History of Escape Rooms, Part Two

By: Kristina Malmstrom

Escape Room History is never ending. If part one of this series intrigued you, then keep reading! 

2004: 5 Wits in Boston, MA

While 5 Wits is not an escape room, it’s similar enough to make our History of Escape Rooms list! This adventure-style game also has players solving puzzles. But, instead of trying to escape, they’re playing out an adventure storyline. 

Time Limits

There’s no time limit, which means everyone gets to play the game to completion. However, there are different endings. So, the choices you make in the game effects which ending you play out. 

Story Driven

Rather than being escape-driven, they’re more focused on the actual story of the adventure. With that being said, these games aren’t so much about figuring out how to solve your way out, like escape rooms. Rather, they are about going through the act of solving your way out.

How It Works

In this type of game, you’re given all of the pieces and expected to put them together. This is an innovative way to play because you can play the same adventures multiple times.

Choices Impact the Game

All you have to do is make different choices and you’ll get to see different endings. The innovation of this experience made Escape Room History.

2006: Original Piece in CA

One of the largest mysteries within the escape room world is the event “Original Piece”. It’s rumored to be one of the founders of escape rooms, as it took place in 2006 in Silicon Valley, CA. It was considered a live-action puzzle event put together by programmers for Silicon Valley employees. 

The Concept

The concept was said to be inspired by the works of famous mystery writer, Agatha Christie. However, the biggest puzzle about this day is whether or not it existed.

Is it a Myth?

 While many sources claim that the event is real, very little information about the event itself or its creators can be found online.

No Comment

Additionally, no players come forward since to comment on it. It remains one of the greatest mysteries of the escape room world, as many struggle to find proof that it did occur. In short, its elusive nature earned it a spot in Escape Room History

2007: Real Escape Game in Japan

One of the more popular escape rooms is Real Escape Game, which is produced by publishing company SCRAP in Kyoto, Japan. Real Escape Game was designed by Takao Kato, who set out to create adventures that people would be able to interact with. 

A Real Life Computer Game

He considered his experience to be comparable to a real life computer game that was, above all, immersive for the players. 

Escape Room History
Solve puzzles and more at Real Escape Game’s events

The First Escape Room in Asia

Real Escape Game doesn’t operate the same way as most escape games. Despite this though, it’s considered the first escape room in Asia. In other words, it started the trend there (they would also go on to design one of the first experiences for the USA). Because of this, they are on our Escape Room History list. 

How it Works

Rather than having a set building with the same room for a long period of time, Real Escape Game runs what they call events. That is to say, these events are more similar to a theatrical production. 

Limited Tickets

Each game is produced with a limited amount of tickets, which usually runs a few times a day for one month at a specific venue, such as a bar. Then, they’ll create a new event for a different venue with the same ticketing system.

Where They are Today

This creates a series of events that are constantly evolving and keeps players coming back for more. Real Escape Game still continues to run games. However, they have expanded over the years and started to branch out and build static rooms. 

The New Standard

Their puzzles are still considered a standard for escape rooms worldwide. This is because they strive to create puzzles whose challenges lie within identifying the question itself. Therefore, it is no surprise that they made Escape Room History.

2011: ParaPark in Hungary

Attila Gyurkovics opened his first escape room, ParaPark in 2011. It was located in the basement of a pub in Hungary. His inspiration came from computer games and hidden object puzzles. 

The First of Its Kind

This led to the first decrepit themed escape room where groups had to work together to find objects and solve puzzles to escape. It’s no surprise that they made Escape Room History.

Escape Room History
A look inside the original room at Parapark

Going with the "Flow"

His rooms also focused on producing “Flow,” a mental state, identified by Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszenmihaly. In this “flow,” players enter a state of hyper-concentration and creativity. Gyurkovics believes this enhances the experience of his customers. 

The Goal

ParaPark prides themselves on being a fun blend of mental and mechanical puzzles. They thrill their players with the sheer adrenaline of the problem-solving experience rather than frightening effects. 

Where They Are Today

ParaPark has definitely made a name for themselves in the escape room world. What started as one escape room in a basement in Hungary has expanded to 18 rooms across six countries!

2012: Real Escape Room in the US

After their success in Japan, SCRAP opened their first Real Escape Room in 2012 in San Francisco, making them the first experience to call themselves an escape room in the USA. 

Escape from the Mysterious Room

This room, titled Escape from the Mysterious Room, had over 6,000 players in their first year but boasted a challenging 2% pass rate. Such a low pass rate made Escape Room History in 2012!

Escape Room History
Real Escape Room is one of many that plays on popular movies for themes, such as this Pacific Rim styled room

Following Japan's Success

Real Escape Room was modelled after the success they originally found in Japan. Similar to this, they host both escape rooms and escape events. With that being said, escape rooms are the typical experience that take place in their building. 

