Written by: Krista Jones, ESCAPETHEROOMers // Writer Dave and I love puzzles. Obviously! While we’d both been fans of escape rooms previously, it wasn’t until we met that we fell fully down the rabbit hole and also discovered the world of tabletop and online puzzles games. It’s one of our absolute favorite things to do together - for the teamwork, the mental challenge, the incredible moments of magic and discovery…so after Dave proposed to me by puzzle, we knew that we wanted to incorporate this aspect into the wedding itself. In part, we wanted to share our passion with our loved ones and maybe generate some new enthusiasts; so, we crafted little tabletop puzzles for the reception, with the prize for everyone who solved being some kind of tabletop puzzle game. But we also wanted something special for US. In particular, we thought it would be awesome to have a game that we would lock up and have to open on our 5-year anniversary. Initially, we thought we might create this ourselves but…we were a little busy with the rest of the wedding planning! Then, we thought maybe we would take a special already-available game…like Tale of Ord (if we could find it). But when I posted in the Puzzle People Facebook group for some suggestions, Shuai Chen came up with one that had never occurred to us…commission a bespoke game JUST for us inspired BY us. And we couldn’t imagine a more fabulous option. Thus entered Josh Rosenfeld and the team at Odes Unboxed. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers The Process While we were super excited about the concept and what we could see of their previous work, we didn’t really know what to expect for how it would all work. Josh quickly set up an initial video chat with us and explained the process, as well as sending a follow-up email right after our meeting summarizing what we discussed and the plan moving forward. Discovery: In our initial call, we chatted about our general vision and preferences, budget, logistics, etc., and he answered our questions. At that point, we agreed we wanted to move forward. Then, he scheduled separate hour-long intake calls with each of us to discover more about our relationship, our story, and each other. (He did give us the option of having one call together, but we both liked the idea that we might each think of different things or have little surprises for each other. He also gave the option of interviewing some of our nearest and dearest, though we decided not to do that.) Some of the other members of his team listened in on these calls as well, to help them get to know us better. We found these to be really fun…it felt almost indulgent to just chat for an hour about each other and our relationship. Josh gave us prompts like “What do you want the overall mood or vibe to be or not be?” and “What are some of your favorite memories together?”, but spent most of his time listening, with the occasional follow up question. He seemed really interested and invested in our story and made it easy to speak openly. When I occasionally got stumped on an answer, it was easy for him to rephrase or just move on to something else, so nothing felt stressful or like there was a “right’ answer. From our perspective, the goal was to provide Josh with lots of potential material to work with, without being beholden to inclusion of any one particular aspect. Though, I’m sure he could accommodate more specific design briefs! After our calls, he again quickly sent summaries of key points and next steps. Development: At this point, Josh and his team moved into the development phase, with relatively limited discussion with us. This incorporated not just the design of the flow of the game and puzzles, but also conception and creation of all of the collateral pieces. In many cases, when someone is commissioning a game for someone else, I think he has more feedback as they develop the concept. In our case, since we BOTH wanted to be totally surprised, we preferred to skip this step and just trusted that they would come up with something fabulous! Though he did periodically clarify relevant preferences for a few things. We also asked him to incorporate copies of our vows, so we sent those along as they were finished. Since this step happened largely “behind the curtain for us,” I asked Josh about his perspective: “It was incredibly touching to speak with you each on the phone. This work gives me a beautiful window into what people value most about their loved ones. The way you two support and uphold each other was moving to hear, and I feel grateful for the chance to have made something for you. I loved that this experience allowed both of you to give and receive. You each got to influence the concept by reflecting on your relationship and you’ll each get to enjoy surprises from the things your loved one shared in their interview with me. Overall, I really enjoy the mutual trust and generosity that’s part of this process. I trusted you two to approach this process with curiosity and a willingness to be candid and vulnerable. You trusted me to celebrate everything you shared and design something to honor this special moment in your lives.” Yep - can you tell he’s an incredible human being? Delivery: Finally, we had to sort out how to get the box to the wedding. In our case, Josh arranged an in-person hand-off with a friend who worked in NYC and was going to be driving up for the festivities, but shipping would have been an option