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The world’s first official Sherlock Holmes experience is coming to Bugis

Team up with up to five players and follow 16 waypoints around Bugis Town to solve a mysterious murder

Mingli Seet
Written by
Mingli Seet
Contributor, Time Out Singapore
A Study In Red
Photograph: Hidden | A Study In Red
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There’s trouble brewing in Bugis. And from August 21, 2026, you can help Sherlock Holmes crack the case yourself.

Titled A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience, the immersive game by homegrown gaming studio Hidden is the first officially licensed Sherlock Holmes experience in the world, and it’s designed to be played in real life. After its launch here, the game will make its way to London.

A Study In Red
Photograph: HiddenA Study In Red

So, how does it work? Teams of up to five players will be recruited as detectives, following 16 waypoints around Bugis Town to piece together what happened. You’ll use your own phone to scan evidence, investigate augmented-reality crime scenes, enter 360-degree virtual environments, receive calls from characters inspired by the Sherlock Holmes canon, and even dig through CCTV intel. 

The case itself takes inspiration from A Study in Scarlet, the 1887 story that introduced Sherlock Holmes to the world, but swaps Victorian London for Bugis and folds in real historical details from the neighbourhood. Hidden has spent months digging through archival material and lesser-known stories from Bugis, so while the murder is fictional, plenty of the world surrounding it is rooted in the actual district.

For hardcore Sherlock Holmes fans, keep your eyes peeled for little references along the way such as the address 221B Constants, a nod to 221B Baker Street, Holmes’ famous London address, and Inspector Lester Ang, a Singaporean spin on Inspector Lestrade, the police detective who often appears in the stories. 

And yes, some of the crime scenes are physical sets you can investigate in person. One at Bugis Street features a staged body, red lantern and bloodied wall, with clues revealed under UV light and examined through the game’s AR camera. Over at Bugis+, the second crime scene exists as an immersive 360-degree VR environment on your phone.

A Study in Red starts and ends at 261 Victoria Street, #02-141, Bugis Street, and takes around 90 minutes to complete. And don’t worry, you won’t be left sweltering in the heat as the experience is fully sheltered and largely air-conditioned. 

Tickets cost $29 per adult on weekdays and non-public holidays, $39 on weekends and public holidays, and $19 for students. Players must be aged 13 and above, and each team can have between one and five people.

A Study In Red
Photograph: HiddenA Study In Red

There’s also a little incentive to shop your way into the investigation: 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 tickets to the experience.

A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience opens on August 21, 2026, and is part of Singapore Night Festival 2026, as well as a partner event of Bugis Night Lights 2026. Book your tickets here.

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