 

Rotating the Game

As such, they keep the same theme for an extended period of time before rotating out. Their escape events, on the other hand, take place at a special venue. Ticket availability and time spots are limited, which makes it a more competitive demand.

 

2012: Trap Door "Find Me Event"

Years before we had a physical location and Trap Door Escape Stream, Trap Door tested the waters, literally, with the “Find Me Event.”  Introducing the world to arch-villain the Architect, Trap Door, then known as Mikrotone Entertainment, asked online players to help the Architect’s kidnapped victim. 

How?

Simply, by solving puzzles to ascertain his location, which turned out to be on a boat in the middle of a lake in New Jersey. Needless to say the event made Escape Room History.

Streaming Style

It had up to 1,000 people playing at once, with some of these actually being several people playing together as a group. This was the first streaming escape room-style game, and a format Trap Door has been working on perfecting since. Check out Trap Door Escape Stream to see what we’re up to now!

2013: Adventure Rooms in Switzerland

Adventure Rooms in Switzerland, has perhaps one of the more interesting backstories. Gabriel Palacios, a high school physics teacher, searched for more engaging and innovative ways to test his students instead of a standard written exam. 

How it Started

In March 2012, he started testing students by having them solve their way through a series of puzzles involving concepts they learned in class, but in a more hands-on, competitive environment. 

The Inspiration

Palacios was inspired by adventure computer games, and tried to blend these with scientific experiments to make a new fun way of testing his students. Little did he know that he was also making Escape Room History in the process.

Getting Noticed

Word quickly spread of his exams, and together with his brother, opened Adventure Rooms in 2013. This escape room has always kept science at the core of its rooms, often revolving around a scientific professor or researcher. 

Expanding

Over time, Adventure Rooms has been one of the most successful escape room companies in terms of growth. What started as one room in Bern, Switzerland has quickly spread across Europe, USA, and Canada. They are also in the process of launching new rooms in Kuwait, Doha, and Australia. Adventure Rooms is also currently the largest escape room franchise in the world.

2013: Puzzle Break in USA

Puzzle Break, a USA escape room, opened its first game in Seattle, WA in 2013 and is credited as the first escape room company to exist in the USA. The first game they ran was “Escape from Studio D.” The game held 6-12 players, and relied on creative clues and a complex game structure to keep players interested as they tried to escape. 

Nate Martin

Nate Martin is the co-founder and CEO of Puzzle Break and he has become a big name within the escape room community. He left his job at Microsoft to start this company after he realized the upwards trend in spending money on experiences rather than material goods. 

Nate Martin has also gone on to be a vocal speaker, giving lectures on the topic of escape rooms, interactive entertainment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Locations

Puzzle Break started with one room in 2013, but has expanded over time. They now run occasional massive events in New York City. However, you can also visit their locations in Long Island and Massachusetts. 

Cruising

Perhaps more exciting is their recent collaboration with Royal Caribbean. This collaboration made Escape Room History, as they were the first escape room experience on a cruise ship.

Along with Puzzle Break, Escape the Room is considered to be at the forefront of the escape room phenomenon in the USA. Escape the Room opened its doors in 2013, and was the first escape room in New York City. They’re also one of the first escape rooms designed and created by Americans, making Escape Room History. 

Their First Theme

Escape the Room’s first room was “The Office”, which plays on one of everyone’s worst fears- you’re trapped at work. With one hour to escape, players are left searching desks and the workplace environment to solve puzzles in order to escape. The horrifying reality of this game makes Escape Room History.

A Smash Hit

“The Office” was a hit with audiences, so much so that it still runs today in their NYC location. Over the past few years they’ve also expanded across the country. They currently have seven unique room options in nineteen cities. 

Expanding

Each of their rooms feature different storylines and puzzles, though the themes tend to be consistent throughout all of their locations. 

Escape the Room was started by creative minds who sought a new type of interactive, thought-provoking game, which has turned into the puzzle-solving challenges players strive to beat today! 

2013: Windward Hotel in USA

In 2013, Trap Door Escape Room ran its first physical experience: The Windward Hotel. It was considered an immersive escape game experience, similar to a murder mystery party. However, the audience got to follow the actors around and help them solve the mystery through puzzle-solving. 

Winward desk

How it Works

They ran performances over two months on an entire floor of the Publick House Restaurant and Hotel in Chester, NJ. It featured a cast of improvisation actors, who portrayed characters in the story and interacted with the audience. These characters gave the audience pieces of the puzzle to ultimately solve the mystery.

