Outdoor escape game or escape room: what is the difference?

In an escape room you are locked in a decorated room, usually for 60 minutes, with a game host watching. You book a time slot, arrive on time and solve the puzzles in that one space.

In an outdoor escape game the city is the game board. In our game The Syndicate you follow Magnus and the stolen formulas through the streets. Every location on the route asks a riddle, a code or a photo task, on your own phone in the free Loquiz app. Your group splits into characters with their own role in the mission, so everyone really plays.

• Where: a room versus real streets, squares and buildings.
• When: a fixed time slot versus whenever you like: start any day within 12 months of booking.
• How long: about an hour versus about 1.5–2 hours and 3–4 km on foot.
• Who leads: a game host versus nobody: no guide, no hints, the evidence is what you see.
• Price: usually per person versus €19.95 per team of up to 5 players on one phone.
• Cancelling: free until you start.

• Colleagues: several teams can play at the same time and compare afterwards; no venue or host to arrange.
• Friends: everyone has a character, so the puzzles do not all go to the fastest player.
• Families: works well from about eight years old; 3–4 km is an ordinary afternoon walk.
• Two of you: the whole game runs on one phone.

The Syndicate has 84 games in cities across Europe and beyond, Zwolle among them. Pick your city on our website and start whenever it suits you.