Over 800 players took a proctored Maniac Mansion exam - only two passed

Woe Industries ran the first "Adventure Game Aptitude Test" last Saturday, challenging players to finish Lucasfilm Games' 1987 graphic adventure Maniac Mansion in four hours without a walkthrough. Participants were not told the target game in advance and were monitored via webcam and microphone to detect looking up hints, using phones, or receiving off-screen help.

The turnout was large: 831 attempts were recorded, while 168 people who began the test too late were disqualified. More than 4,500 people had signed up for a reminder of the test date, and the fixed start time between 1 and 2 pm EST excluded some who couldn’t spare a four-hour block.

Results were stark. Only two participants passed the exam; Woe Industries noted both winners completed the game relatively quickly, which prompted the developer to wonder if they already knew the game well despite not being told the title beforehand. Two additional students who technically finished were disqualified—one for cheating and one for starting late.

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