as well. Videos above are property of Odes Unboxed The Outcome Dave and I were excited for the wedding for a lot of reasons…but we definitely couldn’t wait to see our box! We just had no idea of how it might have actually turned out. And it was definitely awesome when Dave’s youngest revealed it with a flourish in the midst of the ceremony. It’s a gorgeously intriguing laser cut wooden lock box with mysterious etchings…In addition, Josh sent along a card and two beautifully wrapped packages for us to open right away. These included a framed landscape image of our land, Kaidervast, and a smaller box containing little teaser items to help build that world, including the nametags for our alter egos: Proximatron and Dr. Jones. OK, one is a little more “alter” than the other… Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Go For It! Not having actually gotten to PLAY the game yet, or to see any of the interior contents, of course we can’t fully comment on the gameplay experience itself. However, we were blown away by the care and craftsmanship clearly evident in what we have seen, not to mention the overall care and service that Josh provided…he is an utterly lovely human being and a delight to work with. We can’t wait for the 5 year mark to discover all of its secrets! Until then, we will continue to gaze wistfully at it where it sits in a place of honor on our shelves, as a beautiful reminder of our love and commitment, not to mention all the support and creativity of the puzzling community. And wonder at what the world of Kaidervast may hold! While we commissioned the box for our wedding, of course there are plenty of other worthy occasions. I’ve seen all sorts of experience motivations come up on Odes Unboxed’s social media - love (proposals, weddings, anniversaries), life (birthdays, graduations, parent’s days), or even work (e.g., retirements, promotions, team-building, brand activation). There’s really no end to the possible inspiration behind the gift; since they’re fully customized, you can always chat with him about any specific occasion, goals, inspirations, and/or constraints.. And, of course, for most of those, you would have the benefit of getting to actually play it right away! Currently, his projects tend to have a base design fee plus production costs, but check his website for the latest info. And if you’re interested in checking out one of his experiences right away, they are actually doing a limited run production of a Valentine’s Day experience! It’s apparently an “intimate, heavily personalized adventure that will shower your partner with love and celebrate all of the things you love most about them.” We are definitely excited for its release, and you can read more about it in the interview below! Photos above are property of Odes Unboxed Behind the Scenes: an interview with Josh Rosenfeld (Creator of Odes Unboxed) Photos above are property of Odes Unboxed Creating bespoke puzzle games and adventures is a rather niche field! How did you get into this line of work and start Odes Unboxed? My journey is simultaneously serendipitous and premeditated. Here’s a quick recap: I worked in tech for several years as a Product Manager. The work was intellectually stimulating and I loved working with my teammates; however, I didn’t have strong emotional connections to the people I was designing for. I worked with a coach in my life to introspect and clearly articulate what kind of work I wanted to make a career out of. We honed in on designing experiences that helped people step into the best versions of themselves. I wanted to get to know the people I was designing for and offer them something that would give them space to connect, play, grow, heal, and self-actualize. I quit my job with this general intention and a handful of ideas. I just started trying a lot of different things. One of those things was taking a friend’s birthday gifts, locking them in a cardboard safe (made with an x-acto knife and a hot glue gun), and designing puzzles for her to unlock the gifts. She loved it and my friends thought it was the coolest thing. So I made another puzzle experience for another friend’s birthday and one for a friend’s wedding. Then, people started reaching out to me to design experiences for their loved ones. I saw there was traction with these puzzle experiences, so I leaned into it and grew the quality, depth, and scale of my work one step at a time. If you look back at the photos on my Instagram (they’re roughly in chronological order), you can see how much the work has evolved since I started doing it. So, overall, the journey was premeditated in that I entered this leap with a clear intention, a financial safety net, a few coaches & mentors in my life, and an emotional readiness to embrace uncertainty. And it was serendipitous in that I didn’t know what exactly I would do, yet kept taking chances, trying new things, and moving forward one step at a time. We’re so glad you made the leap! What about the meaning/story behind the name, Odes Unboxed? We’ve been curious… Each creation is an ode (it celebrates one or more people). And each creation is something that gets unboxed (you use your hands and make a beautiful mess). We can’t wait til we get to do our unboxing…How has coming from a tech background translated into your current work, and what new skills have you been honing? The tech background has been incredibly helpful. As a Product Manager, I led