Salt Rock game maker creates devilish puzzles for your fun

If you have ever found yourself wishing to be Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, solving puzzles and finding ancient artifacts, then Salt Rock’s Evolva Games is the day out you have been looking for.

Joshiah da Silva (27) owns Evolva Games in Salt Rock, which is part scavenger hunt, part escape room and part outdoor activity, all with a focus on narrative.

Born in Pretoria, Joshiah lived a childhood across continents owing to his father’s job working in IT on mining operations.

“I spent most of my childhood in Mozambique, but we also lived in Brazil, Australia and the UK,” he said.

It was in this time that he discovered a love for puzzle solving, particularly inspired by the computer game Riven and its sequel, Myst.

With games like this, Tomb Raider and a multitude of board games played with his sister Monica, Joshiah was slowly forming a career path in the back of his mind.

Looking for something that could join his love of puzzles with his love of the outdoors, Joshiah did a degree in business management at the University of Greenwich, worked as a camp counselor at an outdoor adventure company and even enjoyed a brief stint with the British Marines.

But it was while spending time with his sister and her husband, David Henry who owns Breadologie in Salt Rock, that Joshua hit on the idea for Evolva Games.

“I was visiting them in Switzerland when I decided to create a game for them. When I came out of my room the next day, my sister was shocked – she said she had never seen me miss dinner before!”

The idea for Evolva Games was born and Joshiah moved back to South Africa in 2019.

With a home base at Claremont farm in Salt Rock, Joshiah takes groups on 3 distinct game options Q’Ni Masks, Amelia and the Evolva Trials.

They all feature a variety of challenges and puzzles designed to push you through the story.

“I wanted the games to be self-contained stories that keep people invested the whole time. This meant creating narratives that were interesting and accessible to everyone.”

To that end, Joshiah uses a variety of natural materials for his puzzles.

Whether it be rocks or planks of wood, the majority of his games will feature either handmade or reclaimed items.

“I really like thrifting old pieces. There is definitely a difference when something has been used before rather than a plastic version, it adds authenticity.”

Sometimes the pieces create a new part of the story, sometimes a new story demands new physical pieces to go along with it.

Although Covid-19 has been difficult to weather for Evolva Games, Joshiah continues to persevere and create new games when he can – he is currently working on one that revolves around rhino conservation.

To get a feel for what the puzzles might be like on the day, you can find a free version called the Crystal Scarab on the Evolva Games website.

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