Epilogue Quiz: Race the Levels, Claim the Crown

Every great event deserves a memorable beginning. For Epilogue '26, that beginning was Epilogue Quiz—a live, puzzle-based competition that turned excitement into an interactive experience.

At a Glance

Project Overview

Epilogue Quiz is a web-based competition designed exclusively for University of Moratuwa undergraduates. Built to enhance engagement before Epilogue '26, the platform challenged participants to solve sequential puzzles while competing against one another in real time.

Unlike conventional online quizzes, progression depended entirely on performance. Each correct answer unlocked the next challenge, encouraging continuous participation and creating anticipation throughout the festival countdown.

The Challenge

The objective extended beyond distributing free tickets. MoraSpirit wanted to create a meaningful digital experience that would maintain excitement before the festival while encouraging students to interact with the event in a memorable way.

The solution needed to:

• Increase engagement before the event.
• Encourage repeat participation.
• Ensure fairness and transparency.
• Support hundreds of simultaneous users.
• Provide administrators with complete control over the competition.

The Solutions

Epilogue Quiz combined gamification with a modern web application to deliver an engaging user experience.

Participants registered using their university index number before beginning a sequence of puzzle-based questions. Every correct answer unlocked the following level, while incorrect responses required players to continue solving the current challenge before progressing.

The competition rewarded not only knowledge but also consistency, speed, and determination, creating a truly competitive environment.

Player Experience

The application was designed to be simple, intuitive, and accessible across devices.

Players could:

• Register within seconds.
• Begin the first challenge immediately.
• Progress through sequential levels.
• Resume their progress at any time.
• Track their final score after completing the competition

Key Features

Sequential Progression

Questions are unlocked one at a time. Progression is validated on the server, preventing players from bypassing levels or submitting answers out of sequence.

Puzzle-Based Answer Interface

Instead of a traditional text field, answers are entered letter by letter using an interactive interface inspired by crossword puzzles, making each challenge more engaging and intuitive.

Live Leaderboard

A real-time leaderboard allows participants to monitor the competition while protecting personal information by displaying only the owner's university index number.

Administrative Dashboard

A dedicated dashboard enables organizers to monitor registrations, manage questions, track participant progress, reorder levels, and oversee the competition in real time.

Security and Fair Play

Fairness was a fundamental design principle throughout the platform.

Every answer submitted by a participant is verified on the server rather than within the browser, preventing manipulation of the competition. Only the first participant to successfully complete every level is declared the winner, ensuring a transparent and trustworthy competition.

Technology Stack

The application was developed using modern technologies to ensure scalability, reliability, and maintainability.

Fronted

• Next.js 16
• React 19
• TypeScript
• Tailwind CSS

Backend

• Prisma ORM
• MySQL
• Redis

Authentication and Security

• JWT Authentication
• bcrypt Password Hashing
• Password Reset Workflow

Outcomes

Epilogue Quiz successfully transformed the anticipation surrounding Epilogue '26 into an engaging digital experience. By combining competition, gamification, and modern web technologies, the platform encouraged students to return, compete with friends, and remain connected with the festival before the main event.

More than a quiz, it demonstrated how thoughtful digital experiences can strengthen community engagement while delivering a secure, scalable, and enjoyable platform.

Play Now

Epilogue Quiz is live for anyone heading to Epilogue '26. Register and start the first level — and remember, only one player finishes first. Tickets for the night itself are available at epilogue.moraspirit.com.

About MoraSpirit

Founded in 2009 by a group of University of Moratuwa undergraduates, MoraSpirit began as a platform for university sports media coverage and has since grown into a broader student-run initiative behind events, campaigns, and digital platforms across the university — Epilogue among them.