Escape the City is a game that turns cities into interactive escape room experiences, and now there is a Baltimore version.
Escapely is the has turned the streets of Baltimore into an immersive real-world mystery with the launch of this Baltimore version of Escape the City. This game uses the backdrop of the Inner Harbor for an adventure filled with outdoor puzzles and problem-solving.
“Escape the City turns Baltimore into an outdoor escape room,” said Rachel Shiffrin, founder of Escapely, in a statement. “Players chase clues, solve puzzles, and discover hidden details they might normally walk right past.”
Players receive a game box containing a lock, key, cards with clues, decoders, and more. They use those props, instructions, and their smartphone to decipher codes, solve puzzles, and uncover clues. The game unfolds across the Inner Harbor, using Baltimore landmarks and hidden (or at least less noticeable) details to create an escape room experience, no locked doors required.
The game’s premise has players going undercover as secret agents to identify and expose a ring of double agents in the fictional Chronos Agency. Players use the tools in the box, like decoders, spy glasses, Magic 8 Balls, and test tubes to unlock codes that exist in real Baltimore landmarks, all in walking distance of one another.
The Inner Harbor game is self-paced but generally takes two to three hours to complete (to be played during the daylight hours), covering a route of 1.5 miles. Players can play in “casual” or “challenge” mode with unlimited hints. The game is designed to be enjoyed by native Baltimoreans and tourists alike and is suitable for all ages.
“Baltimore is full of hidden details, and Escape the City turns them into clues,” Shiffrin said. “My goal was to create an unforgettable and truly local experience.”
The Baltimore version of Escape the City costs $59.99.
