Paola — Elongated Skulls Enigma
Uncover the forbidden secret of elongated skulls hidden in Paola's Hypogeum. Decode ancient rituals and expose a prehistoric conspiracy that defies human origins. Solve the enigma before it's buried forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1902, workers digging a cistern in Paola stumbled upon a chilling underworld: the Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni, a labyrinthine necropolis from 4000 BC housing over 7,000 skeletons
Paola — Elongated Skulls Enigma
You are a junior archaeologist, newly assigned to the Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni excavation in Paola, Malta, in the autumn of 1902.
Workers digging a
The Elongated Skulls of the Hypogeum: An Anthropological Enigma
« « These skulls, with their peculiar shape, confront us with a fundamental question: who were these people, and what was the meaning of their existence? » »— Excerpt from the notes of an anonymous anthropologist, circa 1910
The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum and its Anthropological Enigma
The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, accidentally discovered in 1902 by workers digging a cistern, is a unique underground complex. Carved into the rock over 5000 years ago, it served as a necropolis and sanctuary. Thousands of bodies were interred there, and the site is famous for its rooms adorned with red ochre spirals and its remarkable acoustic properties.
From the earliest excavations led by Manuel Magri and then Sir Themistocles Zammit, the diversity of skulls found was intriguing. Some exhibited a pronounced dolichocephalic (long and narrow) shape, fueling various theories about their origins and practices. While modern science offers more nuanced explanations, the mystery surrounding these 'elongated skulls' continues to fascinate, reflecting the anthropological interpretations of the era.
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?
Mysterious Archaeology
Investigate an anthropological enigma linked to fascinating discoveries.
Forgotten Notes
Reconstruct fragments of an early 20th-century logbook.
Time Travel
Immerse yourself in the fascinating era of early archaeological excavations.
The secrets of the ancients await revelation.
Dive into the heart of an age-old enigma.
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
Unravel the mystery of the Hypogeum skulls and discover the theories that shook the scientific world at the turn of the century.
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 Paola, Malta
See all games in Paola, Malta→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Paola — Elongated Skulls Enigma
Uncover the forbidden secret of 7,000 elongated skulls vanished from Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum. Decode prehistoric rituals and expose a cover-up in Paola's ancient sites.
Paola — Hypogeum's Lost Ritual
Decipher ancient symbols and uncover the Hypogeum's forbidden rituals. Track the priests' secret code across Paola's sacred sites to reveal a lost civilization's chilling prophecy before it's sealed forever.
Paola — Hypogeum's Sacred Curse
Uncover the curse of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum. Decode ancient rituals hidden in Paola's prehistoric temples and decode the priests' final secret before it claims another victim.
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