How to organise a city game
A good city game feels as if the city itself is playing along. You walk streets you never visit, you sprint across a square because someone is right behind you, and afterwards you have stories for years. That does not happen by itself. With these steps you can set up a game in one evening that stays exciting all afternoon.
1. Decide on the playing field
Pick an area you can walk from edge to edge in fifteen minutes. Too big, and players never meet. Too small, and the game is over in an hour. Divide it into neighbourhoods or zones with clear borders, such as a canal, a railway or a main road. How to do that in Tikkertje is in set up a city in five steps.
2. Choose a format that mixes hunting and collecting
The best city games have two things at once: something to win and something to fear. Let players earn points by visiting places or doing missions, and have someone hunting them. Whoever gets caught loses more than time: they swap roles. That way nobody ever sits on the sidelines.
3. Write missions that belong to the place
A mission that only works at that one bridge always beats one that works anywhere. Keep it short, make it visible in a photo or video, and never ask for anything unsafe. More tips are in how to write city game missions.
4. Agree on the rules before anyone leaves
- How long does the game last, and when exactly is it over?
- How do you tag someone, and what happens next?
- Are bikes or trams allowed, or only walking?
- Which places are off limits, such as shops, stations or private ground?
- What do you do if your battery dies or you lose the group?
5. Make the city shrink
A four-hour game should be more exciting at the end than at the start. So close part of the city halfway through. Players are driven towards each other, and the last round turns into a real chase.
No spreadsheet needed
You can do all of this on paper, with a group chat for positions and someone keeping score. If you would rather let the phone do the work, Tikkertje handles the playing field, the missions, the evidence and the score. See what it does on the features page or read how it fits into a weekend away with friends.