Nicholas Van Orton is a joyless San Francisco investment banker who receives an unusual birthday present from his estranged younger brother Conrad The gift enrolls Nicholas in CRS (Consumer Recreation Services) a company that designs elaborate real-life games for each specific participant As the game begins the reluctant Nicholas becomes the victim of a series of pranks that quickly turn malicious & dangerous Stripped of his finances & convinced that he can trust no one Nicholas realises that this game may be an attempt to steal his fortune & leave him for dead In a desperate bid to regain his life Nicholas infiltrates CRS in order to uncover the secrets of the mysterious organisation