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Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery

Cologne Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game

4.4 on Google (23 reviews)

Cologne Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery GameCologne Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game – Cologne (2)Cologne Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game – Cologne (3)Cologne Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game – Cologne (4)Cologne Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game – Cologne (5)
  • 1.5–2 hours
  • 1–4 players per team
  • In the free Loquiz app on your phone
  • Start any time within 12 months
  • Free cancellation until you start

Take on a detective murder mystery on foot in Cologne, from Alter Markt past Museum Ludwig to the Kölner Dom, at your own pace.

Balthasar was murdered in Cologne. No incident room, no colleagues, no forensics - just you, a phone and the streets he was last seen in.

It is a murder mystery game in outdoor form. You walk Cologne, the story comes to meet you, and every location holds a puzzle, a code or a photo task that crosses another name off the suspect list. Self-guided from the first step: you pick the day, you pick the hour, you set the pace.

You will be standing at St. Gereon, Heinzelmännchenbrunnen and Museum Ludwig, among other places.

Where the Case Takes You in Cologne

Kolumba and Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud come into it too. Expect 3 to 4 km on foot, at whatever speed suits the slowest member of the group.

How Your Case in Cologne Plays Out

The story arrives as you move. Every location holds something to work out, and the digital characters you meet each know one piece of what happened to Balthasar. Reckon on 1.5 to 2 hours and 3 to 4 km, but there is no clock: break for lunch and pick it up afterwards. The reasoning runs the way it does in a Sherlock Holmes story: small observations first, the accusation last.

For Families, Friends and Teams in Cologne

With friends. Four people, one phone, one case. Somebody will back the wrong suspect early and refuse to let it go, and that is the part everyone remembers.

With your team. Two teams on one case turns it competitive, which is the whole point. No booking a room, no briefing, no waiting for stragglers: a team outing in Cologne that starts when the last person shows up.

With kids. Eight and up manage it comfortably. Children are usually quickest on the photo tasks, and teenagers who have stopped being impressed by old buildings get competitive about the puzzles instead.

Before You Book

How does the murder mystery game work?

You play it through the Loquiz app on your own phone. You open it with the code from the email, the story moves with you, and every stop holds a puzzle, a code or a photo task standing between you and the next piece.

How long does it take?

Between one and a half and two hours for most groups, across 3 to 4 km. Slower is free: nothing is timed and nothing expires while you are having lunch.

How many people can play on one ticket?

One ticket covers one to four players on a single device, €19.95 in total. Bigger groups buy one ticket per four and race each other through the same murder.

Do we need to book a time?

You pick a date, not a slot. Start at nine or start at four; nothing in Cologne is waiting on you and no guide is standing anywhere.

Is it suitable for children?

From roughly age eight it works well. The puzzles are built to be solved, not to defeat anyone, and younger children happily walk along and help.

What happens if it rains?

You decide when to play and you can pause whenever you want. Step inside, wait the shower out and pick the case up again - no clock is running and nothing closes.

Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Cologne?

It is a detective game first. But you see Cologne properly while you play it, and people tend to remember a street they searched better than one they were shown.

What else is there to do in Cologne?

There are other city games in Cologne built on the same idea and a different story, and Germany has plenty more where this came from.

Keep going: Secrets of Cologne · The Cologne Syndicate · city games across Germany

  1. St. GereonGereonskloster 2, 50670 Köln
  2. HeinzelmännchenbrunnenAm Hof 12-14, 50667 Köln
  3. Museum LudwigHeinrich-Böll-Platz, 50667 Köln
  4. KolumbaKolumbastraße 4, 50667 Köln
  5. Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation CorboudObenmarspforten 40, 50667 Köln
  6. DomschatzkammerDomkloster 4, 50667 Köln
  7. Alter MarktAlter Markt 18, 50667 Köln
  8. Hohenzollernbrücke50679 Köln
Show all 13 stops
  1. Kölner DomDomkloster 4, 50667 Köln
  2. Römisch-Germanisches Museum im Belgischen HausCäcilienstraße 46, 50667 Köln
  3. Kölnisches StadtmuseumMinoritenstraße 13, 50667 Köln
  4. Basilica of St Mary in the CapitolKasinostraße 8, 50676 Köln
  5. Gürzenich KölnMartinstraße 29-37, 50667 Köln

How it works

  1. BookYour ticket arrives by email.
  2. Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
  3. PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.

What players in other cities say

4.4 on Google (23 reviews)

  • ★★★★★

    Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!

    Martin M.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    Game in Amsterdam was fun!

    Enzo L.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    Had So much fun playing while exploring the city

    Philip C.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    I had a fantastic experience with CityGame! The concept is creative, engaging, and a great way to explore a city in a completely new way. The games are well-designed, combining puzzles, storytelling, and adventure so you’re constantly discovering something interesting around every corner. What I especially love is how CityGame turns a normal walk through the city into an interactive experience. It’s perfect for friends, families, or team outings, and it makes sightseeing much more exciting than the usual tours. Everything was easy to use, the challenges were fun and clever, and it really encouraged us to look closer at the city and its hidden details. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to explore!

    Jessica S.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    This is an interesting way to conduct a self-guided Amsterdam city tour. It used the GPS on your phone to guide you to stops on a route. There are mini quizzes once you arrive at the stops on the path. The quizzes draw your attention to features in front of you or to a brief history of the place. In many cases, we visited a spot that would not have been obvious as a regular passer by. The tour as a whole was interesting to us as newcomers, but I would have liked more information on many locations we visited - a few links outside of the app for each place would have been helpful. Beyond that, the interface was a bit clunky and sometimes awkward to navigate. We definitely don't regret trying this out and feel like we got our money's worth on the experience.

    JaibhijaiJune 2024 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    This was a fun game! It had a few challenges which was good and surprises. It got me to go around and explore Queenstown, New Zealand. I got to places in Queenstown, New Zealand I hadn’t been to before while on holiday here. Thank you for that and it gave a feel what it would be like to be the actual Sherlock Holmes!

    Dylan J.February 2024 · via google
How we check reviews

These reviews were left by players on Google and other review sites and are copied from there as they are, with their source.

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