Secrets of · Scavenger hunt
Secrets of Emmen Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour
1.5–2 hours · 1–4 players per team · free Loquiz app€19.95 per team
Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery
Emmen Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game
- 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
Solve a detective murder mystery on foot in Emmen, starting at the Grote of Pancratiuskerk and passing Rensenpark, at your own pace.
Balthasar was murdered in Emmen. No incident room, no colleagues, no forensics - just you, a phone and the streets he was last seen in.
This is a self-guided murder mystery game you play outdoors, at your own pace, with Emmen for a board. Your phone carries the case file and the city carries the evidence. Clues to gather, digital characters to question, codes to break and a name to give at the end - a detective game with no host at a meeting point, no timetable and no group to keep up with.
Among the addresses in the file: Grote of Pancratiuskerk; Emmen, Centrum; and Rensenpark.
The Walk Through Emmen
Emmen and Wildlands come into it too. Expect 3 to 4 km on foot, at whatever speed suits the slowest member of the group.
How the Murder Mystery Game Works in Emmen
Nothing happens until you walk. The evidence is at the locations, the witnesses are on the phone, and every puzzle, code and photo task you get through hands you another piece of Balthasar's last day. 1.5 to 2 hours, 3 to 4 km, no time limit of any kind. The habit is the one the Sherlock Holmes stories are built on: notice the thing nobody else bothered to look at, then say out loud what it means.
Who Plays This in Emmen
With friends. Four of you on one phone and everybody gets a say. Somebody always commits to a theory early, loudly, and wrongly - that is half of what you will talk about afterwards.
With your team. Buy a ticket per four, put every team on the same murder, compare the answers over lunch. Nothing to hire and nobody to brief, so a company outing in Emmen survives people turning up late.
With kids. The puzzles work from about eight years old. Younger ones walk along and help, older ones take over the phone, and the whole thing survives being interrupted by ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the murder mystery game work?
Everything sits in the Loquiz app. Start it wherever you like in Emmen, follow what the case tells you, solve what each location puts in front of you, and hand in a name when you are sure.
How long does it take?
About two hours of playing and 3 to 4 km of walking. How long the whole outing takes is up to you, because you can stop for as long as you like and carry on after.
How many people can play on one ticket?
Four people per ticket, one phone between them, €19.95. A group of ten takes three tickets and turns into three teams, which is more fun than crowding one screen.
Do we need to book a date?
You pick a date, not a slot. Start at nine or start at four; nothing in Emmen is waiting on you and no guide is standing anywhere.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from about eight. The difficulty is easy, the walking is gentle, and children tend to be the fastest in the group at the photo tasks.
What happens if it rains?
Nothing forces you to keep walking. Duck into a cafe, let it pass and carry on when you feel like it - there is no time limit on any part of this.
Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Emmen?
You get the walk either way. The difference is that you arrive at each place with a question, and a question makes people look at a building far harder than a plaque ever does.
What else is there to do in Emmen?
There are other city games in Emmen built on the same idea and a different story, and the Netherlands has plenty more where this came from.
More City Games: Secrets of Emmen · The Emmen Syndicate · city games across the Netherlands
- Grote of PancratiuskerkSchoolstraat 5, 7811 XX Emmen
- Emmen, Centrum7811 AM Emmen
- RensenparkHoofdstraat 18, 7811 EP Emmen
- Emmen7811 AM Emmen
- WildlandsRaadhuisplein 99, 7811 AP Emmen
- D437814 XC Emmen Schimmeres
How it works
- BookYour ticket arrives by email.
- Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
- PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.
What players in other cities say
- ★★★★★
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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