Merrion Square — Wilde's Scandalous Secret
Uncover the hidden code in Oscar Wilde's Merrion Square haunts that conceals the true scandal behind his downfall. Decipher clues across Georgian landmarks to expose the conspiracy that destroyed him.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the elegant Georgian heart of Merrion Square, young Oscar Wilde grew up at No
Merrion Square — Wilde's Scandalous Secret
You are a keen journalist for the Dublin Daily News, spring 1895, tasked with unraveling the threads of a scandalous secret that still hangs over Georgian Dublin.
Your quest begins in front of
Discover Dublin through the eyes of Oscar Wilde, from his childhood home in Merrion Square to his places of study, where the spirit of the Irish dandy took flight.
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
« I can resist everything except temptation. »— Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins in Dublin, at the foot of the Oscar Wilde sculpture in Merrion Square, a historic district that housed the writer from 1854 to 1876 at 1 Merrion Square North. This 11-hectare Georgian square, developed between 1760 and 1780, is one of the most elegant in Leinster and was also the residence of William Butler Yeats at 82 Merrion Square. The bronze sculpture, a work by Danny Osborne, was inaugurated on October 12, 1997, and invites you to delve into the world of this brilliant mind, born in this very district of Dublin, in the heart of Georgian Dublin.
Continuing your scavenger hunt through Literary Dublin, you reach 21 Westland Row. This historic building, constructed around 1830, was one of the first schools attended by Oscar Wilde. Although his time there was brief, this location is an essential landmark for understanding the beginnings of Wilde's education before he went on to Trinity College. It is here, 800 meters from Merrion Square, that young Oscar began to sharpen his intellect, in an environment that shaped the minds of many scholars in Leinster.
The route then takes you to the prestigious Trinity College Dublin, an iconic institution in Ireland. Although Oscar Wilde studied there later, this campus is the cradle of academic excellence that attracted the greatest minds in the country. You will explore the Examination Hall and the Old Library, places where erudition is palpable. It is in these halls that Dublin's influence on thinkers and writers is manifested, a cornerstone of Leinster's heritage and a must-see site for anyone interested in the history of Dublin.
Your circuit then leads you to The Shelbourne Hotel, a 5-star hotel opened in 1824 and located on St Stephen's Green, just 500 meters from Merrion Square. This listed historic building is not only a place of luxury; it was also the scene of the drafting of the Irish Constitution in 1922, in the famous 'Room 335'. This stop highlights Dublin's importance in Ireland's political history, offering insight into major events that shaped the nation, far from Wilde's personal scandals, but at the heart of collective history.
Finally, your exploration of Dublin concludes at St Stephen's Green, a 22-hectare public park opened in 1880, after having been private since 1664. This haven of peace, with its 3,500 trees and 3 ponds, houses the Fusilier's Arch built in 1887. It is the ideal place to reflect on the different facets of Dublin you have traversed, from literary residences to historic monuments. You take with you not only Wilde's secret but also a deeper understanding of Dublin for families or solo travelers, a city rich in heritage and stories, a truly interactive tour of the heart of Leinster.
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?
The Master of Paradox
Dive into Oscar Wilde's sharp wit, his famous aphorisms, and his subversive humor that marked his era and continues to inspire.
The Literary Legacy
Explore the places that nourished his genius, from his student years at Trinity College to the timeless themes of his immortal works.
The Tragedy of an Icon
Follow Wilde's footsteps, from the peak of his glory to his public downfall, and understand how his personal destiny shaped his art.
Art for art's sake, life for beauty.
A journey into the heart of aestheticism and an extraordinary destiny.
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.
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Your turn to play
Discover Dublin through the eyes of Oscar Wilde, from his childhood home in Merrion Square to his places of study, where the spirit of the Irish dandy took flight.
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
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