cross-functional teams to identify the biggest challenges our customers faced and to run rapid experiments to see what solutions would be most helpful. This iterative mindset continues to be a big part of the work I do today. I’m constantly trying new things, tinkering, and giving myself permission to fail, trusting that I’ll grow from it and that I’ll eventually find my way into a solution. Another thing I take from tech is a focus on customer experience. I see my relationships with customers as journeys. I want every aspect of working with me – from finding my website to chatting with me through the intake process to receiving the gift – to be as seamless and uplifting as possible. I’ve always had an affinity for telling stories, synthesizing many threads into a unifying theme, and tuning into emotions. Some of the other skills I’ve enjoyed exploring are using my hands to make crafts and geeking out on puzzle design. I’ve always enjoyed both these things and, over the past few months, I’ve given myself a chance to learn a lot more about them and get many repetitions to level up my craft. Speaking of skills, how much of your components are created "in-house" in terms of graphic design and manufacturing, and do you have your own workshop and machines? I want to emphasize that you can start where you are. I started really simple, with cardboard, a hot glue gun, an x-acto knife, acrylic paint, and construction paper. I used Google Slides (!!!) for graphic design. I didn’t even own a printer (I did all of my printing at Staples). And I used a makerspace for some early forays into laser cutting. I gave my creations as gifts to friends, and that initial traction allowed me to keep honing my craft and working on richer projects. Over the months since I started, I’ve gradually invested in some light equipment – namely, a printer and a Silhouette Cameo 4 (for cutting vinyl & stickers). I’ve also started working with other makers and artisans who can create components (like wood boxes) much better and faster than I can. And I’ve upgraded my software stack (I do all the graphic design myself). Canva has been immensely helpful, since it’s full of templates and elements. And Dall-e has been a game-changer for creating custom artwork. I’ve also really enjoyed having parts fabricated through board game makers like Print & Play. Some great tips there! In terms of “soft skills,” the work that you do is in some ways very intimate, getting to know people on a very personal level and crafting what I imagine are often very meaningful experiences around them. Certainly, that’s how we have experienced it! How do you approach this, and how do you find that people respond? I do this because I enjoy connecting with people and celebrating their relationships. And I allow that enthusiasm and kindness to show in all of my interactions with the people I work with. It slowly and steadily builds a feeling of trust and safety. When I speak with someone for the intake call, we’ve usually spoken on the phone or over email a bit, so we’re familiar with each other. On the call itself, I use the first segment to talk about lighter topics and build rapport. Throughout the call, I try to strike a balance between (1) giving plenty of blank space for their thoughts to develop and (2) asking specific questions to guide the conversation toward themes that seem rich. Throughout the call, I remind them that there are no wrong answers, that they’re welcome to share as much with me as they’d like, and that I wouldn’t want them to share anything they’re not comfortable sharing. I also make it clear that these calls are commitment-free. We’ll chat on the phone for about an hour. I’ll digest everything you’ve told me, then come back to you with a plan that celebrates everything you’ve shared in a novel way. If we’re both excited about the plan, then, at this point, we’d commit to spending the time and money to work together. If we’re not excited about the plan, we can look for tweaks that feel right, or we can table this concept for now, without any consequence. You clearly put a lot of thought and heart into the whole experience! How has your design process evolved over time? Over time, I’ve leaned much more into the emotional intimacy of the process and of the gifts. The richest experiences come from a willingness to introspect and to candidly look at the highs and the lows. I steer conversations in this direction as much as the participants are willing to go there with me. And I gravitate toward people who share my enthusiasm for exploring the full spectrum of emotions. Another evolution is that I’ve started developing richer worlds and stories. I aspire for the puzzles to serve the story and to feel natural within it. Nothing should feel arbitrary or out of place. There shouldn’t be a puzzle for the sake of it. Nor should there be a puzzle experience for the sake of it (unless the recipient really loves puzzles). Rather, there should be a premise that justifies the puzzles. And there should be a message or intention that is amplified by experiencing hands-on puzzles and activities together. In the big picture, what do you find to be the best and most challenging aspects of this work? The best part of the work is getting a window into people’s relationships. It’s incredibly moving to hear what people appreciate most about their loved ones. Often, the person who gifts the experience (and conspires with me on the design) becomes