20 CUTS in Birmingham: An Immersive Real-World Thriller Game

A walking thriller game through central Birmingham, in which players follow clues and solve puzzles to stop a killer targeting strangers. The route starts from 2 Centenary Square.

This outing is a story-led game played on foot around Birmingham city centre rather than a performance or a sit-down session. The premise casts each participant as the person searching for a missing sister, while a menacing figure called Razor sets a scavenger hunt in which the stakes are life and death. Players work through dark, story-driven puzzles and must step in to rescue strangers caught in the traps Razor has set.

The city's streets and squares form the scene of the crime, so the puzzles draw on familiar places that players will walk past. The route covers a few kilometres and visits a dozen locations, moving between them on foot. Because the game is followed through a phone, participants need a device with plenty of battery and a data connection for the whole route.

The game suits groups of friends and anyone who enjoys puzzle-led challenges, and it gives visitors a reason to explore central Birmingham at street level. It begins at 2 Centenary Square, which is where players collect their first clue.