Question 1

What is GoQuestIRL?

Accepted Answer

GoQuestIRL is a story-driven, real-world spy quest. At the meeting point you become an agent, join your team of 1 to 8, and follow an unfolding story across four city locations: completing missions, working out each next location from clues, cracking a cipher, recovering the letters of a secret codeword, and finishing with a victory photo shoot.

Question 2

What happens during a quest?

Accepted Answer

Every quest has four locations. At the first, you tap I'M HERE, choose a code name and start Agent Preparation: quick observation and personal assignments, and a chance to meet other agents. Thirty minutes after the start, teams are formed from everyone who has arrived. Your team finds each other, picks a team name and completes a line-up photo mission. Then you work out where to go next from clues split across your phones, and at each location play a timed mission: cracking an intercepted cipher, then "How well do you know each other?". Every location releases two letters of a secret codeword, which your team cracks at the final location before a 20-minute Hero Photo finale. Everyone plays on their own phone.

Question 3

Is there a live tour guide?

Accepted Answer

No, there is no live guide. The story, clues, missions and timers are all delivered through our web app on your phone. Once your team works out the next location, the app shows its name and a map link, and you make your own way there. You and your teammates are the agents running the operation.

Question 4

Do I need to be good at puzzles or games?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. GoQuestIRL is designed for everyone, whether you love puzzles or have never played anything like it. The challenges reward teamwork, observation and conversation rather than trivia. Hints are always available, each next location is a multiple-choice question, and the cipher and codeword can be skipped, so nobody ever gets stuck.

Question 5

Do we have to act or dress up?

Accepted Answer

There are no costumes and nothing to prepare. Some missions are playful: inventing a code name, lining your team up for photos, and a Hero Photo finale where your team stays undercover by looking like best friends on the trip of your life. It is all photos on your own phones, no video, and meant to be fun rather than polished. Any timed mission can be ended early.

Question 6

What if I am shy or not very outgoing?

Accepted Answer

That is completely fine. There is nothing to perform for strangers, and your photos stay on your team's phones unless you choose to share them. Meeting other agents during Agent Preparation is optional: if you would rather not, tap NO AGENTS NEAR ME and carry on. You can take the quieter roles, taking the photos or working out the clues, and still be a full part of the team. If you would rather play only with the people you came with, choose the Private Group option at checkout.

Question 7

What if we do not want to do one of the missions?

Accepted Answer

You never have to. Every timed mission has an END EARLY button, and the cipher and the final codeword can be skipped. You only lose the points you would have earned, and nothing ever blocks the quest: the story carries on exactly as before.

Question 8

How long does a quest take?

Accepted Answer

About 2.5 hours, as a guideline. It can run a little longer, because the Hero Photo finale always gets its full 20 minutes. Travel between locations is never timed, and you can walk or use public transport or a taxi.

Question 9

Which parts of the quest are timed?

Accepted Answer

The missions. Agent Preparation runs until teams are formed, 30 minutes after the start. After that, the line-up photo mission is 15 minutes, the cipher 15 minutes (20 in Solo Mode), "How well do you know each other?" 20 minutes, the final codeword up to 10 minutes and the Hero Photo finale 20 minutes. Your team presses START together and a countdown stays on screen. When it reaches zero, you keep everything you completed and the quest moves on. Travel between locations is never timed.

Question 10

How does scoring work?

Accepted Answer

You score points for every task you complete, and the app shows the points available before you start. Working out each next location scores up to 60 points, minus 20 for each hint or wrong answer. The cipher and the codeword score 60, 40 or 20 depending on the hints you used. Everything is on the honour system: nothing is judged. Your team total and the standings against other teams on the same departure update whenever phones are online, and your score decides which ending of the story you unlock. Every ending is a success.

Question 11

Will I know where we are going before we start?

Accepted Answer

You will know the meeting point in advance, but nothing else. Every quest has four locations, either in a straight line or looping back to where you started, and your team works out each next location from clues as the story unfolds.

Question 12

What is included with my booking?

Accepted Answer

Full access to the quest on your phone: the story, missions, clues, cipher and codeword, hints, team formation at the meeting point, live standings against the other teams, your photos, and a shareable agent card at the end.

Question 13

Are monument tickets, transportation, or a tour guide included?

Accepted Answer

No. GoQuestIRL is a 100% self-guided adventure played on your smartphone, so there is no live human guide. Standard quest routes do not require paid monument admissions. Transportation, hotel transfers, and food or drinks along the route are not included.

Question 14

What do we take home?

Accepted Answer

Your photos, above all the Hero Photos from the finale, saved on your phones. At the end each player also gets a shareable agent card with their code name, team name, the ending your team unlocked, your score and a Hero Photo of your choice.

