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.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1776, as the Declaration of Independence was signed, Benjamin Franklin prepared to sail to France on a mission that could decide the fate of the young Republic
Uncover Franklin's Hidden Cipher: an immersive dive into Philadelphia's history, following the footsteps of one of America's most enigmatic Founding Fathers.
Step into the shoes of a secret archivist serving the nascent American republic, tasked with deciphering a code left by Benjamin Franklin before his death in 1790. Your mission begins at Franklin Court, 313 Market St, Philadelphia, the starting point of an investigation that will lead you through Philadelphia's key historical sites. At each stage, open your phone: augmented reality clues reveal themselves on the facades of historic buildings, ancient documents come alive to guide you, and the digital ghosts of the Founding Fathers whisper coded messages. Over approximately 165 minutes, at your own pace, you'll walk 1.5 km through the Old City district, exploring Pennsylvania's heritage, free from time constraints or group pressure. More than an outdoor escape game: an interactive tour immersed in 250 years of history, with anecdotes revealed at each stop and confidential sites that classic guides often miss.
Les lieux que vous découvrirez
Les vrais lieux que vous explorerez au fil de l'aventure. Énigmes en réalité augmentée à chaque étape.
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 Body of B. Franklin, Printer, Like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, and stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author. »— Benjamin Franklin, Self-written epitaph on his tomb, Christ Church Burial Ground, 1728 (engraved version 1790)
The story that haunts this land
Your quest for Franklin's Hidden Cipher begins at Franklin Court, 313 Market St, Philadelphia, in the historic Old City district. This site, Benjamin Franklin's home from 1763 to 1790, witnessed inventions like the lightning rod. Although the original house was demolished in 1812, archaeological remains excavated in 1976 and Robert Venturi's steel shells symbolize the vanished buildings. Here, the first puzzles confront you with Franklin's ingenuity, preparing you for the complexity of his legacy and the rich heritage of Philadelphia, designated a National Historic Landmark.
400 meters away, at 5th and Arch Streets, you reach Christ Church Burial Ground. Founded in 1695, this cemetery is home to Benjamin Franklin's tomb, interred in 1790 alongside his wife Deborah, who died in 1774. His 11-foot-tall pyramidal gravestone, inscribed with his self-penned epitaph, is a major clue for your investigation. This 2.5-acre National Historic Site, with over 1400 18th-century graves, plunges you into the heart of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's history, allowing you to reflect on the legacy of the great men of the American Revolution.
Your journey then leads you to the Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731. This institution was the first public lending library in the United States. Franklin, as a founding member and donor, laid the groundwork for the dissemination of knowledge in the colony. Although its current building, completed in 1796, is located at 1314 Locust Street, the spirit of this premier cultural institution of Philadelphia is palpable, and its collections of over 500,000 rare volumes, including documents from the American Revolution, are essential to understanding the ideas that shaped the nation.
Continuing your exploration of Philadelphia's heritage, you arrive at the American Philosophical Society, 104 S 5th St, founded by Franklin in 1743. It was the first learned society in the United States, where Franklin served as president from 1769 to 1790. Philosophical Hall, built in 1789, housed his personal library and was a hub of intellectual innovation. Not far, Independence Hall, 300m from Franklin Court, completed in 1753 and formerly the Pennsylvania State House, was the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Franklin actively participated, shaping the country's future. This site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and at the heart of the Independence National Historical Park.
Finally, your investigation takes you to Old City Hall, at 5th and Chestnut Streets, built between 1790 and 1791. This building, the first seat of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1790 to 1800, saw John Jay sworn in as the first Chief Justice in 1789. Benjamin Franklin was tried there for a minor debt in 1786, a detail revealing the complexity of his life even after his role as a Founding Father. By walking these 1.5 km through Philadelphia's heritage, you will have not only deciphered the code but also absorbed the essence of this city, the 'City of Brotherly Love,' and its central role in the founding of the United States. This interactive tour of Philadelphia, rich in Pennsylvania's historical sites, is a deep immersion into American history.
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?
Scientific Genius
Unravel the secrets left by the inventive mind of Benjamin Franklin.
Guild Register
Decipher an ancient document containing hidden directives.
Architectural Keys
Use the symbols and shapes of historic buildings as clues.
Science illuminates the path to liberty
Decipher the master's directives.
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
Uncover Franklin's Hidden Cipher: an immersive dive into Philadelphia's history, following the footsteps of one of America's most enigmatic Founding Fathers.
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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See all games in Historic Center of Philadelphia→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
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