SCRAP's "Puzzle-Solving x Horror" Reading Series, Second Installment Released: "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend"
Poplar Publishing, in collaboration with SCRAP, has released the second installment of their puzzle-solving horror reading series for elementary school students, "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend." It features multiple endings that change based on the reader's choices, offering a new kind of reading experience.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 23:28
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Poplar Publishing Co., Ltd. has released "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" (Original Concept & Puzzle Creation by Sho Yamamoto (SCRAP), Text by Mitsuru Yoshioka), a reading material for upper elementary and middle school students, on Wednesday, May 13th.
This work is the second installment of a children's horror reading series created in collaboration between SCRAP Co., Ltd., which produces the highly popular immersive game event "Real Escape Game," and Poplar Publishing.
It is a reading work containing 40 "puzzles that are creepy when solved," newly written by SCRAP's puzzle writer, Sho Yamamoto.
[About SCRAP]
SCRAP plans and operates various experiential events, including the "Real Escape Game." What SCRAP provides is a "story experience" through puzzle-solving. They create experiences where participants can become real protagonists and enter worlds no one has ever known before. They also collaborate with TV stations and record companies, constantly providing new experiential entertainment.
*Real Escape Game is a registered trademark of SCRAP Co., Ltd.
Synopsis
"Creepy puzzles when solved" arrive in the chat every day... Who is the sender?
A puzzle-solving x horror story from the creators of Real Escape Game, SCRAP!
Four friends of the same age meet and become close through an online game. One day, one of the friends, Melon, sends a "creepy puzzle when solved" to their group chat. It seems that solving the puzzle will earn them a rare item in the online game. The protagonist, El, and their friends cooperate to solve the puzzles. From that day, a 40-puzzle game began.
However, as they proceed with solving the puzzles, ominous events gradually befall the friends. One by one, they disappear from the chat... Then comes the final problem. Depending on the answer, the ending will split into two patterns.
Will El be able to save their friends...!?
From inside "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" / Prologue
One "creepy puzzle when solved" is presented each day within the chat exchanges.
About every 10 questions, there is a monologue page from the protagonist. At first, the four were having fun solving the puzzles, but...
A disturbing atmosphere gradually begins to flow through the chat as well.
Example of a Puzzle Problem
All 40 problems are set with tricks that can be solved with the knowledge of about a third-grade elementary school student.
The difficulty level is also indicated for each problem, with problems becoming more difficult as the pages progress.
Hhints are also provided in two stages, so even a child reading alone can get the satisfaction of "solving it on their own."
From inside "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" / Problem 2 Difficulty 2
From inside "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" / Problem 27 Difficulty 4
A "trick" set up throughout the entire book & 2 ending patterns depending on the reader's answer
The story progresses in a "chat" format exchanged among the four friends.
The key to solving the problems in this book is not limited to the problem statements alone.
- The content of the conversations exchanged in the chat
- Text and marks within the chat screen
- The illustrations included
In addition, tricks are set up throughout the entire book.
Furthermore, in the final problem of this book, there is a mechanism where the ending splits into two patterns depending on the answer derived by the reader.
A future where you can save your friends, or...? The end of the story is entrusted to the reader's puzzle-solving ability.
When you finish reading to the end, it's a book full of foreshadowing that makes you want to read it again to check, offering a new sensation of reading experience.
[Bookstore Exclusive] Puzzle Poster Campaign Now On
To commemorate the release of this book, a special puzzle poster is now available exclusively at bookstores.
You can download a convenient "Hint Sheet" for free from the QR code on the poster.
Participating stores are listed on the Poplar Publishing website.
Store Information: https://www.poplar.co.jp/topics/68043.html
Puzzle poster sample *Part of the poster is blurred
[Super Difficult Problems in E-book Edition & Backlist Fair]
The e-book version of this book will be released simultaneously on May 13th.
The e-book edition exclusively includes [3 Super Hard Problems] with an increased difficulty level from the main story.
These are original problems by Mr. Sho Yamamoto that will satisfy even adults who are good at puzzle-solving. Please enjoy the spine-chilling, max-difficulty electronic version.
