Free preview
€0
- Chapters 1–2 (about 10 minutes)
- The case introduction and the first archive record
- No account needed
A self-contained archive deduction game
The Leiden Archive Mystery
Four men jointly bought a house in Leiden in 1611. Only the archive can tell you whose household actually lived there — and it's the same real, cited records already published on this site, not a story invented for the game.
What it is
You play a trainee researcher for the Leiden City Archives, working through six short chapters to solve one real historical question: which of four quarter-owners of a house called De Groene Poort actually lived there, and why the buyers' names on the purchase deed itself change partway through the story.
Every clue is a real, dated Leiden city-archive record — the same ones already published on this site's Robinson family page — presented with its source citation and a link to the full record. The "archive researcher trainee" framing is a game device; nothing about the underlying history is invented, and the final conclusion is presented as a sourced game deduction, not a certified genealogical finding.
AudienceAnyone curious about how historians read archive records — no prior Mayflower or Dutch-archive knowledge assumed
Play timeFree preview: about 10 minutes · Full game: 60–90 minutes
DifficultyAccessible — logic and careful reading, no outside research or specialist knowledge required
Prior knowledge neededNone. Everything you need is shown to you in-game, with links to read more
How it's built
Every claim used to solve this case is tagged by how well it's supported: proven (a single record states it outright), probable (a reasonable conclusion from combining several records), or uncertain (flagged as unresolved rather than guessed at). The game explains this distinction up front and applies it consistently, including in its own final conclusion — which is why chapter six ends with a full evidence review, not just an answer.
No murder, scandal, or invented drama: this is a property-and-family-history puzzle, built the way a genealogist or archivist would actually work — comparing dated records, cross-referencing names, and being explicit about what's still uncertain.
What's in each version
Individual edition
€7.95 one-time
- All 6 chapters (60–90 minutes)
- For one player or a household
- Mobile-friendly, plays in any browser
- Optional printable research worksheet
- Leiden Archive Detective badge + printable completion certificate
- No subscription, no account
Education edition
€39 one-time, per class
- Everything in the individual edition, playable by a whole class or society meeting
- One access link for the teacher — no student accounts
- Teacher guide: learning goals, lesson flow, discussion questions
- 6 printable source sheets + research worksheet
- Answer model
- No recurring licence, no seat limits to manage
Technical requirements
Runs in any modern desktop or mobile browser with JavaScript enabled — no app to install, no plugin. Progress is saved on your own device only (browser local storage); nothing about your answers or progress is ever sent to a server. Clearing your browser's site data will lose unsaved progress, but a paid access link can always be re-entered to unlock the full game again on any device.
FAQ
Is this real history?
Yes, in the sense that matters: every record, date, name and quotation shown in the game is real and drawn from the Leiden city archives (Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken), already published elsewhere on this site. Only the game's framing — casting you as an archive-researcher trainee — is fictional, and it's presented that way throughout.
Does solving this prove I'm related to the Robinson family?
No. This game is independent, unofficial entertainment and does not establish or certify genealogical descent from anyone. See our disclaimer.
Is this affiliated with the Mayflower Society, a museum, or Erfgoed Leiden?
No. The Leiden Archive Mystery is independently researched and built by Radicae / The Leiden Connection. It cites Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken as the archive holding the underlying records, but is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by them, by the Mayflower Society, by any museum, archive, municipality, or school.
Do I need to know anything about the Mayflower or Dutch archives first?
No — the game explains everything it uses as you go, and links back to the full record and to background pages on this site if you want more context.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes, the game is built to work on mobile browsers as well as desktop.
What happens to my progress if I clear my browser data?
Chapter and puzzle progress is stored only in your browser and will be lost if you clear site data — the game tells you this before you use the "reset progress" option. If you've purchased the full game, your access link/token isn't affected and can be re-entered to unlock it again.
Is there a refund policy?
As a digital product delivered immediately on purchase, please see our terms at checkout for details on returns and the right of withdrawal before buying.
Independence & disclaimer
The Leiden Archive Mystery is independently researched, written and built by Radicae / The Leiden Connection. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in partnership with the Mayflower Society, any museum, Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken, any other archive, any municipality, or any educational institution. Completing the game and earning its badge or certificate is a game achievement — it is not proof of descent and not an official qualification of any kind. See the full disclaimer and privacy notice.