Berlin Checkpoint Race
Clear every gate before the clock does.
New managers never taught to lead
Sound familiar?
- “Our best specialists get promoted with no leadership training.”
- “Under pressure, no one is sure who should make the call.”
- “Decisions stall because people wait instead of stepping up.”
The Experience
Berlin once lived behind checkpoints, and this race turns that history into a game. Teams become couriers crossing a divided city, moving gate by gate in a fixed order. No checkpoint reveals the next until its task is cleared, so the pressure is on from the first gate.
At each checkpoint the GoQuest app unlocks a sealed task — a cipher to break, a detail to observe, a team challenge to pull off. Only a correct answer unlocks the next gate. Wrong attempts cost time penalties, so teams slow down just enough to get it right.
The route ends at a replica Checkpoint Charlie, where each team assembles the clearance stamps it earned to pass through the final gate. The fastest clean run wins, and the leaderboard rewards teams that stayed calm and organised rather than simply quick.
It runs for about three hours on foot across a city route, for ten to three hundred people in teams of five to six. Teams self-guide by GPS and the app runs every gate, so Phoenix staff are at the start and finish only. We run it in Berlin, and map the format to other city centres on request.
The Takeaways
A fixed sequence under a clock forces teams to lead themselves. Someone has to call the approach at each gate, and the role often passes around the team as different tasks suit different people. New managers get a safe place to practise taking and handing back the lead.
Time penalties change how teams behave. Rushing a cipher costs more than pausing to check it, so groups quickly learn to balance speed with care. That judgement — when to push and when to steady — is exactly what people need when work is moving fast and mistakes are costly.
Because each gate is sealed until the last is solved, teams cannot skip ahead or split the work loosely. They must coordinate tightly, keep everyone informed and adapt when a task defeats their first idea. The structure rewards clear communication far more than raw pace.
In the debrief we link the race to work: how the team led, corrected course and kept calm under pressure. Each group leaves with two or three agreements about decisions and handovers, and HR receives a short written summary within three working days.
Program flow
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Welcome & first gate · 0–20 min
Teams gather at the start, hear the Cold-War story and the rules, and open the GoQuest app for their first gate. A short practice gate shows how sealed tasks, answers and time penalties work before the real race begins and the clock starts.
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Checkpoints, first half · 20–75 min
Teams move through the opening gates in order, cracking ciphers, observation tasks and team challenges. Each correct answer reveals the next location; wrong attempts add penalty time. The app verifies answers and reveals the next gate.
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Pressure gate & regroup · 75–90 min
A tougher combined checkpoint tests everything so far. Teams that planned their roles move through smoothly; others regroup, reassign who leads and reset their approach before the second half opens up.
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Checkpoints, second half · 90–150 min
The later gates reward tight coordination as tasks build on earlier clues. A calm, organised team can overtake a faster but careless one here, since every penalty now counts heavily toward the final standings.
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Checkpoint Charlie finish · 150–170 min
At the final gate each team assembles its earned clearance stamps to pass through. Facilitators confirm times and penalties, reveal the leaderboard and award the fastest clean run of the day.
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Debrief & HR summary · 170–180 min
A guided debrief links leadership, course-correction and composure to work. Each group writes down two or three agreements, and we capture the themes for the HR summary sent within three working days.
The game ends. The learning starts.
Every Phoenix program closes with a guided debrief. These are the questions for Berlin Checkpoint Race:
- At which gate did your team work best together, and why?
- How did you decide who would lead each checkpoint?
- When a task beat your first idea, how did you change approach?
- Did the time penalties change how you made decisions?
- What is one way your team will handle fast decisions at work?
What we bring, what you provide
We bring
- A full sealed-checkpoint course with ciphers and tasks
- A lead facilitator at the start and finish; the app runs every gate, so no staff on the route
- Printed clues, clearance stamps and the final gate set-up
- Scoring, time-keeping and a live finish leaderboard
- A guided debrief and a written HR summary within three working days
You provide
- A start and finish point on the agreed city route
- Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
- Any permits or venue bookings the route may need
- Food, drinks or a venue for before or after the race
- Transport to and from the start point
Frequently asked questions
How many people can take part?
From ten up to three hundred, in teams of five to six. Because the app runs every gate and teams self-guide by GPS, larger groups scale easily; for very large events we run staggered starts so gates do not get crowded.
How long does it take?
About three hours on foot, including the briefing, both halves of the course and the debrief. Travel to the start point is separate.
Is it physically demanding?
It is a brisk walking race on city streets, not a run. We plan step-free options and tell us about any mobility needs so everyone can take part.
What happens in bad weather?
Most tasks sit under cover at each gate, and we provide a wet-weather route. In severe weather we move to an indoor venue version of the course.
Can it be customised for us?
Yes. We can theme the gates around your company story and add your own tasks. Custom content and permits need about three to four weeks' lead time.
Can you run it in other cities?
Yes. The checkpoint format maps to other city centres on request; tell us the city and date and we will scope a route and gates.
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Request a quote for Berlin Checkpoint Race
Tell us your group size, date and goals. We will reply with a tailored proposal.