The Vanishing Ink — Decipher Liberty's Lost Declaration
Uncover the truth behind a forged amendment to the Declaration of Independence hidden in plain sight. Race through colonial Philadelphia to expose the conspiracy before the lie becomes history.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
July 1776
The Vanishing Ink — Decipher Liberty's Lost Declaration
You are a historical decryption specialist, called to Philadelphia by a leading historian.
July 1776. While the Continental Congress debated and signed the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall, a radical
A hidden message in the ink that sealed independence
« These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States. »— Richard Henry Lee, Lee Resolution, June 7, 1776
A war of words and secrets
The signing of the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776, was not only a bold political act but also a moment of great vulnerability for the nascent United States. British surveillance was constant, and Loyalists, loyal to the Crown, were numerous and active, seeking to undermine the cause of independence by all means.
In this atmosphere of mistrust and counter-espionage, the idea that a Loyalist agent might have infiltrated patriotic circles and left a secret message is more than just a legend. Such a message, coded and concealed within the very tools of liberty, would have been a final attempt at disinformation, a seed of discord planted at the heart of the new nation. Finding this message means understanding the risks taken by the founders.
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.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
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?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
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.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
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
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
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.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
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.
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
Why this route?
Historic Quill
Find the writing tool that marked the history of independence.
Echoes of Liberty
Let yourself be guided by the sounds and symbols of the famous bell.
Espionage Trail
Follow the clues left by a secret agent through the city.
Truth is revealed in details
Decode the message before it's too late.
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
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play l encre disparue liberte philadelphie? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Decode the last words of a loyalist spy and save the Revolution's honor.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Historic Center of Philadelphia
See all games in Historic Center of Philadelphia→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
The Forgotten Oath — Uncover the Founders' Secret Pact
Decipher the hidden conspiracy behind the Declaration of Independence. Eight landmarks hold the coded truth the Founding Fathers concealed from history.
Philadelphia — The Forgotten Union Oath
Uncover the hidden oath sworn by Founding Fathers in 1787, a secret pact that shaped the Constitution but was buried in shadows. Decode clues across landmarks to reveal the truth before it fades forever.
Philadelphia — Paine's Hidden Legacy
Track down Thomas Paine’s lost manuscript pages hidden across Old City and expose the conspiracy that tried to erase his radical ideas.
Independence Hall — Unravel the 1776 Prophecy
Decode a cryptic prophecy hidden by the Founding Fathers in 1776, foretelling America's destiny. Follow their secret trail through Philadelphia's revolutionary heart to expose the final revelation before it's lost forever.
Independence National Historical Park — Echo of Liberty
Decipher the Echo of Liberty: uncover a Revolutionary conspiracy surrounding the Liberty Bell's secret inscription and a vanished artifact that challenges the founding of freedom.
Philadelphia — Franklin's Hidden Cipher
Track down Benjamin Franklin’s scattered cipher fragments and crack the code that reveals his secret blueprint for America’s future.
Explore other cities in États-Unis
Camden
The spirit of urban renewal on the Delaware
Valley Forge
Where American independence was forged
Princeton
Academic elegance and Ivy League mysteries
Bethlehem
Steel city with Moravian charm
Atlantic City
Where the iconic boardwalk meets casino lights
Dover
Delaware's historic capital