Reykjavik — The Icy Chessboard Conspiracy
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Old Harbour and Reykjavik City CenterReykjavik — The Icy Chessboard Conspiracy
📍 Old Harbour and Reykjavik City Center·🕐 1h30 – 2h·📍 ~1.8 km
Also available as:HistoricalMysterySpy thrillerCinema

Reykjavik — The Icy Chessboard Conspiracy

1986: Uncover the hidden conspiracy behind Reykjavik's World Chess Championship. Decode Fischer-Spassky clues across Miðborg to expose the Cold War plot that nearly derailed world destiny.

📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes

Difficulty
·From age 14 years
Starting point :Ingólfstorg (Statue of Ingólfur Arnarson)

In 1972, Reykjavik became the icy battleground where Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky clashed in the 'Match of the Century,' a Cold War proxy war on 64 squares

8
stages
~1.8 km
route
1h30 – 2h
at your pace
🚶
walking

Reykjavik — The Icy Chessboard Conspiracy

🎭Your Mission

You are a Landnámabók archivist in modern Reykjavik, entrusted with safeguarding Iceland's foundational sagas.

Your mission begins at Ingólfstorg, before the statue of Ingól

Dive into the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland's historic capital, to foil an ancient conspiracy threatening the very foundations of the Nordic nation.

Far more than an escape game

A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one

You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.

🏛️
Hidden historical gems

At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.

📜
Anecdotes & legends

Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.

🏗️
Architecture & heritage

Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.

🚶‍♀️
Immersive wandering

Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.

🎙️
Immersive audio narration

A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.

📲
Yours forever

Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.

« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »

How does it work?

🏛️
Outdoor escape game

Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.

📱
On your smartphone

No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Unlimited players

One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.

🎯
Augmented reality

Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.

🤖
AI that helps you

Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.

🗣️
32 languages

French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.

🎟️

Want to go deeper?

Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person

National Museum of Icelandoptional
2500 ISK. Explore thousands of artifacts, from Viking sagas to modern Iceland, for a complete immersion in Icelandic heritage.
Optionnel
/pers.
Perlan - Wonders of Icelandoptional
4900 ISK. Discover an indoor glacier and an exhibition on Icelandic nature, with panoramic views of Reykjavik from the dome.
Optionnel
/pers.
Hákarl and Brennivín Tastingoptional
Variable price. Dare to taste fermented shark and local schnapps for an authentic Icelandic culinary experience.
Optionnel
/pers.
Sky Lagoon Geothermal Bathoptional
8990 ISK. Enjoy a unique thermal experience with breathtaking ocean views, just minutes from downtown Reykjavik.
Optionnel
/pers.
Budget if you do them all / pers.~0

The story that haunts this land

Your quest begins at Ingólfstorg, Reykjavik's central square named after its founder, Ingólfur Arnarson. This is where the fish market stood since the 18th century, and in 1964, the equestrian statue of Ingólfur Arnarson, a work by sculptor Einar Jónsson, was moved here. Erected in 1885 for the 1000th anniversary of the colonization, this approximately 3-meter-tall statue commemorates the man considered Iceland's first permanent settler in 874, according to the Landnámabók. It overlooks the square, a witness to public gatherings and festivals like Reykjavik Pride, marking the starting point of your exploration of the Icelandic capital's heritage.

Continue your journey towards Reykjavík Old Harbour, an active port since the 17th century and the city's historic economic hub. Whalers operated from here until 1989, with the main quays extending for about 1.5 km. Beyond its commercial role, the port, renovated in the 2000s with restaurants and maritime museums, reveals secrets of sea expeditions and legends of Icelandic sailors. The reflections of ships on the water whisper tales of trade and survival, crucial clues for your investigation on this walking tour of Reykjavik.

