Gijon Self-Guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game

Gijón becomes your detective board in this two-hour Sherlock Holmes mystery game. Starting at Plaza Mayor, you follow digital clues, crack codes, complete photo tasks, and work out who killed Balthasar. The city provides the route, while the phone provides the story.

I like the flexible start time, since you can play at any point on your chosen date rather than report for a fixed tour. I also like the low group price, $31.07 for up to four people, which makes this a reasonable choice for a family or small group looking for an active way to see more of Gijón.

The main thing to consider is that this is not a guided city tour. The places you visit help move the game forward, but the puzzles may offer little information about Gijón itself. If you want local stories and detailed sightseeing commentary, you will need another tour.

Key points to know before you play

• Start at Plaza Mayor: The game begins in central Gijón and ends back at the same meeting point.
• Solve Balthasar’s murder: The story includes codes, plot twists, digital characters, and a series of detective tasks.
• Use the Loquiz app: Booking instructions arrive by email, and you need your own smartphone or device.
• Play at your own pace: The game takes about two hours, with no fixed start time on your selected date.
• Keep the group small: One ticket covers one to four people using one device. Larger groups need extra tickets.
• Expect an easy challenge: The game is designed to suit families with children as well as adults.

Starting the case at Plaza Mayor

Your investigation begins at Plaza Mayor, the central meeting point in Gijón. This gives you an easy place to begin, especially if you are already spending time in the old part of the city. You do not meet a guide there. Instead, you use the instructions sent after booking and launch the game through the Loquiz app.

The first stage is about getting the game running and understanding how the clues work. Since this is a phone-based activity, take a moment before starting to check that your device is charged and that the app is ready. The supplied information does not include a phone, tablet, or other equipment, so you must bring your own.

You can begin at any time on your chosen date. That is useful if you want to fit the game around lunch, a museum visit, or changing weather. It also means you are responsible for setting your own pace. There is no guide waiting to gather the group, explain the case, or keep you moving.

The game is private, so you play only with your own group. One ticket covers up to four people, making it simple for a family or a few friends to share one device. Larger groups can buy multiple tickets, though the experience may work best when each small team has room to talk through the clues.

Following the route through Gijón

The city itself supplies the setting for the case. You follow instructions to different places, where reaching the right location allows the next puzzle to appear. This gives the walk a clear purpose. Instead of wandering without a plan, you have a sequence of detective tasks that pulls you through parts of central Gijón.

One useful benefit is that the route can take you to parts of the city you might otherwise skip. The activity has been praised for bringing players to attractive places they may not have found on their own. That makes the game a handy option for a first look at Gijón, especially if you enjoy exploring with a small goal in mind.

Still, keep your expectations in check. The places are mainly checkpoints for the mystery. The game does not promise detailed explanations of buildings, squares, monuments, or local customs. A location helps you reach the next stage, but it may not tell you why that location matters to Gijón.

That distinction is important. I like the way a route-based game can make a walk feel more purposeful, but I would not use this as your only sightseeing activity. Pair it with a standard city walk, a museum visit, or your own time reading about the places you pass.

Solving Balthasar’s murder with your phone

The central story concerns the murder of Balthasar. As you proceed, the game presents digital characters, clues, codes, and unexpected turns. You and your companions work out what each piece means, then decide how it fits the larger case.

The challenge is rated easy. That makes it a good fit for families with children and for groups that want a relaxed puzzle rather than a serious test. You still need to pay attention, compare ideas, and work through the clues, but the game is not presented as an advanced escape-room challenge.

I like this format for groups that enjoy talking as they play. One person may notice a word clue, another may spot a pattern, and someone else may be more willing to take on the photo tasks. Since everyone is working on the same case, the activity gives a family or group of friends a shared subject for conversation.

Solo play is also possible. You can follow the case on your own, though the social side of the game will naturally be stronger with two to four people. The private format means you are not placed with strangers, and you can take time to discuss a puzzle without holding up another group.

The photo tasks add a lighter touch to the investigation. They break up the code solving and give you something active to do as you move through the city. The exact tasks are not specified in advance, so you should expect them to be part of the game rather than a separate photography tour.

What the city adds, and what it does not

The best part of the city setting is the movement. You are not sitting indoors solving a printed worksheet. You are walking from one point to another, using the surroundings as part of the play area. That can make a familiar sightseeing route feel different, especially for children who may lose interest in a standard history talk.

The limitation is that the city is used more as a playing field than as a source of local knowledge. The puzzles send you to locations, but they do not necessarily explain the location’s background. One puzzle was found difficult to solve, and the game’s connection to the places themselves was considered weak. That is a fair warning for anyone booking mainly to learn about Gijón.

You should also allow for the possibility that one puzzle may not feel perfectly clear. Since there is no guide present, your group has to work through the problem on its own. For some players, that is part of the fun. For others, a puzzle that seems unclear can interrupt the flow.

This is why I would treat the activity as a playful city walk, not a substitute for local guiding. You get a route, a story, and reasons to look around. You do not get a person explaining Gijón as you go.