Question 15

Can we pause for coffee, food, or bathroom breaks during the quest?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Missions are timed at 10 to 20 minutes each, but travel between locations is never timed, so take your breaks on the way from one location to the next.

Question 16

Is GoQuestIRL suitable for children and families?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All questions, challenges and story text are family-safe, and quests are great fun for teenagers and adults. We recommend a minimum age of 12 for solving clues independently, but younger children are welcome to explore with family groups.

Question 17

Can I book on my own as a solo player?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no separate solo ticket: every booking, including a booking for one, goes into team formation at the meeting point. Book an open departure (Sundays at 3:00 PM, local time) and you will be placed in an open team of up to 6 with the other players who arrive, which is a great way to meet travellers and locals. If nobody else turns up, you play Solo Mode, the individual version of the same quest. If you would rather play alone from the start, book a Private Group for one at any available time.

Question 18

What is Solo Mode?

Accepted Answer

Solo Mode is the individual version of the quest, for a player who ends up on their own: nobody else arrived for the departure, or you are the only one from a private booking who came. You visit the same locations and follow the same story, clues, cipher and codeword. You see every clue yourself, get 20 minutes for the cipher, and play Field Photography instead of the team missions. Solo players have their own standings.

Question 19

Can I book with friends and stay on the same team?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Book all your places together in one reservation and provide the email address for each participant. When teams are formed, everyone from your booking who has arrived at the meeting point is always placed on the same team.

Question 20

How are teams formed?

Accepted Answer

At the meeting point, 30 minutes after the scheduled start, from everyone who has tapped I'M HERE by then. Players who booked together stay together, then players who share a language are grouped, and then open teams are balanced as evenly as possible, up to 6 players each. Only people who actually came are included, so you are never waiting for a no-show. Open bookings on a departure are formed together; a private booking is only ever formed from its own players.

Question 21

Can we keep our group private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Select the 'Private Group' option during checkout and no other players are ever added: your team is formed only from your own group. This works for any group size from 1 to 8, so you can book a private solo quest too. Private bookings also enjoy flexible scheduling: choose any available departure time.

Question 22

Will we be grouped with people we do not know?

Accepted Answer

Only on an open departure. There, open teams of up to 6 are formed at the meeting point from everyone who has arrived, and everyone booked together always stays on the same team. Choose the Private Group option at checkout and no other players are ever added.

Question 23

Is there a team captain or leader?

Accepted Answer

No. Every player is equal: there is no captain, leader or host, and nobody has to take charge. Everyone plays on their own phone, and any phone can complete a team task. The person who booked is only the billing contact and has no extra role in the game.

Question 24

What are the minimum and maximum team sizes?

Accepted Answer

Private teams have 1 to 8 players, so everyone has an active role and the team can talk things through easily. On an open departure (Sundays at 3:00 PM, local time), open teams of up to 6 are formed at the meeting point from everyone who has arrived; a player left on their own plays Solo Mode. A private booking of 1 to 8 plays as one team. On quests that take large groups, a private group of 9 to 50 plays as several teams of 4 to 8, formed at the meeting point.

Question 25

Can we book for more than 8 players at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On quests that take large groups, one private booking covers up to 50 players: choose your group size on the quest page, add your own details, and share the link you get after checkout so everyone adds their own name. Groups of 9 or more play as several teams of 4 to 8, formed at the meeting point, and no other players are added. On other quests, make several bookings of up to 8 for the same start time; each booking plays as its own team.

Question 26

When is the team finalized?

Accepted Answer

At the meeting point, about 30 minutes after your scheduled start time, once everyone has had time to arrive. People who booked together are always on the same team, and a private booking stays private. One hour before the start we email you how many players have signed up; if you are still the only player, that email lets you play solo (what happens if you do nothing), reschedule for free, take a credit for the full amount, or get a refund minus the non-refundable payment processing fee.

Question 27

Will my phone number or contact info be shared with other players?

Accepted Answer

No. Your phone number and contact details are never shown to other players.

Question 28

When do quests start?

Accepted Answer

Open matchmaking departures, where solo players and small groups are formed into teams, run Sundays at 3:00 PM local time, so everyone who wants a team pools onto the same departure. Private groups can choose any available time.

Question 29

When should I arrive at the meeting point?

Accepted Answer

Please arrive at your starting landmark 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. Teams are then finalized right there at the meeting point, about 30 minutes after the start time.

Question 30

Where is the meeting point?

Accepted Answer

Each quest starts at a specific, easily accessible landmark in the city (such as a public square, monument, or museum forecourt). The exact starting landmark, address, directions, and map link are provided on the quest page, in your confirmation email, and inside your dashboard.