Your route then leads you to the Harpa Concert Hall, a contemporary building opened in 2011, after the 2008 financial crisis. Its architecture, inspired by Icelandic basalt columns, is composed of 720 colored glass panels. With a total area of 28,000 m² and a main hall, Eldborg, with a capacity of 1,800 seats, Harpa is a symbol of Icelandic resilience. Named after the Harpa wind from Icelandic folklore, this building shows how the Nordic spirit expresses itself in modern art, offering a striking contrast with the capital's older vestiges, a key step in understanding Reykjavik's evolving heritage.

Exploring the UNESCO candidate city center, you discover Laugavegur, the historic shopping street. This 2 km long main artery has connected the city center to the Laugarnes thermal district since the 18th century, taking its name from the hot springs used since the 17th century. The buildings, mostly dating from 1900-1930, now house boutiques, galleries, and cafes. Laugavegur is a time capsule that allows you to follow the evolution of daily life in Reykjavik, from its thermal origins to its current dynamism, a place where echoes of the past still resonate.

Your journey concludes in front of the Alþingishúsið, the Icelandic Parliament, built between 1880 and 1881 by Danish architect Magnus Guðmundsson. This neo-Gothic edifice, with its 46 windows, is the seat of the Althing, the world's oldest parliament, founded in 930 at Þingvellir. Restored in 1992 after a fire, it embodies Iceland's democratic continuity. By solving the final puzzle here, you have not only foiled the conspiracy but also traversed the history of Reykjavik, from its first settlers to modern institutions. This capital thematic circuit has allowed you to discover the key monuments and the soul of this unique city.

1962
Cuban Missile Crisis, climax of the Cold War.
1983
Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech, hardening of the American stance.
1985
Gorbachev's rise to power, beginning of perestroika and glasnost.

The Route

8 stages through the city

The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues

📱Search clues with your cameraRA

At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.

🎭

The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.

8
original puzzles
24
min of narration
🪙 24
TripCoins granted
16
GPS waypoints

How does it work with a group?

One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).

🧍
1 phone

Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.

👥
2-3 phones

Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
4 to 10 phones

Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.

  • All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
  • Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
  • More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
🕒No date to pick · Code valid 1 year · Play whenever you want

Ready to live this adventure?

Get my code · 12€

No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.

🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation

Practical info

Starting point
Ingólfstorg (Statue of Ingólfur Arnarson)
Directions on Google Maps
🕐
Duration
1h30 – 2h
At your own pace
👥
Players
Unlimited
From age 14
📍
Distance
~1.8 km
Old Harbour and City Center
Accessibility
Full
Flat and obstacle-free route
🌐
Languages
17 languages
Built-in translation

Why this route?

♟️

Geopolitical Strategy

Delve into the maneuvers of great powers.

🔍

Historical Investigation

Uncover the hidden aspects of a historic summit.

💬

Key Speeches

Analyze the words that shaped the world's destiny.

Every step is a piece on the chessboard of history.

Outsmart the strategies of a summit that reshaped the world.

★ Innovation 2026

9 features nobody else has

OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.

🎁

AR treasure chest

A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.

🧙

AR narrator character

Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.

📜

Magic golden letters

At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.

🎧

Written + audio narration

Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.

🧭

360° radar + vibration

A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.

📸

Heritage storytelling

Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.

🤖

Progressive AI hints

3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.

🤳

AR selfie memento

At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.

📱

Zero app to install

PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.

Frequently asked questions

Q01Do I need to download an app?

No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.

Q02Does it work offline?

GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.

Q03How long does a game take?

1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.

Q04What happens if I'm stuck?

You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).

Q05What's the age range?

From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.

Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?

Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.

Q07What is augmented reality exactly?

Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.

Avis des aventuriers

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Your turn to play

Dive into the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland's historic capital, to foil an ancient conspiracy threatening the very foundations of the Nordic nation.

12€
1 phone
23€
2 phones
33€
3 phones
42€
4 phones
50€
5 phones
56€
6 phones
62€
7 phones
68€
8 phones
74€
9 phones
80€
10 phones

1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.

🕒No date to pick · Code valid 1 year · Play whenever you want
Get my code · 12€

No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.

🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation

🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking

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