EXPLORELYCity trips with friends usually go one of two ways: everyone agrees on the same five sights, or the group splits up and nobody sees each other until dinner. A bit of competition fixes both.
Here are five challenges that work in any city. All of them run in Explorely, but you can adapt most with just your phones.
1. Time Trial
Same route, fastest time wins. Pick a quest route, start together or one after the other, and compare times at the end. Works best in old towns with lots of small streets, where the shortest path isn't obvious.
2. Photo Duel
One location, one photo each, the group votes on the best. Good for viewpoints and famous landmarks where everyone takes the same picture anyway. The duel forces you to find a new angle.
3. Blind Quest
You get a quest without seeing the destination up front. Navigate by clues instead of a pin on the map. The most "real game" of the five, and the one that gets you lost in a good way.
4. Distance Duel
Most kilometers walked over a set time wins. Useful on long days: it turns the walk between sights into part of the game, not dead time.
5. Quest Bingo
A bingo card of places and tasks in the city. Complete a row to win. Good for groups that want to split up for an afternoon and meet again with something to compare.
Which challenge fits which trip?
| Trip type | Best challenge | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend, first time in the city | Quest Bingo | Covers a lot of ground, flexible |
| Group with competitive people | Time Trial | Clear winner, fast |
| Photographers, content creators | Photo Duel | Rewards creativity |
| Repeat visit, you know the sights | Blind Quest | Forces new places |
| Long walking day | Distance Duel | Makes walking count |
House rules that help
- Agree on a stake before you start: loser buys the first round.
- Keep challenges under 90 minutes so nobody burns out.
- Save one mini game, like the country guesser quiz, for waiting time at stations and restaurants.