Bern Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game

The case opens on the terrace behind the Bundeshaus in Bern, high above the river. The trail then drops into the arcaded streets, past the Kindlifresserbrunnen and under the Zytglogge, and carries on towards Münsterplatz. It is a self-guided detective game, played on foot through the old town.

Bern sits on a bend of high ground, so there is a gentle climb here and there, but nothing demanding: families with children, groups of friends, couples and colleagues all get round it, and it can be played alone. Teams are up to four people sharing one phone, while larger groups buy extra tickets and go out separately. The arcades keep a team dry when it rains, which is useful when an answer needs discussing. Nobody guides you and no starting time is set.

How to play

Four steps come before the first clue.

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The case is the murder of Balthasar. There are codes to break, photo tasks to complete and digital characters to question, and their accounts of the evening do not match. From the Einsteinhaus down to the Nydeggbrücke, and out on the Münsterplattform above the water, each answer takes a name off the list.

Several teams playing at once turns Bern into a race, which is why the game is often used for teambuilding. Pause on Waisenhausplatz for a coffee, return to the case, and finish it in the streets of Bern.