Helsinki Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game

Rautatientori, the square outside the central station, is where the case opens. From there the route passes Kiasma and the Ateneum Art Museum, climbs to Temppeliaukio Church in its basin of rock, and comes back down to Helsinki Cathedral. It is a self-guided murder mystery game, and the centre of the city serves as the scene.

The old core is walkable and mostly level, which suits families with children, groups of friends, couples and colleagues; solo players get on fine as well. Four people to a team is the limit, all sharing one phone, so a larger party buys extra tickets and heads out as two or three teams. The pavements in Helsinki are wide enough for a group to stand and argue over an answer without blocking anyone else. There is no guide and no set start time.

How to play

Four steps and you are on the trail.

1. Book the City Game
2. Check the instructions email
3. Download the Loquiz app
4. Start playing whenever you like

The case is the murder of Balthasar. Progress comes from cracking codes, completing photo tasks and comparing what a set of digital characters tell you, because their statements do not agree. Around Kauppatori and the harbour front, each answer takes another name off the list.

If several teams set off at the same time, Helsinki becomes the board they compete on, which is what makes the game usable for teambuilding. Break for coffee, resume where you stopped, and finish the case somewhere in the middle of Helsinki.