Sherlock Holmes fans usually want a real mystery on the streets, not a museum script. This self-guided city game in Gijón turns the center of town into a puzzle trail, with story moments, codes, and photo-style tasks delivered on your phone through the Loquiz app. I like that it’s story-driven (not just random riddles) and that you can play at your own pace—pick any start time on your date and go when it suits your group.

It’s also a friendly setup for group time. You can play solo or team up with friends, family, or colleagues, and the difficulty is listed as easy, so kids can handle it. One caution: a previous player reported a problem with at least one early mystery feeling not solvable and noted limited city-based clue help, so it’s worth going in with flexible expectations.

Key Highlights You’ll Feel Right Away

• Start and finish at Plaza Mayor, so you’re not stuck figuring out logistics at the end.
• Loquiz app gameplay with digital characters and clue prompts on your phone.
• Easy difficulty makes this a solid family option and a fun group activity.
• Team size up to four per device, so you can split roles without losing the plot.
• Photo tasks and code puzzles keep it from feeling like a straight walking scavenger hunt.

Sherlock Holmes in Gijón: a Phone-First Mystery Game

This isn’t a guided tour with a person telling you where to stand. It’s a self-guided murder mystery built around Sherlock Holmes-style problem solving, where the city scenery becomes part of the gameplay.

Your job is to follow clues, crack puzzles, and connect the story dots as you go. If you like activities where you and your group argue a little (in a fun way) about what the evidence means, this format works well. The game is designed to feel like you’re working through a case, not completing isolated mini-challenges.

The case centers on the murder of Balthasar, and the storyline is meant to keep you moving forward. Based on feedback, the playful tone and problem-solving vibe are a big part of the appeal—one group said they didn’t know what to expect, but ended up laughing and enjoying the experience.

Meeting at Plaza Mayor (and Why That Matters)

You start at Plaza Mayor, Pl. Mayor, Gijón, Asturias, Spain, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point. That sounds simple, but it’s a practical benefit.

Why it matters:

• You can orient fast. Plaza Mayor is a natural “anchor” in the center, so you’re less likely to feel lost before you even begin.
• Your ending is predictable. You’re not hunting for a second pickup point or figuring out transit timing at the finish.
• It’s easier to plan with kids or multiple groups, since everyone knows where the “home base” is.

You’re also near public transportation, which helps if you’re combining this with other parts of a day in Gijón.

How The Loquiz Game Works in Real Life

After you book, you’ll get an email with instructions. The key step is to download the Loquiz app so you can play. Then you start whenever you like during your chosen date—there’s no forced tour schedule once you’re set up.

Here’s what you’ll do during the game, based on the experience description:

• Follow clues and solve puzzles on your phone
• Work through a story with suspense and twists
• Interact with digital characters
• Do fun tasks that can include photo activities
• Unlock new parts of the story by reaching certain locations

You can play solo or in a team of up to four people per ticket/device. The activity is private, meaning only your group participates. That’s a big deal if you’re the kind of group that wants to talk things through without strangers chiming in.

Important: the phone itself is not included, so you’ll need your own smartphone and enough battery for a roughly 2-hour stretch.

The Murder Case: Solving Balthasar’s Story

The game is built around a murder mystery narrative, with puzzles and clue steps that steadily lead you closer to the truth. The description promises codes, hidden clues, and plottwists, and the structure is meant to keep you engaged rather than stuck in a static “read and walk” routine.

What you should expect from a story-first format:

• You’ll spend time interpreting what the clues are telling you, not just clicking through tasks.
• The game encourages teamwork. Different people in your group will usually catch different hints on the screen, or spot details faster when you compare notes out loud.
• Photo tasks can shift the energy. Instead of only reading and decoding, you’ll likely be photographing something that relates to the case.

A word on quality control: one earlier player said the first mystery they tried felt not solvable and that puzzles didn’t give enough city information. That doesn’t mean your experience will be the same, but it is a real consideration. If you go in expecting perfect smoothness every step of the way, you might feel disappointed. If you go in ready to stay playful and flexible, you’ll probably enjoy the ride more.

Walking the City Between Clues (Without Being a Full-Time Tourist)

This is billed as a self-guided adventure that uses the city as the playground. The practical effect is simple: you’ll walk from one clue location to the next, guided by what shows up on your phone.

One review noted that it took them to beautiful places they might not otherwise have found. That’s the main reason I’d recommend this type of game to people who want more than the usual postcard route. It nudges you into side streets and spots you might skip on a normal wander.

