible memory or elite-tier hardware-like processing of adventure game logic.

For most streamers and participants, the experience was a “gradual descent into frustration”—a nostalgic reminder of why ’80s adventure games were both loved and feared. It serves as a fascinating look at how our approach to digital challenges has changed in an interconnected world.

If you think you have what it takes to be the third person to conquer the mansion without help, you can find Maniac Mansion on Steam. You can also explore more experimental projects from Woe Industries on Itch.

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