Two hours at your own pace

The planned duration is about two hours. That is long enough to give the case some shape, yet short enough to fit into a day of sightseeing. You can start at a time that suits your plans and move at your own speed.

The flexible timing is especially useful if you are traveling with children. You can begin after breakfast, pause if needed, or choose a cooler part of the day. The information does not promise a formal pause system, so any break would be handled by your group rather than arranged by a guide.

A two-hour estimate should be treated as a guide, not a strict finish time. Groups that read clues quickly may move faster, while families or larger teams may need longer to discuss each step. The game ends back at Plaza Mayor, which makes it easier to plan what comes next.

Because the game is self-guided, you are not paying for a fixed block of a guide’s time. You are paying for access to the mystery and the app-based route. That helps explain the price, but it also means the experience depends on your group’s ability to keep the game moving.

Is $31.07 good value for four people?

At $31.07 per group of up to four, the cost works out to about $7.77 per person if you fill the ticket. That is a modest price for a two-hour activity, especially when compared with the cost of many guided tours or family attractions.

The value is strongest for a group that enjoys puzzles and wants an easy reason to walk around Gijón. A family of four can share one ticket, one device, and one case. Friends can split the cost and turn the activity into a cooperative challenge.

The value is weaker if you want personal attention or serious sightseeing information. There is no tour guide, no supplied information about the city’s highlights, and no included smartphone. You are paying for the game itself, not for transport, historical commentary, or equipment.

I would also think about the group’s interests before booking. If one person dislikes phone games or prefers a quiet walking tour, the format may not suit everyone. If the whole group enjoys solving clues and laughing at photo tasks, the price is easier to justify.

Choosing your language and group size

The written guide is available in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, and Dutch. That gives multilingual groups a useful choice, though the supplied information describes these as written guide languages rather than spoken guiding.

The private format suits families, couples, and small groups of friends. One ticket covers one to four people. If you have more than four, you can purchase additional tickets, but larger groups may want to divide into teams so that everyone can see the device and take part.

For families, the easy difficulty is a clear advantage. Children can help search for clues, interpret the story, and complete the photo tasks. Adults should be ready to keep the group organized, since there is no guide to explain the next step or settle a disagreement about a puzzle.

The activity is also listed as suitable for most participants, with service animals allowed and public transport nearby. No special physical requirements are stated. Since this is a walking game through the city, you should still consider your group’s comfort with moving between locations.

How to prepare for a smoother game

After booking, check your email for the instructions. You will need to download the Loquiz app before starting, so it is sensible to read the directions in advance rather than wait until you are standing at Plaza Mayor.

Bring a charged smartphone and make sure the people in your group can see the screen. Since the game depends on digital clues, a low battery or a device that is hard to share could make the experience less enjoyable.

It also helps to agree on a group style before you begin. You can let one person hold the phone, or rotate the device so everyone takes part. Children may enjoy the photo tasks, while adults may prefer to handle the codes, but sharing the jobs keeps the activity from becoming one person’s game.

Give yourself enough time for the full two-hour session. Although you can start whenever you like on the selected date, the game is designed as one connected case. Starting too late could make the activity awkward if your group has another fixed appointment afterward.

Who should book this Gijón mystery game?

I would recommend it to families, friends, and colleagues who want a simple shared activity rather than a formal tour. It is especially suitable if your group enjoys detective stories, phone-based games, light puzzles, and a walk with a clear goal.

It also works for visitors who have already seen some of Gijón and want a different way to move around the city. The route may bring you to places you would not otherwise visit, and the game adds a reason to look closely at your surroundings.

I would be more cautious if your main reason for booking is local history. The game does not promise detailed information about the city, and the locations mainly serve the plot. You may find attractive places along the way, but you should plan separate sightseeing if you want context.

The overall rating shown for the experience is 3.5 out of 5 from four reviews, so the response is mixed. The strongest positives are the laughs, the chance to discover parts of the city, and the convenience of playing on your own schedule. The main criticism concerns puzzles that may be unclear and a limited connection between the mystery and the places you visit.

Should you book it?

Book this game if you want an affordable, private, easy-level mystery that turns a walk through Gijón into a group activity. The flexible timing, four-person ticket, multilingual written guide, and return to Plaza Mayor make it simple to fit into a sightseeing day.

Skip it if you want a guide, detailed city commentary, or guaranteed puzzle clarity. For the best result, think of it as a playful detective walk that adds structure to your exploration, then pair it with a separate activity that explains Gijón.

FAQ

Where does the Sherlock Holmes game start?

It starts at Plaza Mayor, Pl. Mayor, Gijón, 33201 Gijón, Asturias, Spain.

Where does the activity finish?

The game ends back at the meeting point at Plaza Mayor.

How long does the game take?

The estimated duration is about two hours.

Can I choose my start time?

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

How many people can use one ticket?

One ticket covers one group of up to four people using one device. Larger groups can purchase multiple tickets.

Do I need a smartphone?

Yes. You need your own smartphone or another suitable device. The device is not included.

Which languages are available?

The written guide is available in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, and Dutch.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.