Imagine your town as a giant game board. Streets, playgrounds, bus stops, the market square, quiet cafes and parks, and many other places transform into magical locations where surprises and unusual tasks await players. If you've ever experienced the thrill of watching Jumanji and wondered what it would be like to live in such a world, city games will help you fulfill your childhood dreams. But, but! Is there only one type of city game you can participate in? What exactly are they all about? That's what this article will be about!
Who can take part in the city game?
Residents, visitors and tourists, families with children, couples, groups of friends, and coworkers – anyone who wants to experience a fascinating adventure and engage in interactive play. Age, gender, background, education, and any other variables are irrelevant. *Fun fact – one of the youngest participants in our games was a 3-month-old baby girl carried in a sling 😊. **Fun fact 2 – apart from the woman who was 9 months pregnant, who ran between checkpoints at breakneck speed!
Groups usually consist of 2 to 5 people . Why so many? Because this number ensures that everyone has a role to play, making it easier to collaborate, and sharing information that will lead to solving the puzzle. The more people, the less responsibility there will be for completing tasks during the game.
A special type of city game is one organized for a specific person —for example, a birthday boy or girl. One person participates in this type of game and their task is to solve a series of puzzles, tailored to the specific interests and preferences of the person celebrating. Details on organizing such games can be found here.
What does a city game look like, step by step?
Like every good story, the city game has its introduction, development, unexpected twist and ending (almost like a Hitchcock film)
At the start, participants receive essential tools and accessories —maps, compasses, sealed envelopes containing top-secret information, and quill pens for taking meticulous notes. They also learn all the rules and guidelines necessary for participating in the game.
From the moment the envelopes are opened, residents and tourists transform into living pawns for the next few hours, moving around a giant urban game board in search of treasure or solving a mystery. Now, all that matters is cunning, logical thinking, orientation, and strategy to defeat the other players.
At each stop, players will encounter various tasks. At some points, they'll encounter kind fairies who will help solve the puzzle, while at others, they'll encounter mischievous imps who, by playing against the clock, will do everything they can to keep players waiting a little longer and make solving the puzzle a bit more difficult. However, not all points are staffed with animators. Some tasks must be found and solved independently.
After the specified hour has struck, signaling the end of the game, the participants meet at the finish line , where they will find out who among them has become the new urban Sherlock Holmes.
What types of city games are there?
We distinguish several basic types of city games (note: this is not a closed list!)
- Educational – it’s a great way to experience sightseeing in a unique way, thanks to which you remember much more information than during traditional forms of exploring the city.
- Historical – their aim is to provide participants with knowledge about the various faces and secrets of the city, important news and interesting facts.
- Integration – nothing unites people like a common goal to achieve, and when there is a touch of competition and the desire to beat your teammates – integration through good fun is guaranteed 😊.
- Promotional – their goal is to show important places and objects, disseminate a specific idea and image of a city or a specific place.
- Occasional – birthday, engagement – organized for a specific occasion of a private nature.
- Strictly entertainment – every type of city game is entertaining, but some of them are primarily aimed at carefree fun 😊.
How long does a city game last?
Game durations vary. They can last an hour (or even less), several hours, or even days or weeks ! How is it possible that a game can last several days? It's not as intense as a game lasting several hours, but everyone can plan how long they want to complete specific tasks. There are also special points to complete on a specific day or at a specific time. Some tasks are completed outdoors, while others are completed online. The winner is determined by the total points accumulated by participants throughout the game. Results are announced during the grand finale at the end of the game.
What is the difference between a city game and an outdoor game?
The location and nature of the tasks. City games take place in cities and towns – built-up areas, while outdoor games are most often conducted outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle of city life , surrounded by fields, meadows, and forests. As a result, the nature of the tasks to be completed at each location also varies. Their goal may, but does not have to, be more sporting, focused on demonstrating specific physical skills.
What should you take with you to a city game?
- Weatherproof clothing – both in the sun, rain, and sudden cold snaps, especially when playing from spring to autumn. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!
- Something to write on.
- A charged cell phone.
- A large dose of good humor (we won't let you in without it ;))
How many people can participate in city games at one time?
From 1 to several hundred! Several thousand participants fit into another type of entertainment, such as quests.
Can you win any prizes in the city game?
Of course! Besides the fact that the prize is time spent having great fun, eternal glory, and recognition from the local community (;)), a variety of prizes await the most seasoned players – like power banks, headlamps, vouchers for various purchases or attractions, board games, and much, much more 😊. Organizers always announce what's up for grabs and the rules for awarding prizes!
Who orders city games most often?
It depends on the type of game in question:
- Companies, corporations and enterprises (integration games),
- Cities (promotional and educational games),
- Cultural institutions (educational and promotional),
- Private individuals (entertainment, birthday and educational games – visiting a specific place).
How much does it cost to organize a city game?
The range is too wide to provide specific amounts. However, excluding games for private individuals, a budget ranging from several thousand złoty for games lasting a few hours to tens of thousands for games lasting several days or weeks should be planned for.
*Of course, participation is free for participants 😊.
If you have any questions about city games , feel free to contact us . We'd be happy to answer them and add to our article.
