Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
The Cardinal Disappearance: Shadows of Downtown Ottawa
4.43Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 102 min 6.2 km Ottawa App-guided
Play in
EnglishFrench
The experience
About this quest
Ottawa hides more than monuments and politics—something darker lingers in its shadows. James Cardinal, heir to a powerful local family, has vanished without a trace. As a seasoned private investigator, you've been called in to uncover the truth before whispers turn into headlines. His last signal came from downtown, but the trail has gone cold.
Will you crack the case before it disappears for good?
Step into the streets, follow cryptic clues, solve real-world puzzles, and piece together the mystery one step at a time. Bring a friend or your most trusted partner—this isn’t a game you’ll want to play alone. It's a thrilling walk through secrets, lies, and hidden corners of the capital. The city is waiting. Are you ready to follow the trail?
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Couples, friends and families visiting downtown Ottawa who like a detective story will follow the trail of a missing family heir past statues and monuments, from the Tessouat sculpture to the Famous 5 and the National Arts Centre, solving puzzles in about 1.5 to 2 hours. If you would rather quiz a live guide about the monuments, or someone in your group cannot comfortably walk 6.2 km, choose something else.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Navigate downtown with ease!
Find some of Ottawa’s most Instagramable sights!
Learn about the early days of Ottawa
Enjoy scenic pathways through the heart of the city
Explore Ottawa’s past and present
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.43 / 5
150 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 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
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
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 questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
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.
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
Ottawa
A · Start
55 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, ON K2P 2L1, Canada
B · Finish
District de Hull, Gatineau, QC K1A 0M8, Canada
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals
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
- Best during the day
- Best for couples
- Recommended activity for families
- Some checkpoints may contain temporary construction work
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is this a good thing to do in Ottawa tonight?
You can start whenever you like, but this quest is best played during the day. The clues are hidden in statues and monuments along the streets, and daylight makes the puzzles and the 6.2 km route much easier to follow. An afternoon start works well.
Can we do it today without booking a time?
Yes. There is no fixed start time, no group to join and no guide to wait for. Open the app when you are ready, head to the starting point and begin. You can pause along the way and continue later.
Where does it start and how long does it take?
The walk starts and finishes at Marion Dewar, covering about 6.2 km in roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Stops include the Museum of History, Lt. Col. John By, Yousuf Karsh and Queen Victoria. Some checkpoints may have temporary construction work nearby.
Is it suitable for children?
It is recommended for families. It suits children who can walk about 6.2 km and enjoy solving puzzles based on what they see around them. The story is a missing-person mystery, so it works best for kids who like detective tales.
Can our group play together, and is it all outdoors?
Yes, one ticket covers your whole group, so you can solve the case as a team. The route is outdoors through downtown streets, past statues and monuments, so dress for the weather and pause if you need a break.
Is The Cardinal Disappearance: Shadows of Downtown Ottawa 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 The Cardinal Disappearance: Shadows of Downtown Ottawa start and finish?
It starts at Marion Dewar, 55 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, ON K2P 2L1, Canada and finishes at Tessouat sculpture, District de Hull, Gatineau, QC K1A 0M8, Canada. The route is approximately 6.2 km and includes 10 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.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Ottawa
More adventures in Ottawa
Capital-region context
A mystery route across two cities and one river
Ottawa and Gatineau form a cross-river capital region shaped by federal institutions, public art and distinct English- and French-speaking communities. Crossing the Ottawa River changes both province and city while keeping Parliament’s landscape in view. This quest turns that real civic geography into a fictional disappearance case; its cardinal and investigation are invented. Playable languages: English, French.
