Case Study

Das Geheimnis des Lichts

The custom outdoor escape game that gave its visitors a reason to stay.

The Custom Game built for Eischoll, Switzerland

Das Geheimnis des Lichts (The Secret of the Light) is a custom outdoor escape game built by Cluetivity exclusively for the village of Eischoll in Valais, Switzerland. This is the story of how a destination turned its local identity into an experience that keeps visitors longer and brings them back.

Eischoll, Valais, Switzerland

1 - 2 Hours

2 - 6 players

Ages 8+

German

Current Situation & Goal

Eischoll, Valais: The destination behind the game

Eischoll is a village of 440 people in the Turtmanntal Region of Valais, Switzerland. Locals call it the Heimat der Lichtblume, the Home of the Light Flower, named after a bloom that grows on the southeast slopes of Upper Valais and nowhere else. read more

The Eischoll Tourist Office wanted to give families and groups a reason to slow down and stay longer, with an activity rooted in the actual identity of the place rather than something imported from elsewhere.

The Problem

Short visits. Little economic benefit. A pattern most destinations know.

Switzerland recorded 42.8 million overnight stays in 2024, an all-time national record. But Valais was one of only three cantons where overnight stays declined that same year. Strong regional numbers do not automatically reach smaller destinations. read more

There is a real difference between visitors who pass through a place and those who engage with it. Smaller destinations often attract the first group. Turning that into longer stays and return visits takes something specific for people to do.

The Challenge

Eischoll had the identity. It needed the activity.

Eischoll had strong foundations: defined scenery, a clear local character, accessible infrastructure. What it lacked was an exclusive activity. Nothing to make guests slow down. Nothing that made visiting Eischoll different from visiting any other beautiful village in Valais.

According to the Rateboard, across the Swiss Alps, the average length of stay per guest has been falling for both Swiss and international visitors. Smaller villages carry this pressure directly. A larger resort competes on infrastructure: ski lifts, hotel restaurants, rental shops. A village of 440 people has to compete on the experience itself.

Eischoll had everything a visitor could want except a reason to stay, explore and come back.

The Solution

Turning hidden treasures into Gold!

Das Geheimnis des Lichts was assembled from scratch. Cluetivity started from the identity of Eischoll and built outward from there.

Eischoll was already known as the home of the Lichtblume (spring-blooming plant called Spring Meadow Saffron) and has its own little cow character. Cluetivity combined these local “treasures” into Das Geheimnis des Lichts (The Secret of the Light), a game where players try to save Eischoll.

This is what it means for a custom game to be custom: the story grows out of the destination itself, so it could only exist in Eischoll, not anywhere else.

 

 

What The Eischoll Tourist Office Gained

A bookable, self-running experience that requires no daily staff to operate

Guests spending 1 to 2 hours exploring the village instead of passing through

A named, searchable activity tied specifically to Eischoll in regional travel recommendations

A shared group experience that generates word-of-mouth and repeat visit intent

How We Built Das Geheimnis des Licht

The Custom Game Das Geheimnis des Lichts project followed the process below:

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Week 1

Concept and Storyline

Definition of the Eischoll experience, built the story around the mascot Tschorrli, the legend of the Lischblumen,  and planned the use of props.

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Week 2 - 4

Content, Design, and Props

Creation of the full game content including images, 3D character, augmented reality animations, and designed the tailored props.

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Week 5 - 7

Testing and Optimization

Test of the game on-site in Eischoll, validated all locations and puzzles, and refined the experience based on feedback and safety considerations.

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Week 8

Launch

The game was finalized and deployed. The team received onboarding and was ready to launch the experience in Eischoll.

Perfect For Your Destination

Cluetivity turns the uniqueness of every destination into a live game story.

Tourist Offices and DMOs

Resorts and Hotels

Mountain Destinations and Cable Car Operators

Benefits for Your Destination

Memorable Experiences People Share

A Custom Game creates a shared adventure that families and groups talk about, photograph, and recommend afterward.

A Story Only Your Place Can Tell

We turn your destination’s story, identity, landmarks, and character into a game experience that could only happen there.

Turn Visitors into Explorers

Families and groups discover your destination through fun challenges and adventures, making it easy and exciting to know what’s where!

Increase your Revenue

Offer the games as an upsell, or include them as premium destination offer.

Playful Exploration

Families discover your location through fun challenges and adventures, making it easy and exciting to know what’s where!

Easy Management

You hand out iPads, players explore, return iPads, you recharge, done!
Simple and fast.

How to Start? - It's Easy!

Turnkey solution! Ready in just a few hours.
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Step 1

Intro Call: What makes your location unique, visitors, story, and standout elements.

Step 2

Concept: First idea of how a game could work at your location. No commitments.

Step 3

Build and Handover: If you proceed, we create everything, story, riddles, app, GPS, and kits.

Looking For Some Inspiration?

Das Geheimnis des Lichts was built for Eischoll. We build yours for your destination!

Tell us about your project. We will come back with a concept, a timeline and a clear cost breakdown. No commitment needed.

A location, an audience and a rough idea is enough to start!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to build a Custom Game?

A standard custom game takes typically 8 to 16 weeks from signed contract to launch. Timeline depends on complexity and how quickly content is approved at each stage. We agree on a production schedule at the start so there are no surprises.

Can Cluetivity build a custom game for my destination?

Yes. Cluetivity builds custom outdoor escape games for destinations of any size. Each game is designed from scratch around the specific identity, landmarks and audience of the location. Every game is different because every destination is different.

What types of destinations work with Cluetivity?

Cluetivity works with tourist offices, DMOs, resorts, hotels, cable car operators, event venues and regional tourism boards. If your destination has a local identity or story worth exploring, it is a candidate for a custom game.

How many players can run the game at the same time?

Multiple teams can run simultaneously at the same location or across different cities. We have supported events with over 2,000 players at once. We advise on the right hardware setup based on your group size.

What is Das Geheimnis des Lichts?

Das Geheimnis des Lichts (The Secret of the Light) is a custom outdoor escape game built by Cluetivity exclusively for the village of Eischoll in Valais, Switzerland. It uses real GPS locations, a narrative rooted in the local identity of the village and physical game kits. It is available through the Eischoll Tourist Office.

Can the game be available in multiple languages?

Yes. Multi-language options are available. We have built games in more than 17 languages. Localisation is scoped and priced by language and content volume.

Is the ActionPack (real-props case) mandatory?

No. The ActionPack is optional and many partners run successful sessions without physical props. For premium experiences, the physical element increases immersion and perceived value. We advise on whether it makes sense for your use case.

Can the game run indoors as well as outdoors?

Yes. Outdoor games use GPS navigation. Indoor games use static visual instructions. Custom games can combine both. As an example setup, an outdoor route can end with an indoor finale.