Hattusa — Decipher the Lost Empire's Secrets
Uncover the hidden truth buried in the Hittite royal archives. Decipher ancient cuneiform tablets to expose a catastrophic conspiracy that nearly toppled an empire.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
Deep beneath the ruins of Hattusa, the Bronze Age capital of the Hittite Empire, lies a mystery sealed in clay for 3,300 years
Hattusa — Decipher the Lost Empire's Secrets
You are Hugo Winckler, the German archaeologist, in Hattusa, 1906.
Your mission: decipher the cuneiform tablets holding the truth about the fall of this empire,
Delve into the heart of Central Anatolia, where the ruins of Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire, still whisper the secrets of a forgotten civilization.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at the Boğazköy Müzesi, the archaeological museum located at the entrance to the Hattusa site. Opened in 1966, this museum guards Hittite artifacts, including cuneiform tablets dating from the 14th to 13th century BC, discovered during the ongoing excavations of Hattusa, initiated by Hugo Winckler in 1906. Here, you will obtain the necessary pass to access the main site, before immersing yourself in the heart of the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, a major archaeological site in Central Anatolia.
Continuing your journey, you will reach the Kral Kapısı, or King's Gate, the southeast gate of the Hittite fortress. Standing 5 meters high, this gate with its wooden doors is the best preserved on the site. Built between 1400 and 1200 BC, it marked the Hittite zenith. To the left of the inner entrance, a relief of a warrior god armed with an axe, sword, and helmet, whose original is preserved at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, indicates the military power of Hattusa.
Your exploration will then lead you to the Aslanlı Kapı, the Lion Gate, on the southwest side of the upper city. Dated to the 14th century BC, during the reign of Suppiluliuma I, this gate is flanked by two carved basalt lions, symbols of royal strength and protection. Their heads are in full relief, while their bodies are flatter within the wall. Around noon, the hieroglyphs engraved above the lions become particularly visible, revealing ancient messages.
The path leads you to the Büyük Tapınak, the Great Temple, the main place of worship in the lower city. Dedicated to Hittite deities, this monumental edifice covered 8,000 m² and included a vast open courtyard. It was here, in 1906, that 120 ritual tablets in Hittite cuneiform were discovered. Built during the reign of Tudhaliya IV (c. 1237-1209 BC), this temple is an essential testament to the religious practices of the Hittite Empire and its heritage in Central Anatolia. The thousands of Hattusa tablets are a pillar of Anatolian history.
To conclude your quest, the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, located 2 km from Hattusa, offers a unique perspective on the Hittite pantheon. This sacred site, a UNESCO World Heritage site along with Hattusa since 1986, consists of two chambers. Chamber A depicts a procession of 65 gods, with Teshub and Hebat as central figures. These bas-reliefs, dating from the late 13th century BC under Tudhaliya IV, reach up to 2.5 meters in height. The exploration of these monuments of Central Anatolia will have allowed you to uncover the secrets of Hattusa's history and understand the legacy of this civilization.
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.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
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?
Hittite civilization
Discover one of history's first superpowers and its diplomatic innovations
First peace treaty
Explore the oldest known diplomatic agreement, model for all future treaties
Archaeology
Follow in Hugo Winckler's footsteps and participate in the greatest archaeological discovery
Peace is eternal
Hattuşa, cradle of diplomacy
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
Q01Concretely, how does it unfold outdoors?
You arrive in Archaeological site of Hattuşa, open the link on your phone, the story starts. It's the modern outdoor escape game: audio narration, camera puzzles, final code unlocked as a team. No install. No need to book a time slot.
Q02How long does it take to finish Hattusa — Decipher the Lost Empire's Secrets?
Plan 1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. Some finish in 1 h 10, others take 3 h in slow-mode. No pressure: the clock only counts for the leaderboard, you play at your tempo.
Q03Do we need to be several people to enjoy it?
No, solo works very well. The outdoor escape game format in self-guided mode leaves room for introspection: read the story at your pace, hunt clues like a detective. 2-6 players is more social, solo is more contemplative.
Q04Is Hattusa — Decipher the Lost Empire's Secrets stroller-accessible?
Depends on the exact route in Archaeological site of Hattuşa. The vast majority of stops are downtown, on sidewalks or squares. If a stair or narrow passage is involved, it's flagged on the product page. Generally: yes, doable with a standard urban stroller.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play les tablettes hittites? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Delve into the heart of Central Anatolia, where the ruins of Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire, still whisper the secrets of a forgotten civilization.
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 Turquie
View Turquie→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in Turquie
İznik
Council of Nicaea and sultan's tiles — where history forged doctrine
Bursa
First Ottoman capital — silk, sultans and imperial mosques
Antalya
Pearl of the Turkish Riviera
Istanbul
From Byzantium to the Ottomans — 10 escape games across two continents
Pamukkale
Cotton terraces and gate to the underworld — Hierapolis the sacred city
Pergamon
Alexandria's rival — the Altar of Zeus and the birthplace of parchment