Have you heard about Questo?

I’d like to share my experience with an app called Questo, how I discovered it, and how I ended up creating a game for it that’s now available to play in Stockholm.

It all started during a vacation in Luxembourg with my girlfriend. We were on a budget-friendly trip, hopping around Europe using buses and trains, and one day we found ourselves in Luxembourg with some time to spare. As we often do, we turned to Google and TripAdvisor for inspiration. That’s when we stumbled upon an ad for a self-guided tour with a twist, it came with a fictional story attached.

The concept was simple yet very appealing to us. A narrative guided us through Luxembourg’s historic sites and landmarks, and at each stop, we had to complete a challenge. It felt like an outdoor escape room, but at our own pace. We downloaded the app, paid €10 (if I remember correctly), and started the quest. The story revolved around finding a lost princess or something to that likeness, and as we walked through the city, we discovered its history while solving puzzles. It took us about two hours, and we left feeling it was time and money well spent.

What really inspired me was the realization that I could create my own story on Questo. The idea came to me fairly quickly, I wanted to base it on my favorite neighborhood in Stockholm, Södermalm, the hipster part of town some would say. And I also drew inspiration from a book I had recently read, City of My Dreams by Per Anders Fogelström. The book is set in 19th-century Stockholm and follows the life of a working-class man who moves to the city to work in the harbor. It’s a intriguing, historical story that captures a special period in Swedish history, when cities were growing and people were migrating from the countryside to find work in the newly built factories.

To write my story, I immersed myself in research. I revisited City of My Dreams and explored some of Fogelström’s other works, which are more factual and detail the history of Stockholm’s neighborhoods. My story became a fictional piece inspired by the book, set in the same "universe" (which is just normal 19th century Sweden) but with my own twist.

The next step was the gamification aspect, the challenges players would complete at each stop. This was the trickiest part. I wanted the focus to be on the story and the historical sites, not on overly difficult puzzles. I took inspiration from the Luxembourg game, where each challenge was tied to the location, like counting windows on a church or reading a sign. I aimed for a balance, but some players have since told me the challenges are too easy. It’s a fine line to walk, but I wanted the experience to be enjoyable and immersive, not frustrating.

The creative process was incredibly rewarding. I took photos, wrote the story, compiled historical facts, and used AI tools for voiceovers. After testing the game with friends and family, I launched it on Questo. I even signed a deal to earn money from it, each quest costs around €10 - but I haven’t received a payout yet since you need to reach a certain threshold.

A sample of how the AI voiceovers turned out:

Unfortunately, the number of players in Stockholm has dipped, likely because Questo is a small startup with limited resources, and Stockholm isn’t exactly a year-round outdoor tourist destination. Winter here isn’t exactly inviting for outdoor activities.

Still, the experience has been very fulfilling. It’s was a creative journey that has inspired me in many ways, and I hope that one day, my quest will find its audience. If you’re in Stockholm and looking for a unique way to explore the city, give it a try, it’s a story I poured my heart into: https://questoapp.com/experiences/stockholm/stockholm-city-of-my-dreams-soedermalm-quest