a friend. On a similar note, my goal with every creation is for the gifter & recipient to both feel loved, seen, and heard. I want them to feel that they’re stepping into their best selves. It puts an enormous smile on my face when I hear that we were able to create space for this to happen. The most challenging aspect is that, as a solopreneur, I wear many hats. I’m responsible for concept creation, puzzle design, graphic design, assembly, quality assurance, customer relationships, social media, my website, accounting, legalese, etc. Building a great product is hard in and of itself; getting the word out is even harder; then adding all the administrative & legal work on the side makes it even more challenging. Similarly, I’ve been continuously finding a balance between my roles as an artist and entrepreneur. It’s an absolute must-have that the work I do is thoughtful, beautiful, and uplifting. It needs to be financially sustainable too. And I want it to be as accessible as possible as well. It’s difficult to juggle all 3 of those. Fundamentally, I believe that doing the right thing will pay off. To me, it’s like planting seeds and watering them with a steady dose of patience, courage, generosity, and trust. Then, one day, they’ll blossom in the future. I can only imagine what a tough balancing act that is! But it has led to some incredible things already. Do you have a favorite experience that you have created, or a moment along the way? One of my favorite experiences was one that told the story of a couple’s relationship. Over 10 chapters, it showed how their lives have intersected – from an initial spark through many moments of love, courage, and vulnerability to an ultimate sense of home. It showed that it’s the ups and downs – the shared struggle, growth, and healing – that make relationships buzz with life. Because the gifter was vulnerable with me and spoke about all aspects of their relationship, the experience had a depth and richness that it wouldn’t have had, had we limited ourselves to only the happy memories and feelings. Another one of my favorites was creating Bare for Jared & Zach at Puzzling Company. The story looked at what it means to grow up. Is it about becoming stronger? More hardened? More impervious to pain? It was an 8 part puzzle adventure that grappled with those questions, told through the story of a cub becoming a bear. It explored how growth flows from vulnerability, friendship, and attention to one’s inner world. Hearing Jared & Zach’s stories during the initial intake process was extremely meaningful. And it was clear how much love (from all 3 of us) went into the puzzle experience. Hearing their reaction a few weeks later and seeing how moved they were was one of the biggest highlights of my journey so far. I will have to check these out! Any tips for people who may be inspired after reading this to create their own custom experience for a loved one? This experience is for your loved one. Gravitate toward the kinds of activities, vibes, and themes that they enjoy. Really check-in with yourself; am I designing this for myself or for them? Start by getting as much on paper as possible. Think about inside jokes, favorite memories, routines you share, etc. Ask yourself what makes them unique? What makes this moment in their life special? What's a story that only they could tell and that could only be told by a gift like this? Once you’ve gone broad, start to go deep. Look for patterns and themes. Are there topics that come up over and over? Is there a nice turn of phrase or inside joke that could pull a story together? (Once you have a high-level idea, just start building something. You won’t know how every moment will work or flow. That’s okay. Trust your ability to figure things out. Think of the design process as driving a car (i.e. making adjustments at each turn) rather than as launching a rocket (i.e. forming a grand plan, then hoping it all comes together when you execute on it). It sounds like you’ve come a long way already. How would you like to see Odes Unboxed evolve over the next 5-10 years? Over the next few years, I see the brand evolving to offer a wider range of experiences. For example, I’d imagine having a few types of experiences for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, weddings, graduation, etc. Each of the experiences would have a well-developed core concept that’s common to everyone who receives it while also being heavily personalized, so that the gift couldn’t be received by anyone else. I’d also like to offer more experiences that focus on growth and transformation. For example, I experienced chronic headaches for several years and went through a difficult journey to heal and, ultimately, grow. I would love to offer an experience (whether a puzzle tale, workshop, retreat, or world) that helps someone experiencing chronic pain feel like a hero at the center of their journey. They’d feel empowered and uplifted as they go on quests, meet mentors, and ultimately come back with the elixir. In the more immediate future, are there any upcoming projects or plans that you would like to share? I’m designing a Valentine’s Day experience that’s coming out beautifully. It’s an intimate, heavily personalized adventure that will shower your partner with love and celebrate all of the things you love most about them. It is designed to hold your partner in a weeklong embrace. The magic starts building up several days