Princeton — The Hidden Archives Plot
Uncover a forgotten battle plan concealed in Princeton's archives. Decode clues across campus landmarks to expose a secret conspiracy from the university's shadowy past before it's lost forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the hallowed halls of Princeton University, a clandestine plot unfolded decades ago
Delve into the heart of Princeton, where the cobblestones still whisper George Washington's daring strategies and the founding ideals of the United States.
Step into the shoes of an American Revolution archivist, tasked with foiling a plot to erase the records of the Battle of Princeton. Your mission begins at Nassau Hall, the first building of Princeton University, erected in 1756. Open your phone: ancient documents overlay historical facades, campaign maps appear in public squares, and coded messages emerge on monuments. Over a route of approximately 1.5 km, you unravel the threads of history in about 135 minutes, at your own pace, without pressure. You explore the places where George Washington slept in 1777, where the Continental Congress convened in 1783, and where Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, resided. More than an outdoor escape game: an interactive tour immersed in 200 years of history, with anecdotes revealed at each stop and confidential sites that classic guides overlook.
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 story that haunts this land
Your quest for hidden archives begins at Nassau Hall, the historic heart of Princeton University. Built in 1756, this 54-meter long and 23-meter wide building witnessed major events: occupied by British troops in 1776, George Washington stayed there in 1777, and it even became the seat of the Continental Congress of the United States from June to September 1783. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, it represents a crucial step in unlocking the first secrets of the American Revolution in Princeton.
Continue your investigation to the Princeton Battle Monument, an imposing edifice dedicated in 1922. This 15-meter high statue, a work by Frederick MacMonnies, commemorates the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. It was here that George Washington led the decisive charge against the Hessian forces, a pivotal moment of the Revolution. Made of bronze and granite on a 10-meter diameter base, this monument, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, offers a visual perspective of the clashes that marked Princeton. Nearby, on Princeton Battlefield State Park, the General Hugh Mercer Plaque, installed in 1902, marks the site of General Hugh Mercer's death, mortally wounded during that same battle on January 3, 1777.
Your journey then takes you to MacLean House, a dwelling built around 1754 that served as the residence of the first president of Princeton University, John Maclean, from 1776 to 1786. This building was not only an academic home; it also served as American headquarters during the Battle of Princeton in 1777, highlighting its strategic role. Restored in 1972 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, MacLean House now houses administrative offices, but its walls echo the military decisions that shaped American independence.
The exploration continues to the Morven Museum & Garden, a Georgian house built in 1756, which was the residence of Richard Stockton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (1730-1781). From 1778 to 1783, New Jersey Governor William Livingston also resided there, making this place a center of power and decision-making. The 5-hectare garden, open to the public since 2007, features period plants, and the entire estate, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, immerses you in the private lives of key figures of the Revolution in Princeton.
Conclude your quest for secret archives at Princeton Cemetery, opened in 1849. This 14-hectare historic cemetery, with over 27,000 graves, is a true pantheon of American history. You will find the burial site of Aaron Burr (1756-1836), Vice President of the United States, as well as that of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), an influential theologian. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it also contains American Civil War monuments. Each tombstone on this site reveals fragments of lives that helped forge the identity of New Jersey and the nation, concluding your immersion in Princeton's heritage with a solemn reminder of the lives that shaped this historic town.
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?
Washington's Audacity
Discover how a brilliant ruse changed the course of the American Revolution.
The Bastion of Liberty
Explore the crucial role of the prestigious university in the birth of a nation.
Buried Secrets
Untangle the threads of a secret battle plan that could have changed everything.
Untangle the threads of a secret plan for independence.
History is yours.
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
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Your turn to play
Delve into the heart of Princeton, where the cobblestones still whisper George Washington's daring strategies and the founding ideals of the United States.
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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