1. Choose your game based on your preferred Start Location and difficulty
No booking is needed for our games; once you have your game token, you can head to the start location and play any time. Valid for 6 months from purchase date
How To Play A Laneway Mystery
2. Assemble your team
Your team will have to work together to solve the mystery. We recommend team sizes of up to 6. If there are more of you, why not divide into competing teams to add some rivalry to your game!
3. Activate the game token you purchased
Game tokens are sent via email, or, if purchased as a gift, as a QR code on a card.
4. Head to the starting location of your game
We will send you directions and a list of what you need to bring – usually this is two charged mobile data-enabled phones, comfy shoes, glasses if you wear them, and plenty of water and sun protection
5. Inspect nearby landmarks and solve the first challenge
Search the area high and low to find what you need to unlock the next location. You can pause and resume as you like using the resume code
6. Get to the final location and solve the mystery
Use everything you’ve gathered to navigate the twists and solve the mystery
If you have any questions that aren’t covered here, you can get in touch with us via our Contact page
How Do I Give A Laneway Mysteries Game As a Gift?
Simply select “this is a gift” at checkout. Gift two games and get a third free! You can learn more on our Gifts Page
Where do the games start and finish?
The exact start location varies by game and is displayed on our games page. All games finish within 500m of where they start, unless otherwise specified on the game page.
Can we play from home?
Unless otherwise stated, all games are designed to be enjoyed on location to help you explore the city. For most of the stages, you need to find something in the local surroundings to get the right answer. Trying to solve it remotely won’t break anything — it just won’t be as much fun.
How many people can play?
Unless otherwise stated, games are delivered via 2 phones. One person sees the game engine on their phone, another sees the game companion page on their phone. There is no maximum team size, but we find teams of between 2 and 6 people tend to enjoy our games the most.
How long does it take to play a game?
Most games are designed to be finishable within 90 minutes for the average team, but there's no time pressure. Take breaks, stop for a coffee, pause and resume later — it’s designed to fit around your day, not the other way around.
How do we save our progress if we want a break?
Player 2's elimination grid autosaves on the webpage. Just be aware that deleting your browsing history will erase the progress. For player 1, we give save codes at checkpoints, you'll be prompted to take screenshots in game. To recommence your game, simply enter the code on the resume game page.
When's the best time to play a Laneway Mystery Game?
Our games can be played any time, but are most enjoyable when played during the day or early evening. You can play them at night, but some of the “look closely” challenges will be difficult/less enjoyable in low light.
What should we bring?
You will definitely need two well-charged phones with mobile data enabled. We also recommend comfy walking shoes, glasses if you wear them (for the “look closely” challenges), a mobile battery pack, and water/sun protection. You won’t need to enter any buildings, but please be aware of your surroundings, including other pedestrians and cyclists.
What if we can't find the answer?
If you’re stuck:
– Hints are available on player 1’s phone; tapping “Get A Hint” will reveal them one at a time
– Use the “Reveal Answer” button if you’re still stuck.
There’s no judgement here, the aim is enjoyment, not perfection
What if we have technical issues?
It's almost always a signal issue. Walk a few metres, and try again. You won't be penalised for moving off the route. Worst case scenario, you can resume your game using your save code (see above). If you're still struggling, get in touch with us via the contact page.
I'm here for the puzzles. Do I really need to read all the history facts?
The history facts are completely optional and totally skippable. There's nothing hidden in them and nothing you need to remember later. We would however recommend paying attention to the fictional story the game is built around - there are some things in this that may help you out later in the game.
Do I need the sound on?
Some of our outdoor escape rooms, like traditional escape rooms, utilise sound as part of some of the puzzles. These sounds are available to player 2 via their phone. If you'd like to know if a specific game is suitable for deaf players, please contact us and we'll be happy to advise. The audio narrator available via player 1's phone is simply for people who prefer to listen than read; they don't convey any extra information which isn't clearly written on player 1's screen.
How precise do we need to be with the locations?
For each challenge, you are directed to a very specific location using Google Maps. All answers will be visible from somewhere that's within about 30 metres of the stated location. You may need to move and look around for a clue, a code, etc — that’s part of the fun.
What if something seems out of date?
Let us know. Once we verify it, we'll give you a free game of your choice as a thank you.
Cancellations And Refunds
We want you to have a fair and enjoyable experience with Laneway Mysteries. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our cancellations/refunds page.