before Valentine’s Day, culminates on the day itself, and lives on through mementos your partner will cherish forever. You’ll celebrate some of your favorite memories from over the years and step into moments designed for play, pampering, and conversation. To make it heavily personalized, there will be an intake process where I ask the gifter for photos, inside jokes, the things they love most about their partner, etc. Then, I’ll incorporate all of that into a version of the experience made just for that couple. So, it’s not quite custom since it’s the same underlying story & concept for each version I’m making. However, the personalization is meaningful & substantial enough that it will feel custom. In other words, it’s a level of personalization that goes far, far beyond putting your name on things. It’s an integral part of the experience. It will have the gifter’s fingerprints all over it. Bonus: This is still a really enjoyable experience for the gifter as well! They’ll be clued into a few small things, yet still surprised by all of the puzzles and activities. Since it’s so heavily personalized (and since my team is small), we can only make 12 copies. I’m going to make sign-up available around January 12. The latest I can take sign-ups will be January 20, since I’ll need quite a bit of time to order parts, assemble everything, and turn it around ahead of February 14. The experience will be more affordable than a custom experience at the same level of depth. However, the experience involves dozens of high quality parts and many hours of assembly by hand, so the cost will be comparable to seeing a Broadway show, going out to a fancy dinner, or getting a nice piece of jewelry. I’ve been describing it as the magic of an escape room, the thrill of a sexy date night, and the warmth of an intimate conversation, all made just for you, with several personalized keepsakes to remember the experience forever. If you’d like to learn more, reach out to me at josh@odesunboxed.com. Photos above are property of Odes Unboxed Shoutout time! Who are some of your favorite experience/game designers or what are some of your favorite experiences/games, and why? I love "The Light in the Mist" (by Rita Orlov & Jack Fallows). The design is beautiful, the puzzles are really thoughtful, and the story has a lot of emotional resonance. "Boda Borg" & "Level 99" near Boston are tons of fun. I was able to visit them at RECON (the Reality Escape Convention). I loved how they combined my favorite elements of escape rooms, obstacle courses, sports, and video games. "Storyteller’s Secret" at Boxaroo is one of my favorite escape rooms. I loved the tender, mellow vibe. It was clear that so much care and love went into the experience. Anything else that you would like to share? If anything I’ve said resonates with someone reading this, feel free to reach out. I’m quite swamped but I promise I’ll respond and we’ll find some way to connect. You can contact me at josh@odesunboxed.com. #KristaJones #articles #perspectives #interview #OdesUnboxed #PuzzleBox #TabletopGames

LOCATION: Lausanne, Switzerland Photo above is property of Evade Escape Game Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Sentinel 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 23, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 138-220 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (53:00) 📖 THE STORY Inherit the legacy of your grandfather Henry, a renowned archaeologist and secret guardian of a hidden treasure. After his passing, his mysterious old house becomes your playground — filled with cryptic clues, booby traps, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. A cassette marked with your name reveals your destiny: to follow in his footsteps as a sentinel, protecting the treasure from those who seek it. Solve intricate puzzles, decode hidden messages, and outwit rival treasure hunters in this immersive escape room adventure. Logic, observation, and teamwork will be your greatest weapons. Do you have what it takes to unravel the secrets of the Sentinel and claim your place as the worthy heir? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We really liked the inclusion of the fairy character that was with us throughout, providing both clues and story updates. We even got to see how she looked towards the end when she appeared on a TV screen. Her inclusion offered a bit more whimsy and magic to the adventure. The look of the game was also impressive, although I do wish they’d pushed themselves a little further to make the rooms look less … ‘roomy’. But, what we did like was the assortment of fantasy props and furniture pieces, particularly the doors which had been beautifully transformed to look like anything other than a regular door. The game made excellent use of special effects, particularly lighting cues to indicate when portals or doors had opened. This clever feature solved a common issue in escape rooms where players might miss key progressions. The lighting was seamlessly integrated, enhancing both the aesthetic and functionality. There is a good variety of puzzles to solve, ranging from searching to decoding, memory, team-based, and even a little yoga making! The assortment offers teams plenty to do and are well suited to families and less experienced players. