The Reformation's Secret — Uncover Knox's Hidden Conspiracy
Decipher the coded messages left by John Knox and expose the hidden conspiracy that nearly toppled Mary Queen of Scots. Uncover the truth behind the Reformation's most dangerous secrets.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1559, Edinburgh's Royal Mile became a battleground of faith and power
The Reformation's Secret — Uncover Knox's Hidden Conspiracy
You are John Knox, the Scottish reformer, newly returned from exile in Switzerland in 1561.
You must consolidate the work of the Reformation before Mary Queen of Scots' imminent arrival
Uncover the secrets of the Scottish Reformation in Edinburgh, where John Knox challenged royalty and Scotland's fate was forever altered.
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
« A man with God is always in the majority. »— John Knox, History of the Reformation in Scotland, 1584
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at the forecourt of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, a Presbyterian edifice whose foundations date back to 1110 and which was enlarged in 1385 after a fire. It is here, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 1995, that you preached during the Scottish Reformation between 1559 and 1560, making this cathedral a central location for the reformed events. Observe its 70-meter length and its 47-meter high central tower, silent witnesses to King James VI's act of abjuration in 1581. This first stop immerses you in the beginning of your fight for Scotland's faith.
Continue towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence built from 1671 to 1678 on a 12th-century abbey site. It was here that Mary Queen of Scots resided from 1561 to 1567, and where, according to chronicles, you confronted her in 1561. This palace, with its 14 hectares and 370 rooms, including a 47-meter long picture gallery, was the scene of Rizzio's murder in 1566. Your itinerary through the Royal Mile Historic District leads you to a place of power and tragedy, where the opposition between the Catholic queen and the Protestant reformer was most intense in Edinburgh and Lothians.
Your journey then takes you to John Knox House, one of the few surviving medieval houses on the Royal Mile, at 45 High Street. It was here that you lived from 1560 to 1572, after your return from exile in Switzerland. Admire the door dated 1555 and its Last Judgment mural, a work of art that reflects the spiritual concerns of the era. This dwelling, a Category A Listed Building, was the center of your activities and writings, including part of the History of the Reformation in Scotland, offering a unique perspective on the daily life of a 16th-century religious leader in Edinburgh.
Mercat Cross awaits you, an octagonal market cross erected in 1885 on the site of an original 14th-century cross. This historic location, with its 5-meter diameter platform and 4-meter spire, has been the scene of royal proclamations and public executions since 1385. Kings like Charles II in 1660 and Victoria in 1837 were proclaimed here. Nearby, the Tron Kirk, a parish church built from 1637 to 1647 and named after the 'Tron' (public scale), houses your burial in 1572 in its adjacent cemetery. These sites in the heart of Edinburgh and Lothians bear witness to the justice and faith that shaped the city.
Finally, your journey concludes having passed through Parliament Square, site of the witch trials in 1591, including that of Agnes Sampson, and the burial site of James II's heart in 1460, in front of the High Court House built in 1774. You will also have passed Canongate Kirk, a church built from 1688 to 1690, Edinburgh's last parish, where figures like Adam Smith (1790) rest. By exploring these places, you are not just following an itinerary; you are reliving the history of the Reformation and understanding how your influence shaped Scotland's identity, leaving an indelible mark on its heritage. You leave with a deep knowledge of Edinburgh's history and the tumultuous period of the Reformation.
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 Forbidden Writings
Follow the clues left by John Knox himself, extracted from his pamphlets and letters, to reconstruct his message.
The Preacher's Fire
Feel the fervor of the Reformation through the iconic places where Knox ignited hearts and minds.
The Royal Confrontation
Relive the tensions between the Catholic Queen Mary and the Protestant reformer, a historic duel for the soul of Scotland.
“God, be merciful to those who thirst for your word!”
A call to Reformation that still resonates
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 the secrets of the Scottish Reformation in Edinburgh, where John Knox challenged royalty and Scotland's fate was forever altered.
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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