Sherlock Holmes comes to Bugis
A murder has taken place in Bugis Town. Now, the public can help Sherlock Holmes solve the case.
Singapore gaming studio HIDDEN has launched A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience. The 90-minute adventure takes players across Bugis Junction, Bugis+ and Bugis Street.
The game uses real locations across the Bugis district. It also draws on the area’s rich history and heritage.
HIDDEN says the project is the world’s first officially licensed Sherlock Holmes experience played in the real world. The studio secured an exclusive licence from the Conan Doyle Estate.
Singapore hosts the world premiere. London and other cities could follow as the project expands.
Players become detectives
Teams can include up to five players. They follow a trail of clues across Bugis Town as they investigate the fictional murder.
The experience uses several forms of technology. Players can examine crime scenes through augmented reality. They can also search for hidden evidence.
The adventure includes immersive 360-degree virtual environments. Players can receive calls from characters from the Sherlock Holmes stories.
CCTV information also forms part of the investigation. Teams must use these clues to build a picture of the crime.
The game encourages players to work together. Each discovery can bring them closer to solving the mystery.
A Sherlock mystery with local history
HIDDEN began developing the experience in late 2025. Teams in Singapore and New Zealand worked together on the script.
The Conan Doyle Estate also provided input during development. The story takes inspiration from A Study in Scarlet. That book introduced Sherlock Holmes to the world.
However, the new story has its own setting and plot. HIDDEN has connected the mystery with the history of Bugis.
The team researched lesser-known stories from the district. It also examined archival material while developing the game.
These historical details appear throughout the experience. Players can therefore discover more about Bugis as they investigate the fictional crime.
Conan Doyle Estate backs the project
Richard Pooley, Director of The Conan Doyle Estate, said the project marks a new format for Sherlock Holmes stories.
He said the Estate chose HIDDEN as its exclusive partner for the real-world format. He also described Singapore as a fitting location for the global launch.
HIDDEN CEO Lim Yee Hung said the project combines Sherlock Holmes with Singapore’s heritage.
He said the team wanted players to experience the story rather than simply read it. Players now become part of the investigation as they explore Bugis.
Bugis Town welcomes the experience
Angela Wu, Centre Manager of Bugis Town, said the game gives visitors a new way to explore the area.
The experience uses shopping centres and surrounding streets as part of the mystery. Familiar places now become locations in a Sherlock Holmes investigation.
The murder remains fictional. The history surrounding the game, however, comes from the real Bugis district.
HIDDEN hopes the experience will encourage visitors to discover parts of Bugis they may not normally see.
With live exploration, technology and detective storytelling, A Study in Red offers a fresh way to experience Sherlock Holmes. It also brings the famous detective into a real Singapore neighbourhood for the first time in this officially licensed format.
