There is no single best city game. There is a best one for your group, and finding it comes down to five questions: who is playing, how far they want to walk, whether they want a story or a discovery route, which languages you need, and where you want to end up.
This guide works through those questions and points at the concept that answers each. If you want the mechanics first, see how a City Game works from booking to finish.
1. Who is playing?
Children under ten need counting and spotting clues, short distances and frequent stops. Colleagues need something everyone can join without fitness playing a part. Friends who already know the city can take a longer, harder route. Decide this first, because it rules out more options than budget does.
2. How far do they want to walk?
Most routes cover a few kilometres over a couple of hours. That is comfortable for most groups and too much for small children and anyone with limited mobility. Historic centres also mean cobbles, stairs and slopes, and this differs per city, so check the destination page in the list of cities where you can play a City Game.
3. Story or discovery?
This is the real fork in the road.
- Story-led. A case, an antagonist, puzzles that build on each other. The Syndicate city escape game is the clearest example.
- Investigation. Witnesses, evidence and a suspect list rather than a countdown, as in the Sherlock Holmes murder mystery game.
- Discovery-led. Lighter puzzles, more looking around, the city itself in the foreground: the Secrets of exploration game.
Groups that argue about theories want the second. Groups that would rather see the city want the third. Groups that want pressure want the first.
4. Which language do you need?
Available languages differ per concept and per city, and a game played in a second language is noticeably harder. Check this on the product page before you book, especially for mixed international teams.
5. Where do you want to end up?
The finish decides how the day feels. A route ending on a square with cafes gives you an hour of comparing scores; a route ending at a station sends everyone home. Book the table before you book the game.
Details worth checking
- Can you start at any time, or only in fixed slots?
- How many players can share one phone, and what happens with a larger group?
- Is the route a loop, or does it end far from the start?
- What happens if a team gets stuck: are hints free, and do they cost points?
For larger groups
Split into teams of two to six and run the same route in parallel; that is what makes the finish worth staying for. Bookings and invoicing for bigger groups run through the page for companies and groups.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best city game?
The one that matches your group: story-led for teams that want pressure, investigation for groups that like deduction, discovery for visitors who mainly want to see the city.
How long does a city game take?
Usually a couple of hours including breaks, and you set the pace yourself. Exact playing times are listed per city and concept.
Do we need to be good at puzzles?
No. Routes are built for first-time players and every challenge has hints.
Can we play with a mixed-age group?
Yes, and mixed teams usually do best. Check the walking distance if young children or less mobile players are joining.
How far in advance should we book?
Booking ahead is the safest way to get the date you want, and you have the game before you arrive at the starting point.
Answer the five questions and book
Group, distance, story or discovery, language, finish. Once those are settled the choice makes itself, and the only thing left is picking the city you want to look at properly.