HIDDEN and National Gallery Singapore present “FRAMED: A Murder Mystery at National Gallery Singapore” – an interactive AI social gaming experience
Singapore, 25 February 2025 – National Gallery Singapore is partnering HIDDEN, an award-winning experiences company specialising in immersive games, to launch a new AI chatbot-based game “FRAMED: A Murder Mystery at National Gallery Singapore”, which invites visitors to discover art in a new and interactive way.
From 1 March 2025, visitors can participate in the thrilling murder mystery adventure to solve puzzles, uncover hidden secrets, and discover how art can shape, obscure, or reveal one’s identity. The premise – you’re accused of a crime you did not commit! Through the self-guided, interactive game hosted on messaging platform WhatsApp, players can navigate at their own pace while diving into the exciting narrative. This seeks to bring a unique experience in exploring the exhibitions at National Gallery Singapore.
“FRAMED" interacts with players through an AI chatbot “Void Deck Cat”, providing clues to uncover hidden elements at the DBS Singapore Gallery, UOB Southeast Asia Gallery and the ArchiGallery. Players can operate the game on their devices, without the need to download additional applications. With the Story-Tech journey developed by HIDDEN, “FRAMED” can be experienced as an individual, or in groups of friends, colleagues, and family members.
Supriya Ghosh, Deputy Director (Business Development) at National Gallery Singapore says, “The Gallery is constantly pushing its limits on how art can be experienced, and how we can provide visitors with unique experiences. Traditionally, tour guides and guided listening tours are often used to help visitors navigate through a gallery. The HIDDEN game adds a unique layer on top of these experiences – with the AI chatbot acting like an unseen guide that will share secret, hidden parts of the Gallery.”
Participants can purchase their tickets online and will be provided a QR code to kickstart the game. The AI chatbot will lead the conversation to provide clues leading to information about the heritage, art, and history of National Gallery Singapore and its long-term exhibitions. Players can explore and seek answers within the museum spaces to unlock riddles and to complete the game.
Lim Yee Hung, Group Chief Executive of HIDDEN says, “Through ‘FRAMED’, we combined the love for video games with real-life interactions in iconic spaces like National Gallery Singapore, allowing visitors to experience art, heritage, and culture in a fun and familiar way.”
Tickets to “FRAMED” can be purchased via https://go.hiddenxp.com/ngs-framed at $29.90 per participant, which includes a General Admission pass to National Gallery Singapore.
More information on the game is included in the Annex below.
About National Gallery Singapore
National Gallery Singapore is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year as a leading visual arts institution and the largest modern and contemporary art museum in Southeast Asia. Dedicated to making art accessible to all, the Gallery engages audiences of all ages through its exhibitions, educational programmes, and public festivals.
Home to the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, the Gallery is redefining the region’s art history through pioneering research, strategic acquisitions, and thoughtfully curated exhibitions. By offering new perspectives, it recontextualises the region’s artistic contributions within global narratives.
Located in the heart of the Civic District, the Gallery is housed in two national monuments – the City Hall and former Supreme Court – making it an iconic cultural landmark where architectural grandeur meets deep historical significance.
A vibrant cultural destination, the Gallery has been ranked among Asia’s Top 10 most visited museums by The Art Newspaper since 2019. It has also received accolades at the Singapore Tourism Awards, including “Best Leisure Event” for Light to Night Festival 2020 and “Outstanding Leisure Event” for Gallery Children's Biennale 2021.
As a registered Charity and an Institute of Public Character, the Gallery relies on public support to expand its collection, advance research, and bring art to more people, shaping cultural discourse and inspiring creativity for generations to come.
About HIDDEN
HIDDEN is an award-winning experiences company that combines the physical and virtual worlds to help players uncover hidden gems in a city's iconic neighbourhoods. Launched in 2022, the company is the brainchild of two childhood friends who wanted to make heritage come alive and easily accessible through games and technology.
As a social enterprise under the United Nations Development Programme, HIDDEN is committed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.
Annex – Synopsis and FAQs on “FRAMED: A Murder Mystery in National Gallery Singapore”
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1. How would the experience differ for an individual and a team? How do multiple players join/ connect through multiple devices?
In a team, players will all receive the same clues at the same time on their own phones and will be able to view the responses of the other team members. The responses keyed in by one player will be reflected across the devices of the team. The redemption is also tied to the number of people in the team. In terms of gameplay/ content, the game does not differ when played as an individual or a team.
2. What is the recommended age for this game?
This game can be played by all ages. With its murder mystery theme, parental guidance is advised for younger players under 16.
3. What is the recommended duration for the game?
The experience is estimated to last around 1.5 to 2 hours, though this may differ from player to player.
4. Is there a prize for completing the game?
Players can redeem a gift from The Gallery Store (giftshop), choosing between a bookmark or a postcard.
