Chicago Fire — Uncover the Arson Plot
Decipher the conspiracy behind the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Track the arsonist's trail through hidden clues in monuments, exposing the truth that burned the city.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the dead of night on October 8, 1871, a spark ignited in a Lincoln Park barn, unleashing the Great Chicago Fire that devoured 17,000 buildings and claimed hundreds of lives
Chicago Fire — Uncover the Arson Plot
You are a private investigator in Chicago, October 1871, hired by a shadowy survivor.
In the dead of night on October 8, 1871, a spark
The enigma of the Great Chicago Fire
« Le grand incendie de Chicago a été l'un des plus grands désastres du 19e siècle, mais il a aussi été le catalyseur de la renaissance architecturale de la ville. »— Carl Sandburg, historien et poète
The Phoenix of the West
On the night of October 8, 1871, a small fire in the O'Leary barn, located at 137 DeKoven Street, escalated into a monstrous conflagration. Fueled by strong winds and predominantly wooden structures, the "Great Chicago Fire" devoured nearly 3.5 square miles of the city in less than 48 hours. It destroyed over 17,000 buildings, left approximately 100,000 people homeless, and caused the death of nearly 300 individuals. The legend of Mrs. O'Leary's cow became the popular explanation, but alternative theories, ranging from arson to a meteorite fall, still persist today.
Despite the devastation, Chicago rose from its ashes with astonishing determination. The reconstruction was rapid, ambitious, and laid the foundations for modern American architecture. Innovative architects like Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham shaped a new city, giving birth to the first skyscrapers and transforming Chicago into an urban laboratory. The Water Tower, one of the few public structures to survive the fury of the flames, became a poignant symbol of the city's resilience, a silent witness to an unprecedented catastrophe and rebirth.
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
5-10 curated sites across the territory
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 · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Secret Journal
Piece together the scattered pages of a private journal to unravel a forgotten version of the Great Fire's story.
Urban Renaissance
Walk the streets where fire devastated, then where modern architecture took flight, symbolizing Chicago's resilience.
Historical Controversy
Explore iconic sites linked to the catastrophe and confront legends with proven facts to reveal the truth.
Chicago, le phénix qui se réinventa.
Démêlez les fils d'une histoire brûlante.
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
Reconstruct the fragments of a secret journal and reveal the truth behind the Great Chicago Fire. Dive into the legends and the incredible rebirth of this iconic city. Will you be the first to uncover the secret of the O'Leary family or another machination?
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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