Shanghai Tonight puzzle adventure reimagines night walks

Zhang Tianqi, a member of the city puzzle game design team, said Zhangyuan and its surrounding streets were chosen because they combine historic and modern architecture, commercial activity, and residential life.

To design the puzzles, the development team repeatedly walked through the neighborhood, explored lesser-known routes, spoke with elderly residents, and researched local history. Some parts of the game draw on stories gathered from residents and on historical research, offering both visitors and Shanghai residents a fresh perspective on the area, he said.

One of the historical details featured in the game concerns Furuli in Zhangyuan, where the inscriptions above the doorways were drawn from verses in the Classic of Poetry (Shi Jing) and were intended to offer guidance to future generations.

The development is also exploring multilingual versions to make the game more accessible to international visitors.