At the same time, you should know what’s implied by the criticism:

• One player felt the game doesn’t really interact with local place details and that the puzzles didn’t teach them much about the city.
• If your goal is specifically to learn Gijón’s landmarks and history, this game may not satisfy that curiosity on its own.

So think of it as a fun reason to explore, not a replacement for a history walking tour.

Difficulty Level and Family-Friendliness

The game difficulty is listed as Easy, which is great if you’re traveling with kids or want something less stressful than brain-melter puzzles.

Why “easy” can still be enjoyable:

• You’re not stuck with impossible logic. The game is meant to move you along at a pace that feels doable.
• Families can split tasks. One person might handle reading prompts while another tries patterns in codes or works through steps.
• Groups tend to learn faster together. You’ll solve more by sharing ideas than by brute force.

It’s also worth noting what isn’t required: there’s no tour guide included. That can feel freeing for families (no “please stay together” voice), but it also means you’ll rely on the phone experience for directions.

Price and Value: $31.07 Per Group (Up to Four)

The price is $31.07 per group, up to 4 people. That makes it more like a “shared activity cost” than a per-person tour.

How to think about value:

• If you’re traveling as two to four people, the cost often lands in the range of a good short activity, especially for something that keeps everyone involved for about 2 hours.
• If you’re solo, it can still be a fun use of time, but you’ll be paying for one ticket that supports one device experience, so it’s best when you genuinely like puzzle games.

Because you’re not paying for a guide’s time and you’re not buying separate museum tickets, the “value” here is mostly about engagement: do you enjoy story-driven tasks, codes, and photo-style moments? If yes, the price looks sensible for what you’re getting.

If you dislike puzzle games or prefer guided explanation at each stop, you may feel underwhelmed for the cost—even if the game is technically working fine.

Practical Tips So You Don’t Hit Friction

You’ll get the smoothest run if you treat this like any phone-based activity and prep a little beforehand.

Here’s what I’d do before you start:

• Check your email instructions right after booking. That’s where you’ll find the setup guidance.
• Download the Loquiz app before you’re standing at Plaza Mayor with a dying battery.
• Make sure you have enough charge for the full ~2 hours plus any extra time needed if you slow down with kids or group debate.
• Assign roles quickly. In teams of up to four, it helps to decide who reads prompts, who checks locations, and who handles any photo tasks.

Also keep your expectations aligned with what the game is. It’s a mystery-solving format with digital characters and prompts, not a guided lecture about Gijón.

What About Reviews: the Good and the Not-So-Great

The overall rating is 3.5 based on four reviews, which is a useful signal: this isn’t uniformly perfect for everyone, but it does have clear fans.

The strongest positive points you can use to predict your own experience:

• People who play it seem to enjoy the laughter and group energy. One review highlighted how they had fun and got a chance to see parts of the city they wouldn’t have explored otherwise.
• Another review praised the way it takes you to beautiful places and frames it as a fun exploration method.

The main negative you should take seriously:

• One player said the first mystery they tried wasn’t solvable, and that puzzles didn’t provide helpful city context. They also felt the game didn’t interact much with the actual places visited.

So my practical take: if you’re the kind of traveler who can roll with occasional hiccups in a game format, you’re likely to enjoy it. If you strongly want a tightly scripted, always-solvable experience with heavy local context, you might want to compare against a guided alternative.

Should You Book This Sherlock Holmes City Game?

I’d book this if:

• you want a short, self-paced activity (about 2 hours) in Gijón
• your group enjoys mystery stories, puzzle-solving, and teamwork
• you’re looking for a playful reason to walk beyond the most obvious sights
• you’re traveling with kids or you want an easy challenge level

I’d think twice if:

• you mainly want guided historical storytelling and clear explanations tied to specific local landmarks
• you get frustrated when a puzzle doesn’t feel immediately solvable
• you’re planning this as your only activity and can’t spare extra time if the game step slows you down

If you’re in the first group, this is a smart way to spend an afternoon. Start at Plaza Mayor, trust the phone prompts, and enjoy the fact that your city walk turns into a case you’re actively solving—together.

FAQ

FAQ

Where does the game start and end?

It starts at Plaza Mayor in Gijón and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the Sherlock Holmes city game take?

The duration is listed as about 2 hours.

Can we choose our start time?

Yes. You can pick any time on your selected date and play at your own pace.

Do I need a smartphone?

Yes. The smartphone or other devices are not included, so you’ll need your own device to play.

How many people can play per ticket?

The format is 1 ticket per group (up to 4 people) per device. Larger groups can purchase multiple tickets.

Is there a tour guide?

No. A tour guide is not included. The game is self-guided through the app.

What languages are available for the written guide?

You can select written guide language from Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, and Dutch.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.