Combining painstaking attention to detail with a major dose of creativity, Vancouver Mysteries begins with Sevan Flament. He designs the original versions of the first two games: Crime in Downtown and Secret Mission. In July 2013 Crime in Downtown is featured in this Vancouver Sun Article written by Shawn Conner, Amateur sleuths get a brain workout in Gastown mystery game.

Will Woods (founder of Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours) and Tanya Bennett (founder of digital marketing agency Full Serve) become business partners when they buy the Vancouver Mysteries name and two games to form Vancouver Mysteries, Inc. Will loves history and Tanya loves mystery – the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Will’s expertise in the tourism industry and Tanya’s marketing expertise set this “side hustle” up for success! Vancouver Mysteries gets a logo and both games are rebranded and thoroughly tested. Vancouver Mysteries joins Tourism Vancouver (now known as Destination Vancouver) and the rest is history (or should we say… mystery!)

Guy Watson joins Vancouver Mysteries and is the very first member of our team with to be given the title Experience Manager (the first of many Experience Mangers – these are a special squad of agents and detectives who not only run mystery games but also work in Mystery HQ).

Plot twist! Guy Watson returned to his home country Australia and eventually opened his own walking tour company Urban Tours as well as Brisbane Street Games.

Vancouver Mysteries launched a new outdoor mystery game – superhero quest Heroes and Villains. This game ventures out from the streets of downtown Vancouver and explores the paths and parks of scenic Coal Harbour. The game book is designed to look like a comic book and each player gets their own superpower that gives them an advantage at one of the challenges in the game.

Vancouver Mysteries gets a new look in 2017 with a new logo.

Tanya Bennett buys out Will Woods so that he can focus 100% on Forbidden Vancouver and then restructures the business. The two companies continue to share an office.

The Case of the Hotel Detective launches in 2020 – a portable mystery game with escape room style challenges that Vancouver Mysteries brings to offices, homes and hotels in the lower mainland and Whistler.

March 15 2020 Vancouver Mysteries closes its doors but optimistically keeps paying rent in hopes of a return.

April 1 2020 Tanya Bennett’s beloved mystery van, Toastie, is stolen! She uses her detective skills and the help of a network of friends and Volkswagen owners to catch the thief. Her van is spotted and she calls the police in Squamish who act quickly and catch them! The Squamish Chief, Pair arrested and van recovered in Britannia Beach

May 23, 2020 Vancouver Mysteries is able to re-open in Phase 1 because games are outdoors and players are already physically distanced in teams (bubbles).

October 2020 A record-breaking Halloween season for outdoor mystery games (since nothing else is really open).

November 2020 New restrictions are announced and Vancouver Mysteries pivots to offer virtual games for the holiday season.