Question 31

What happens if someone is running late?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who taps I'M HERE before teams are formed, 30 minutes after the start, is included. After that, nobody can join a team. A late arrival chooses instead: play the quest solo, reschedule for free, or cancel for a credit or a refund minus the non-refundable payment processing fee.

Question 32

What do I need to bring?

Accepted Answer

You will need: (1) Your own smartphone, charged to 100%, with mobile data. Every player needs their own phone. (2) A portable power bank: the whole quest runs on your phone, so bring one to keep it going to the end. (3) Comfortable walking shoes. (4) Weather-appropriate clothing (or an umbrella/sun protection).

Question 33

Why does everyone need their own phone?

Accepted Answer

Because the team has to work together. The clues to each next location are split across your team's phones, and so are the pieces of the cipher (the message, the key and the method), so each player holds something the others need. Everyone also scores team points from their own phone.

Question 34

What if my phone dies during the quest?

Accepted Answer

Keep playing with your team: your teammates' phones can complete every team task, and a hint on any phone shows all the clues and cipher pieces, including yours. Once your phone is charged, choose REJOIN YOUR TEAM and jump to where your team is now. The points your team earned on other phones are never lost.

Question 35

Do you track my location?

Accepted Answer

No. The quest uses no GPS and no background location. You tap I'M HERE yourself when you reach each location. This also saves battery.

Question 36

Do I need to download an app from the App Store or Google Play?

Accepted Answer

No! GoQuestIRL is designed to run directly inside your mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.). There are no app store downloads, installations, or storage burdens. Simply tap your unique quest launch link to start.

Question 37

What happens if I temporarily lose mobile internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Your arrival needs to reach us before teams are formed, so find signal at the meeting point; the app tells you if it has not got through yet. After that, the quest plays without a connection. Timers run on your phone, and your answers and photos are saved on the device and upload automatically when you have signal. Your team total and the standings update once phones are back online.

Question 38

What languages are available for quests?

Accepted Answer

All quest narratives, clues, and interface directions are available in English. Many quests also offer localized translations in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, and Chinese. Check the specific quest details for supported languages.

Question 39

Can I cancel my booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can cancel at any time before your quest runs, and for up to 45 minutes after your scheduled departure (in one click from your dashboard) and choose a credit for the full amount you paid (valid for 12 months on any quest), a free reschedule to another departure, or a refund of your full payment minus the non-refundable payment processing fee. Payment processing fees are charged by our payment provider when you pay and are not returned on a refund; a credit or a reschedule keeps the whole amount. Once that 45-minute window closes the quest counts as played, and any request is handled by our support team. The same three options apply whatever the reason, including if you ever feel unsafe on a quest and decide to stop. Email support@goquestirl.com; you do not have to explain why.

Question 40

Can I reschedule my quest if my plans change?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and rescheduling is always free. Move your booking to another departure from your dashboard any time up to 45 minutes after your scheduled departure. Open matchmaking bookings move to another open departure (Sundays at 3:00 PM, local time); private bookings can pick any available time. Not ready to pick a date? Cancel for a credit worth the full amount you paid and use it within 12 months on any quest. If you booked for friends too, please change your booking as early as you can so they know.

Question 41

What happens if I am the only person booked for a departure?

Accepted Answer

Come along anyway. Teams are formed at the meeting point from everyone who has arrived, and players sometimes book late. One hour before the start we email you how many players have signed up. If you are the only one who arrives, you play Solo Mode, the individual version of the same quest. If you would rather not play alone, you can instead choose a credit for the full amount you paid (valid for 12 months on any quest), a free reschedule to another departure, or a refund of your full payment minus the non-refundable payment processing fee, up to 45 minutes after the scheduled start.

Question 42

What happens if my teammates do not show up at the meeting point?

Accepted Answer

Teams are formed only from the players who actually arrive, so you are never left waiting for a no-show. If nobody else arrives, you play Solo Mode. And if you would rather not play at all, you can still cancel from your dashboard up to 45 minutes after the scheduled start and choose a credit for the full amount you paid (valid for 12 months on any quest), a free reschedule to another departure, or a refund of your full payment minus the non-refundable payment processing fee.

Question 43

What happens if it rains or the weather is bad?

Accepted Answer

Our quests operate rain or shine, and exploring a historic city in light rain can be a memorable adventure! However, in the event of extreme or hazardous severe weather conditions where we determine it is unsafe, we will notify you and you can choose a credit for the full amount you paid (valid for 12 months on any quest), a free reschedule to another departure, or a refund of your full payment minus the non-refundable payment processing fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

Ready to start your adventure?

Cancellation & Refund Terms

Report an Issue or Feedback

Report an Issue or Feedback