The Port Game is a tablet-guided hybrid live game in the Port of Amsterdam. We designed it as an experiment to see if we could deviate from the by- now-conventional game mechanics of live escape room games, and create a competitive game that consists of a number of ‘mini’ escape rooms in an open field. Connecting these challenges in a custom-created iPad app that serves as both a classic ‘treasure hunt’ GPS guide, as well as a console for the different puzzles, adapting to each of the challenges.

Challenges, treasures and even other teams are recognised by the teams iPad through iBeacon technology and will enable them to interact with them. The host iPad enables the hosts to control the game, see where the teams are, what they are doing, send messages to the teams and overrule certain situations.