A mystery game has been turned into a creative way to explore Quebec City. It’s only a matter of time until we see this in other cities.

The Star has the article.

Set up by Avacture, a Quebec company that creates “adventure entertainment,” it’s a fun way to get around Old Quebec City, see the sights and learn a little about the city’s history and culture.

Home base is a tourist centre, the Quebec Experience, at 8 rue du Tresor, where you watch a video (in French, with English subtitles) and learn that, apparently, French explorer Samuel de Champlain carried a treasure with him when he travelled to Quebec. It’s hidden in Quebec City and protected by Champlain’s social club, the Order of Good Time.

The last surviving member of the Order passed the secret to a stranger (you), while an archaeologist stumbled across the prophecy. What you learn by unravelling clues will help the archaeologist uncover the treasure. But first, you must beat the bad guys – a secret organization called the Argus – who have locked up the archaeologist in a secret tunnel.

The clues (in English or French) reveal the whereabouts of that tunnel. First you solve the five keys, historic locations or monuments of historic figures accompanied by famous phrases or inscriptions. These phrases reveal the location of the locks and guide you to famous sites – post offices, towers, Freemason symbols on buildings.

You’re given a guidebook, map and clues to help you on your way. You can cheat, if you want, to speed things up or if you’re frustrated. Once you’ve figured out the clues, head back to the home base to see how it all turns out.

I won’t spoil the ending. I will say, the kids were quite into it, at least for the first few clues. I doubt I could have got them to run up the steps of the National Assembly, read the French on its walls, or talk about Quebec’s history otherwise.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!