Empire State — Uncover the Hidden Conspiracy
Decipher the Empire State Building's architectural conspiracy. Hunt clues across Midtown South to expose the secret vault, dirigible plot, and coded messages hidden in plain sight.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1931, as the Great Depression gripped New York, the Empire State Building rose not just as a skyscraper, but as a fortress of secrets
Empire State — Uncover the Hidden Conspiracy
You are a freelance cryptographer, summer 1945, known for solving the city's most complex ciphers.
In 1931, as the Great Depression gripped New York
1931: The Apex of Unbridled Ambition
« « It has been built by the people, for the people. » »— Alfred E. Smith, president of Empire State, Inc., at the inauguration
Manhattan's Race to the Sky
In the midst of the Great Depression, as the economy collapsed, New York embarked on a frantic race to build skyscrapers. The Empire State Building, initiated by Alfred E. Smith, former New York Governor, and financed by John J. Raskob, was designed to surpass all its rivals, notably the Chrysler Building, to become the tallest building in the world. Its construction was a feat of engineering and organization, employing thousands of workers and completed in a record time of just 13 months.
Designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates, with William F. Lamb as the lead architect, the Empire State Building was inaugurated on May 1, 1931. Its elegant Art Deco silhouette and colossal height instantly made it an icon of American ingenuity. Although it initially struggled to find tenants ('Empty State Building'), it quickly became a symbol of hope and perseverance, embodying New York's indomitable spirit in the face of economic adversity.
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?
Architectural Masterpiece
Explore the secrets of the Empire State Building and other Art Deco icons that shaped Manhattan's skyline.
Journey Through Time
Immerse yourself in the bustling New York of the 1930s, between the Great Depression and audacious technological feats.
Historical Mystery
Uncover a plan hidden by the architect, an enigma etched in the city's stone and steel.
The Hidden Soul of the City That Never Sleeps
Solve the enigma of the world's most famous skyscraper.
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 le secret de l empire state? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Uncover the secret message of William F. Lamb, the visionary architect of the Empire State Building, in the heart of Manhattan. His clues are etched into the stone and steel of New York's Art Deco icons, waiting to be deciphered. A fascinating quest to unlock the mysteries of one of history's greatest architectural feats. Will you live up to the legacy of 1931?
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 Midtown Manhattan, New York, United States
See all games in Midtown Manhattan, New York, United States→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Wall Street — The Panic of 1907
Uncover the conspiracy behind the 1907 stock market crash. Decipher coded telegrams, expose J.P. Morgan's secret deal, and prevent financial ruin.
Turtle Bay — The Code of Nations
Decipher the secret code hidden in Turtle Bay's diplomatic heart. Uncover the covert messages exchanged during the UN's founding, exposing a conspiracy that shaped global peace.
Collect Pond — Uncover the Poisoned Well's Dark Secret
Decipher the conspiracy that transformed Manhattan's pristine water source into a plague-ridden sewer. Uncover the corruption, greed, and cover-up that birthed Five Points slum.
Five Points — Uncover the Gang Conspiracy
Decipher the hidden codes of Five Points' ruthless gangs. Track the secret alliance between Bowery Boys and Dead Rabbits that sparked deadly riots and buried a fortune in these streets.
Greenwich Village — The Lost Manifesto
Decipher the hidden clues of the Beat Generation's lost manifesto, a prophetic poem concealed in Greenwich Village's bohemian landmarks. Outwit the shadows of censorship and reclaim its revolutionary secrets before they vanish forever.
Harlem — The Forgotten Symphony Secret
Uncover the conspiracy that silenced Ignatz Waghalter's visionary all-Black symphony orchestra in 1930s Harlem. Decode clues hidden in jazz landmarks to expose the truth before it vanishes forever.
Explore other cities in États-Unis
Sleepy Hollow
Where the Headless Horseman legend comes alive
Princeton
Academic elegance and Ivy League mysteries
New Haven
University city and cradle of American innovation
Bethlehem
Steel city with Moravian charm
Camden
The spirit of urban renewal on the Delaware
Philadelphia
Birthplace of American independence
