Nearly Found Cryptids: A Magical Tech Upgrade for Adventurers - NFC Isle of Wight Treasure Hunt?

Isle of Wight Follies
Jun 22
2 min read

It started with imagination, and it continued with hair loss.

Nearly Found Cryptids: A Magical Tech Upgrade for Adventurers - NFC Isle of Wight Treasure Hunt?

A photo, a whisper, a half-seen shadow behind a bench or barn...Up until now, Isle of Wight Follies has been about playful exploration, a lean on imagination, tall tales, and curious creatures who never quite reveal themselves properly during your Isle of Wight Treasure Hunt, treasure being, of course, mythical creatures.

But the creatures are getting bolder. And soon, your phone will become an active part of the hunt; it just needs the ability to pick up NFC.

From July 2025, we’re upgrading the adventure with something quietly magical:

NFC: Nearly Found Cryptids.

Yes, it sounds technical, but stick with us. These small, almost-hidden tokens will be placed at real-world locations across the island. If you’re in the right spot and your phone’s NFC setting is switched on, you’ll unlock something that feels like pure myth-meets-magic:

An audio clue.
A hidden password.
A message from the creature itself.
Or even a hint to claim a physical reward.

This is an interactive story, stitched through coastlines and country paths.

Bonus Time Offer: Get 4 Weeks Instead of 1

To celebrate this next evolution, we’re making it easy to join in:

Buy a one-week Game Pass before 15th July 2025 and we’ll upgrade it to a month, maybe more, depends I've slept recently.

You’ll be active during the very window when the first NFC tags are being placed (from 1st July onwards), meaning you can be one of the first to whisper back to a cryptid.

Want even more?

The first creature location to get NFC will be Ryde. It will take a couple of weeks to set up NFC for all locations. Get your pass here.

How Does the Upgrade to NFC Work with this 'Isle of Wight Treasure Hunt'?

Think of it like a smart scavenger hunt:

Pick a creature and get your clue. Each one has a photo. Look closely. Where was it taken? A path? A gate? A tree with opinions?
Go to that real-world location. Use your phone for directions. Check for a green dot, a familiar object from the clue photo, or a cleverly hidden black disk (3cm wide, absurdly easy to miss).
Activate your phone's NFC (it’s in your phone settings). Hold it near the spot… and just like that, the creature speaks.
Listen, read or watch what they’ve left behind. You’ll often get a “whisper word”, something you’ll need to collect a reward at a specific local business.
Combine whisper words with shop clues Say the full phrase aloud (yes, really) and if it’s right… You’ll receive your reward.