Furthermore, to coincide with the release of the new book, we will be holding a discount campaign for the first volume, "[E-book Edition] The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Unstoppable Exchange Diary."
Details: 30% OFF at major e-book stores
Period: May 13 (Mon) - May 26 (Sun)
Volume 1 E-book Edition Amazon >> https://www.a
This work is the second installment of a children's horror reading series created in collaboration between SCRAP Co., Ltd., which produces the highly popular immersive game event "Real Escape Game," and Poplar Publishing.
It is a reading work containing 40 "puzzles that are creepy when solved," newly written by SCRAP's puzzle writer, Sho Yamamoto.
[About SCRAP]
SCRAP plans and operates various experiential events, including the "Real Escape Game." What SCRAP provides is a "story experience" through puzzle-solving. They create experiences where participants can become real protagonists and enter worlds no one has ever known before. They also collaborate with TV stations and record companies, constantly providing new experiential entertainment.
*Real Escape Game is a registered trademark of SCRAP Co., Ltd.
Synopsis
"Creepy puzzles when solved" arrive in the chat every day... Who is the sender?
A puzzle-solving x horror story from the creators of Real Escape Game, SCRAP!
Four friends of the same age meet and become close through an online game. One day, one of the friends, Melon, sends a "creepy puzzle when solved" to their group chat. It seems that solving the puzzle will earn them a rare item in the online game. The protagonist, El, and their friends cooperate to solve the puzzles. From that day, a 40-puzzle game began.
However, as they proceed with solving the puzzles, ominous events gradually befall the friends. One by one, they disappear from the chat... Then comes the final problem. Depending on the answer, the ending will split into two patterns.
Will El be able to save their friends...!?
From inside "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" / Prologue
One "creepy puzzle when solved" is presented each day within the chat exchanges.
About every 10 questions, there is a monologue page from the protagonist. At first, the four were having fun solving the puzzles, but...
A disturbing atmosphere gradually begins to flow through the chat as well.
Example of a Puzzle Problem
All 40 problems are set with tricks that can be solved with the knowledge of about a third-grade elementary school student.
The difficulty level is also indicated for each problem, with problems becoming more difficult as the pages progress.
Hhints are also provided in two stages, so even a child reading alone can get the satisfaction of "solving it on their own."
From inside "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" / Problem 2 Difficulty 2
From inside "The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Faceless Friend" / Problem 27 Difficulty 4
A "trick" set up throughout the entire book & 2 ending patterns depending on the reader's answer
The story progresses in a "chat" format exchanged among the four friends.
The key to solving the problems in this book is not limited to the problem statements alone.
- The content of the conversations exchanged in the chat
- Text and marks within the chat screen
- The illustrations included
In addition, tricks are set up throughout the entire book.
Furthermore, in the final problem of this book, there is a mechanism where the ending splits into two patterns depending on the answer derived by the reader.
A future where you can save your friends, or...? The end of the story is entrusted to the reader's puzzle-solving ability.
When you finish reading to the end, it's a book full of foreshadowing that makes you want to read it again to check, offering a new sensation of reading experience.
[Bookstore Exclusive] Puzzle Poster Campaign Now On
To commemorate the release of this book, a special puzzle poster is now available exclusively at bookstores.
You can download a convenient "Hint Sheet" for free from the QR code on the poster.
Participating stores are listed on the Poplar Publishing website.
Store Information: https://www.poplar.co.jp/topics/68043.html
Puzzle poster sample *Part of the poster is blurred
[Super Difficult Problems in E-book Edition & Backlist Fair]
The e-book version of this book will be released simultaneously on May 13th.
The e-book edition exclusively includes [3 Super Hard Problems] with an increased difficulty level from the main story.
These are original problems by Mr. Sho Yamamoto that will satisfy even adults who are good at puzzle-solving. Please enjoy the spine-chilling, max-difficulty electronic version.
Furthermore, to coincide with the release of the new book, we will be holding a discount campaign for the first volume, "[E-book Edition] The Creepy Puzzle-Solving Game: The Unstoppable Exchange Diary."
Details: 30% OFF at major e-book stores
Period: May 13 (Mon) - May 26 (Sun)
Volume 1 E-book Edition Amazon >> https://www.a