The Storyline

The storyline followed a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, but when they’re interrupted by the ghost of a young girl. They need the audience’s help to figure out why she is disturbing them. You found clues by interacting with the characters and solving puzzles, with the goal of completing the storyline and solving the mystery.

In 2015, Marketwatch published an article that helped to grow interest in escape rooms as a business venture. Marketwatch, a business and financial news site, tracks and reports on markets for investors in the USA. 

The Article Itself

In 2015, they publish, “The unbelievably lucrative business of escape rooms”, which only fueled the phenomenon starting to spread across the country. As such, this article is an integral part of Escape Room History.

Escape Rooms are Lucrative

The article reviewed the business of escape rooms, detailing how businesses like Puzzle Break started and the incredible success they were seeing from the initial investment. 

The Impact

Innovators and entrepreneurs were encouraged to break into the field as there was almost guaranteed certainty it would succeed. Marketwatch encouraged the growth of the escape room business, helping to cultivate the new leaders that would start opening businesses and contribute to the even currently expanding field.

2016: Escape Hotel Hollywood in USA

Located right on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Escape Hotel Hollywood opened its doors for business in 2016. Escape Hotel Hollywood set the record as the largest escape venue, with ten rooms in its building. 

The Creator

It was created by Ivan Leon, Kitti Herczeg, and Ion Beroiz, who wanted to create an escape room where the immersive, fun experience wasn’t limited to the hour you spent solving puzzles within the room.

History of Escape Rooms
The immersive lobby of Escape Hotel Hollywood helps to prepare puzzlers for the game they’re about to enter

The Setting

Escape Hotel is styled reminiscent of a 1930s ghost hotel. The grand lobby is both intriguing and creepy, with staff that play a stiff, formal character like the butler out of an old horror movie. Once you check in to your room, you’ll find yourself magically transported to a different universe. Their rooms are praised for their elaborate, immersive design. 

After the Game

After your game, you can relax at their cafe downstairs or play casual board games within the lobby. Their rooms range in difficulty, which is great for players of all levels. Of course, one last note- leave the suitcase at home. Despite the name, they are not an actual overnight hotel.

One sign that an event has truly made it in the world is to have an international competition. In 2017, Red Bull presented the Mind Gamers World Championship, an international escape room competition. This was the first (and only, so far) world championship of its kind! 

Who was There

There were over 9,000 players fighting their way though over 75 qualifying events in order to play at the finals, making Escape Room History.

History of Escape Rooms
Team Slovenia, the winners of the 2017 Mind Gamers World Championship

Dr. Scott Nicholson

The game was designed by Dr. Scott Nicholson, a Professor of Game Design and development. He sought to create a competition that challenged teams’ creativity, logic, visual thinking, and strategy in a race against the clock. 

Breaking the Standard

Rather than standard escape rooms where players have to search the room for clues and codes to open padlocks, Dr. Nicholson strived to create the ‘next’ escape room, where players have to solve more complex challenges for the body and mind.

Unlock Enoch

In 2017, Mission: Unlock Enoch featured 24 teams from 22 different countries competing in the semi-finals for one of the two finalist spots. In the end, teams from Slovenia and Ukraine competed in the final, which took place in a 2000 square meter room and was based on Quantum Physics, and ultimately Slovenia won. 

Trap Door Escape Company

Trap Door Escape Room has 4 locations: 3180 Route 611 in Bartonsville, PA in the Poconos; 60 White St. in Red Bank, NJ; 34A Speedwell Ave. in Morristown, NJ: and 77 Wind Creek Blvd in Bethlehem, PA. The Red Bank location was the first of the 4 locations, opening in the fall of 2015. Morristown followed in the summer of 2017, and Bartonsville opened during the holiday season of 2018. Wind Creek is currently undergoing construction and will be opening in September 2022.

History

The idea came to Tone Purzycki back in 2011 after he wrote a screenplay that developed into a live-streaming game. The game revolved around an actor trapped in a situation and the audience had to solve puzzles to figure out where he was trapped. The “Find Me Event” had more than 1,000 people playing over the course of several hours. After the success of several other streaming events, the idea of an escape room was born.

Location

Each location has different rooms from which to choose. Our Morristown location is home to Day of the DeadWitch Huntand The Greatest Freakshow. In Bartonsville, you’ll find Cure ZF5 Tornado EscapeFear the BogeymanMad Hatter’s Tea PartyWe’re All Mad Here, and Prisoner Z. In Red Bank we currently have Everest – our first 2 story escape room. Ripper of London is also available at this location. Our pirate themed games will soon be open at Wind Creek.

Trap Door Escape Room also offers team buildingstreaming events, and birthday parties. For more information on any of our games, prices, and locations, explore our website or call 570-234-3366