Turku — Uncover the Great Fire's Shadow
Uncover the erased secrets of Turku's Great Fire of 1827. Decode clues from scorched landmarks to reveal a conspiracy that sparked the blaze and vanished vital documents before the flames consumed the city.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
September 4, 1827: A single spark in Hellman House attic unleashes the Great Fire of Turku, razing three-quarters of the city in a day of inferno
Turku — Uncover the Great Fire's Shadow
You are Henrik Gabriel Porthan, former rector of Turku Academy, tasked with investigating the mysteries hidden in the ashes of your native city, Turku, in the aftermath of the devastating 18
Dive into the smoking ruins of the great 1827 fire that destroyed a third of Turku, Finland's former capital.
The story that haunts this land
Turku, seat of the bishopric since 1156, shone as the spiritual and intellectual capital of Finland when the fire broke out on the night of September 4, 1827. The Lutheran cathedral, built in the 13th century, dominated with its 101-meter tower a maze of wooden houses typical of the 18th century. Henrik Gabriel Porthan, father of Finnish philology and emblematic figure of Turku Academy, had devoted his life to preserving Finnish cultural heritage in this crossroads city between Sweden and Russia.
Vanha Suurtori, the old Great Square, was the central theater of the drama. Surrounded by centuries-old wooden buildings, the square saw flames spread with terrifying speed, fueled by autumn winds. Witnesses report that the blaze illuminated the sky for kilometers around, transforming Turku's historic heart into an ocean of fire. The neoclassical reconstruction that followed forever erased the medieval architecture of this district, leaving only scattered vestiges.
The Aboa Vetus excavations today reveal 700 m² of medieval paved streets, silent witnesses to pre-1827 Turku. These 13th-14th century remains, preserved under the rubble, tell the story of the old Swedish town that the fire annihilated in one night. Artifacts discovered in these archaeological layers allow us to reconstruct the daily life of inhabitants who populated these narrow streets before the catastrophe.
The Russian Orthodox church, built between 1894 and 1898 in neo-Byzantine style, testifies to Turku's renaissance under the Russian Empire. Erected 1 km from the cathedral near the Aura banks, it symbolizes the new identity of the reconstructed city. Its capacity of 300 faithful reflects the importance of the Orthodox community in post-fire Turku, when Finland had become a Russian grand duchy in 1809.
The statue of Henrik Gabriel Porthan, erected in 1893 on the Aura banks, closes your investigation in the ashes of history. This 4-meter bronze work honors the man who documented Finnish culture before it disappeared in flames. You take with you the lesson of that September 1827 night: how a catastrophe can transform a nation, erase centuries-old heritage, but also reveal the resilience of a people who knew how to rise from their ashes.
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?
Forgotten Register
Reconstruct a secret journal that reveals hidden truths about the Great Fire and the decision to move the capital.
Phoenix Architecture
Decode messages left by the reconstruction architects, between old and new Turku.
Traces of the Blaze
Identify the physical scars of the Great Fire, still visible today on buildings and in the city plan.
The past is never dead. It's not even past.
William Faulkner
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
Dive into the smoking ruins of the great 1827 fire that destroyed a third of Turku, Finland's former capital.
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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