A city challenge game turns the streets of a city into the playing field. You walk from place to place, and at every stop there is something to do: a riddle to crack, an inscription to find, a detail on a building to count. You only get the answer by being there and looking.
In short: a city challenge game is a self-guided game on your phone that you play outdoors in a real city centre. You can play it as one team on your own route, or as a group where several teams play against each other in the same game. Which one suits you depends mostly on how many people you are and whether you want to compete.
What is a city challenge game?
It is a game played on foot in a city, where each challenge is tied to a real place you have to go to.
The difference with a quiz or an app at home is the city itself. The questions are about what is in front of you: the year above a door, the animal on a fountain, the name on a statue. That makes you look at a city in a way a normal walk never does, and it gives a group something to do together instead of just following someone.
A City Game is played in your phone's browser. You open the game with the code from your booking, so there is nothing to download. You need one charged phone with mobile internet per team.
What are the two ways to play?
You either play your own route as one team, or you play against other teams in one shared game.
One team, your own route
This is the classic way. Your team of up to four players follows a route through the old centre at its own pace. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, plus any breaks, and you can pause and carry on later. There is no time slot: the ticket is valid for 12 months and you start whenever you like.
There are several kinds of challenge games to choose from:
- Secrets of [city]: a discovery route with puzzles and a story with its own characters, different in every city. Good for families, friends and first visits.
- The detective murder mystery game: interview witnesses, collect evidence and name the killer.
- The Syndicate: an outdoor escape game with time pressure, where you crack codes in the streets. Played with two to five players.
You can see which games run in which city on the city overview.
Teams against each other: City Conquest
City Conquest is the group version: several teams play in the same game at the same time and compete for the city.
Each team, of one to four players on its own phone, picks a faction with its own story, strengths and characters. The map shows zones spread across the centre. Walk to a zone, solve the task there and the zone takes your team's colour. Then the race is on, because other teams can win it back. When the time is up, the team with the most points wins.
A few things make it play differently from a normal route:
- Every zone has a field that fits the place: knowledge at a library, creativity at a museum, speed on a bridge, power at a tower. Each faction is strong in some fields, so every team has its own zones worth going for.
- Many tasks per zone: each team gets a different task, and a new one every time it comes back, so answers cannot be passed on.
- The organiser sets it up: the default language and the playing time are chosen before the start, and every player can pick their own language on their phone.
City Conquest is made for groups of at least two teams: friends, families, a bachelor party or colleagues. You can play it in some 30 cities, among them Rome, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Utrecht, Rotterdam, London, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Lisbon and Tokyo. Every city with City Game games has a City Conquest page; you find it on the city's page in the city overview. For a bigger group or an invoice in your company name, see the page for companies and groups.
Which one should you choose?
Choose your own route for small groups and a relaxed day, and City Conquest when you are a bigger group that wants to compete.
- Two to four people, a first visit or a family day: one team on a route. You see the main sights and the story keeps everyone going.
- Eight people or more who like a contest: City Conquest. Every team is busy all the time and the scores keep it tense until the end.
- A group, but nobody wants to compete: several teams on the same route, each at its own pace, and you compare times over a drink afterwards.
What makes a good city challenge?
A good challenge can only be solved on the spot, has more than one level of help, and never just gives away the answer.
Watch out for games where you could answer everything from the sofa with a search engine: then the city is just a backdrop. In a City Game the puzzles are tied to real buildings, inscriptions and places, and there are hints when you are stuck. A wrong answer does not reveal the solution, so the moment you crack it yourself still counts.
The page on how to play shows what this looks like before you book.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a city challenge game take?
A route takes about 1.5 to 2 hours at your own pace, plus breaks. In City Conquest the organiser chooses the playing time before the start.
How many people can play?
A team is up to four players on one phone (The Syndicate: two to five). For a bigger group you book more teams. City Conquest needs at least two teams.
Do we need to download an app?
No. The game runs in your phone's browser. You need a charged phone with mobile internet for each team.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The games work well from about 8 years old, and younger children can join with an adult reading along.
Can we play when we like?
Yes. A route ticket has no date or time slot. It is valid for 12 months and you can cancel for free until your team starts.
In short: pick your route or pick a rival
A city challenge game is the city as a game board, played on your phone. Play your own route as one team when you want to explore at your own pace, or choose City Conquest when your group wants to play team against team. Start with the city overview to see what is on in the city you are visiting.