Escape games · HISTORY GAMES
Good history games fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Enter a basement study near Edinburgh’s old surgical district and search for Dr. Malcolm’s journal before he returns from Surgeons’ Hall. This private, English-language escape room uses touch, smell, and period storytelling to bring 1829 grave robbing and medical malpractice to life. Groups of 2 to 8 solve the mystery together.
Start at Václavské náměstí with a host who explains the game and first tasks. Then use your smartphone to follow a 3.5 km route through Prague, solving clues and completing challenges tied to city stories. The English activity suits families, couples, and private groups, with a prize for the winning team.
Join Alex for a 3.5-hour English walking tour through Lisbon’s queer past and present. Visit Pride landmarks, former bars, clubs, churches, courts, and historic streets, then finish with a quiz at Late Birds Hotel. A small group, a useful LGBTQ Lisbon PDF, and plenty of stories make this more than a standard sightseeing walk.
“We traveled to Lisbon because it’s queer (and vegan friendly). Upon the tour with Alex, we learned just how queer friendly Lisbon is - that we are protected constitutionally. We had a private tour with Alex learning about society and culture, past and present. Alex made our experience so special by sharing his own story and Lisbon’s with so much pride. The tour kept us interested and active for a whole 4 hours, walking through queer neighborhoods. The stories are as brilliant as the storyteller! They’re fun and informative. The most memorable part was learning about how one of the writers of Manifesto of the Revolutionary Homosexual Action Movement is…”
Use your phone or tablet to guide a private group through the Fort Worth Stockyards. Along the way, solve team-friendly puzzles, learn local history, and enjoy three tasting stops: one drink followed by two food tastings. The self-guided format lets you set the pace, while lunch and gratuities are included in the $97 price.
“Tons of fun the puzzles make you think and are not a breeze. The food is also amazing and if any support is needed there can easily help.”
Meet your Game Master at Rector’s Palace, receive a wooden book sealed with five padlocks, then follow six Old Town locations to expose a traitor in the Dubrovnik Republic. This private, self-guided escape game takes about two hours, includes history and filming sites, and suits groups ready for puzzles and some steps.
“Our family of 4 including 2 teens had the best time exploring the city and figuring out the puzzles to unlock further instructions. We even could stop for coffee to figure it out, which made us parents enjoy it even more!”
Explore Charleston from St. Philip’s Church to St. Michael’s Church through a self-guided history game. You’ll solve clues at churches, Rainbow Row, a fire station, and lesser-known corners of the old city. The app sets the pace, so you can pause, take photos, or stop for a break. No guide or attraction tickets are required.
“Darion is an engaging and animated storyteller. I loved her enthusiasm and timing and wit - she belongs on a stage! The stories were fantastic too - not too gruesome, full of history and wild characters. I’ve taken a few ghost tours here and she told my favorite story about Anna and Perry - perfection!”
Use the Let’s Roam app to guide your private group through central Savannah for about 90 minutes. Solve clues tied to local art, culture, and history while visiting Chippewa Square, The Pirate’s House, Colonial Park Cemetery, Riverfront Plaza, and more. You set the pace, take challenge photos, and keep digital copies afterward.
“The kids really enjoyed looking for the landmarks and helping answer the questions. We all enjoyed the history and getting to see the area.”
You’ll explore Vienna’s Inner City with a smartphone-led treasure hunt, guided by a historical character and supported by a host such as Shushan. Expect 16 stops, riddles, funny team tasks, and stories at places including Stephansplatz, the Jewish quarter, Minoriten Church, Hoher Markt, and Albertinaplatz.
You’ll walk Lisbon’s historic center with a guide such as Aleksei, solving six puzzles tied to Marquis Pombal and 18th-century Portugal. The 2.5-hour game visits five Bairro Alto landmarks, ends where it begins, and suits 2 to 10 people. Groups of four or more can split into teams for a friendly contest.
“We had an excellent moment visiting Lisbao with this activity, it was very well thought and it gave us cool details about Lisbao history.”
Join Edouard Paul-Cavallier for a small-group walk through Aix-en-Provence. In about two hours, you’ll follow fountains, churches, an old aristocratic mansion, and the cathedral while solving a light treasure hunt. The tour costs $42.10, runs in English at 2:30 pm, and ends with a small surprise.
“Édouard is a great guide—we covered a lot of ground in this tour and learned some history. The treasure hunt was cute and fun to find the treasure at the end.”
Meet Iva in front of Rector’s Palace and receive a wooden book sealed with five padlocks. You’ll follow its clues through eight Old Town locations, solving puzzles tied to Dubrovnik Republic history. The two-hour private game is in English, costs $47 per person, and suits couples, families, and puzzle-loving groups.
“Iva was a lovely host. Great and fun way to see the old town. We really enjoyed it as a group of 2. Would highly recommend”
Start at Stuttgart’s Jubilee Column with historian Michael Mezger, then follow a puzzle book through central streets, squares, and historic sites. Choose the beginner-friendly Wilhelm Case or the harder Max von Bulsenberg case. Solve codes and logic tasks at your own pace, then return to Schlossplatz for a personal wrap-up.
“Many interesting facts about Stuttgart. Good, not too hard puzzles. Can be done with kids.”
Use the Let’s Roam app to guide your private group through Daytona Beach for about two hours. Start at 140 S Beach St, then visit the Halifax Historical Museum, Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Nicole’s Beach Street Mall, and Brownie the Town Dog’s memorial. Pick a role, solve prompts, take photos, and move at your own pace without a guide.
Explore Madrid’s historic center in English with the Explorial app. Starting at Puerta del Sol, you’ll follow clues to Plaza Mayor, El Oso y el Madroño, Plaza de Oriente, and other sights. Solve questions, complete photo challenges, and pause whenever you like. Allow about two hours, though the access code lets you play at your own pace.
“Nice, interesting, relaxing way to learn about Madrid! The tasks are a wonderful way to stay engaged and great for kids to be involved.”
Explore Prague through a private 3.5-hour treasure hunt led remotely by CityQuester. With a smartphone, map, mobile internet, and clues, you will walk about 4 km through Nové Město, Staré Město, Josefov, and Lesser Town, solving puzzles, acting out tasks, and uncovering stories at 12 sightseeing points. Host Dima has welcomed some groups.
Pick a room, a street or a table.
