A new real-life detective adventure launches in Singapore on August 21, 2026, letting teams of up to five players solve a fictional murder across Bugis Town using their smartphones, augmented reality, and 360-degree VR. Created by homegrown studio Hidden, “A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience” is the first officially licensed Sherlock Holmes game of its kind anywhere in the world. After its Singapore debut, the experience will travel to London.
For more than a century, Sherlock Holmes has solved mysteries from his Baker Street study. Now, the world’s most famous detective is trading Victorian London for the bustling streets of Bugis—and he needs your help.
Hidden, a Singapore-based gaming studio, has spent months digging through archival records and obscure neighborhood lore to craft an investigation that blends fiction with fact. The case draws inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet, the story that introduced Holmes to readers, but transplants the action into Singapore with real historical details woven throughout.
How the game works
Teams of one to five players are recruited as detectives, following 16 waypoints around Bugis Town. Participants use their own smartphones to scan evidence, investigate augmented-reality crime scenes, enter 360-degree virtual environments, receive calls from characters based on the Sherlock Holmes canon, and sift through CCTV footage. The entire route takes roughly 90 minutes and remains fully sheltered and air-conditioned.
Some crime scenes exist as physical sets. At Bugis Street, players encounter a staged body, a red lantern, and a bloodied wall, with clues revealed under UV light and examined through the game’s AR camera. At Bugis+, a second scene unfolds as an immersive 360-degree VR environment viewable on your phone.
Easter eggs for die-hard fans
Devotees of the original stories will spot nods throughout the experience. Look for 221B Constants—a wink to Holmes’s famous 221B Baker Street address—and Inspector Lester Ang, a Singaporean twist on Inspector Lestrade, the Scotland Yard detective who frequently appears in Conan Doyle’s tales.
Ticket details and schedule
The experience starts and ends at 261 Victoria Street, #02-141, Bugis Street. Tickets cost $29 per adult on weekdays and non-public holidays, $39 on weekends and public holidays, and $19 for students. Players must be at least 13 years old.
A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience runs as part of the Singapore Night Festival 2026 and is a partner event of Bugis Night Lights 2026.
Bonus incentive
From August 21 to October 4, the first 500 shoppers who spend at least $150 at Bugis Junction or Bugis+ and sign up for the promotion will receive a pair of free tickets to the experience.
Why it matters
This launch positions Singapore as a testing ground for officially licensed immersive entertainment that blends real-world exploration with digital storytelling. If successful, the model could pave the way for similar experiences in other cities—starting with London, where the game will debut after its Singapore run. For now, Bugis offers a uniquely air-conditioned, detective-friendly environment where fiction, history, and technology converge.