Everything you need to know about MindGames

If you have been looking for outdoor escape rooms in London that actually get you moving, MindGames is what you have been searching for. It takes everything that works about escape rooms (the puzzles, the pressure, the teamwork) and moves it outdoors: into Hyde Park, into Battersea, across Epsom. Routes are tracked on your phone. Checkpoints require problem solving. Racing between them is part of the game. And yes, it still ends at the pub.

What Is Mind Games?

The creators describe it as a life-sized board game: rolling the dice means running to a checkpoint, your next move depends on your effort and navigation skills, and the whole thing plays out simultaneously with other competing teams across the same course.

Every event has a different theme and location. Series 2 runs from May to August 2026. Each one uses the environment (its geography, landmarks, and layout) as part of the game mechanics, not just the backdrop. Mind Games carried five-star reviews across every Series 1 event.

How a Mind Games Event Works

Every event shares a core structure, but the specific mechanics, puzzles, and decisions change each time.

Navigation by phone. Routes, maps, and checkpoints are managed through the Mind Games app. No printed sheets, no waiting for a host. You move at your own pace.

Puzzles at every checkpoint. Each checkpoint requires solving something before you can move on. These are not abstract riddles: they are built around the environment you are in, the kind of problem that reads differently once you are standing in front of it.

Strategy built into the format. Effort alone does not win. Decisions matter: which checkpoint to hit first, when to push and when to hold back, how to divide tasks within your team. One Series 1 participant described it as "combining running, orienteering, strategy, teamwork, and problem solving in such a fun format."

A competitive series leaderboard. Events connect across the season. Results feed into a running series leaderboard, so each event you enter puts you inside the season standings.

The pub debrief. Every event closes at a nearby venue. Results are announced, decisions get picked apart, and rematches get planned.

Who Is Mind Games For?

Mind Games works for a broader range of people than most active outdoor events, which is part of why the reviews are consistent across very different types of players.

Runners who find parkrun repetitive or want competition that goes beyond a personal best will get something real to chase. Escape room regulars who feel like they have exhausted the format will find outdoor play is a different experience.

The puzzles change when the environment is not controlled, and the other teams on the course are a variable no indoor room can replicate. Groups with mixed fitness levels can still compete, because strategy and puzzle speed can offset raw pace. And teams looking for a social that is not laser tag or a bus tour have a strong option here.

One Series 1 player said: "The day after the first Mindgames I still had a huge smile on my face. I was absolutely buzzing." Another: "A great way to explore parts of London, enjoy being active and have fun solving puzzles with friends." A third: "Great new concept. Superbly organised."

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a bag drop? - Yes, our games always have a secure bag drop, unless we let you know otherwise

Can I come along on my own? - Of course you can! We have a lot of players that play the games as a solo. If you want us to pair you up for an event, that can usually be done too - send us a message.

Do I have to run? - No! You can take any MindGames event at your own pace. There is no expectation that you will run. You can jog, walk, sprint or hop between checkpoints!

Do you run bespoke events? - We’d love to talk through how MindGames can create a unique social/ team building event for your group. DM or email mindgamesmessage@gmail.com

What does the flexible start time mean? - Our flexible start times mean you can start your game at any point in that window. There will be several briefings in that timeframe, so you can set off at the time that suits you best.

What should I wear/bring? - Wear your usual kit for working out. Bring a fully charged phone as we use an app to access the game, and a headtorch can be helpful!