Canada>Montreal>Shadows of Prohibition: The Montreal Escape
City exploration game

Shadows of Prohibition: The Montreal Escape

4.36Player rating
Play at your pace · usually 90 min 2.6 km Montreal App-guided
Play in
EnglishFrench

The experience

About this quest

Montreal, 1920s. The air is thick with smoke, whispers, and forbidden drinks. You wake up under blooming cherry trees, a stranger’s jacket draped over you - and a wallet inside that could get you killed. 

Al Capone’s friends don’t forgive easily. Follow the hidden trails of the city’s Prohibition past, solve puzzles to uncover secret bars and forgotten deals, and escape the night’s deadly mistake. Grab your friends or family, walk the misty streets, and piece together the clues before it’s too late. 

This isn’t just a stroll - it’s a real-world mystery where your wit and nerve will shape your fate. Will you slip away unseen... or become part of the legend?

What makes this quest special

Highlights

  • Discover or rediscover the cultural heart of the city in a brand new light.

  • Dive into a mythical era ridden with gangsters, bootleggers and worse, jazz musicians.

  • Visit popular and unknown locations around the town center.

  • Follow the journey of a sympathetic drunkard stranded in his own city.

From people who played this quest

Good times. In their words.

4.36 / 5

148 player ratings

Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.

From your phone to the streets

A walk that turns into an adventure.

  1. 1

    Open the app. You’re on your way.

    Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.

  2. 2

    Get outside. Follow your curiosity.

    Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.

  3. 3

    Crack a clue. Share a little victory.

    Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.

CHOOSE YOUR PASS

How many are playing?

Get this quest
No booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
Players exploring the city together

BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP

One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.

A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.

Team vs team

Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.

Everyone for themselves

One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.

Can a team share one phone?

Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.

Your walk, at a glance

Montreal

A · Start

200 Rue De La Gauchetière O, Montréal, QC H2Z 1X7, Canada

B · Finish

185 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H2X 1Z9, Canada

Get directions to the start

Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.

The people behind the adventure

Created by Alexandre Matte-Deschênes.

A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.

Made by Alexandre Matte-Deschênes

WHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT

Your adventure, with a playful twist.

1 / 4

Experience

This quest
Discover places through stories and clues in the app
Guided walking tour
Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4

Pace

This quest
Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
Guided walking tour
Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4

Company

This quest
Explore with your own people or on your own
Guided walking tour
Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4

Guidance

This quest
Directions and challenges in the Questo app
Guided walking tour
Live interpretation from a guide

Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.

Good to know before you play

  • Don’t enter the places, not part of the experience

A little clarity before you go

Frequently asked questions

What’s the idea behind Shadows of Prohibition?

You wake up in 1920s Montreal, with a wallet that’s not yours and serious trouble brewing. You follow clues, discover speakeasies, dodge gangsters, and try to unravel what went wrong—all before it’s too late.

Is this more for mystery lovers or history buffs?

BOTH. If you love mystery, you’ll dig the sneaky clues and shady characters. If you like history, the Prohibition era, jazz, and Montreal’s past are woven into the storyline. Great combo.

Could this be a cool date night idea?

Yes! It’s atmospheric—nighttime or dusk adds to the mood. Solving puzzles together, walking past old bars, getting chills from the story… it’s something different and memorable.

Is it something families with kids can enjoy?

It depends on the kids. Older ones (teens) who enjoy thrill, history, puzzles will love it. Younger kids might find some parts scary or confusing. Also better during daylight if with little ones.

Where does the quest start and end?

You start at Sakura Garden in downtown Montreal and finish at Place des Arts. It winds through central streets & hidden spots in between.

Is Shadows of Prohibition: The Montreal Escape self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. You can start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does Shadows of Prohibition: The Montreal Escape start and finish?
It starts at Sakura Garden, 200 Rue De La Gauchetière O, Montréal, QC H2Z 1X7, Canada and finishes at Place des Arts, 185 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H2X 1Z9, Canada. The route is approximately 2.6 km and includes 11 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
What language is Shadows of Prohibition: The Montreal Escape available in?
It is currently available to play in English, French.

Prohibition-era Montréal

Why American Prohibition sent nightlife north

When alcohol was prohibited across the United States from 1920 to 1933, Québec followed a different path: beer, wine and licensed drinking remained available under provincial regulation. Montréal’s clubs and cabarets attracted visitors from across the border and strengthened its nightlife reputation. This quest uses that real contrast as its setting; the Al Capone connection and missing-wallet escape are fictional. Playable languages: English, French.

Your next story starts outside.

Your next adventure is an app away.

Get the Questo app. Pick a quest, follow the clues and make the city your playground.

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