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While there were no major flaws, a few decorative choices slightly diminished the level of immersion. The puzzles, although fun and engaging, could have been better tied to the narrative. They often felt like standalone challenges rather than integral parts of the story. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This game is designed with families in mind, thanks to its accessible puzzles and enchanting theme. The Sentinel delivers an engaging adventure that encourages teamwork and leaves players with smiles on their faces. However, the price point feels high for the overall experience. If budget isn't a concern, it's definitely worth playing. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is very limited free parking in front, however none was available on our visit. There is a public car park (fee required) within a 5-10 minute walk from the escape center. There are toilets on site, and as mentioned above a comfortable reception area with chairs, a sofa, lockers, and drinks/games for sale. The games are all available in English or French. The rooms are CASH ONLY, although they do accept TWINT (with a small fee). There is no ATM at the location or in the nearby vicinity that we could find. Potentially possible to play in a wheelchair, however there are some tight spaces to transition. Photos above are property of Evade Escape Game (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Evade Escape Game for providing us with a media discount for this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Fantasy #EvadeEscapeGame #Switzerland

LOCATION: Lausanne, Switzerland Photo above is property of Evade Escape Game Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Blackmail 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 23, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Adult Erotica 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 138-220 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (40:00) 📖 THE STORY An anonymous letter exposes compromising photos, with a ransom demand attached. Refusing to give in, you and your team set a trap — but it backfires. Knocked out and captured, you awaken in the blackmailer's eerie dungeon. Now , you must outwit your captor, solve puzzles, and recover the incriminating photos before they ruin your life. Can you escape before time runs out? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The theme was definitely a standout feature for us. After playing numerous escape rooms, it's refreshing to encounter something so unique and memorable. Despite the outrageous story and inevitable hilarious moments, the game maintains a serious tone, reminding us that completing the mission is the ultimate goal. Alongside the strong narrative, the set design is dramatic and immersive, packed with more 'toys' than some adult stores! Naturally, we couldn't resist a bit of playful exploration — and the provocative movie playing on the TV certainly served as an amusing distraction (we're sure that's intentional!). The puzzles strike a great balance between cheeky, saucy tasks and more traditional escape room challenges, ensuring both laughs and brain-teasing moments. We particularly enjoyed the hands-on interactions with the props and those puzzles that encouraged us to pay closer attention to the TV ... if they ask us to watch, it'd be rude not to 😉. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Our biggest gripe was the overall condition of the room, which is definitely showing its age. Worn furniture, damaged props, and scuffed walls — particularly the photo frames — detracted slightly from the immersive experience. However, one could argue that this adds to the sleazy atmosphere the designers were aiming for. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Blackmail " is designed to shock and amuse, blending racy visuals with inventive puzzles. For players with a sense of humor looking for something edgy and unconventional, this game is an absolute blast. Just remember — this is strictly adults only! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is very limited free parking in front, however none was available on our visit. There is a public car park (fee required) within a 5-10 minute walk from the escape center. There are toilets on site, and as mentioned above a comfortable reception area with chairs, a sofa, lockers, and drinks/games for sale. The games are all available in English or French. The rooms are CASH ONLY, although they do accept TWINT (with a small fee). There is no ATM at the location or in the nearby vicinity that we could find. Some crawling is required Photos above are property of Evade Escape Game (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Evade Escape Game for providing us with a media discount for this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Adult #Erotica #EvadeEscapeGame #Switzerland

LOCATION: Lausanne, Switzerland Photo above is property of Evade Escape Game Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Amazonia 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 23, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 138-220 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (40:00) 📖 THE STORY On a mission for the Brazilian government, you investigate the mysterious disappearance of villages near the Amazon rainforest. Whispers of dark figures and chilling screams lead you to a grim truth — the "La Familia do Norte" cartel is running a human trafficking operation deep in the jungle. To expose them, you'll navigate the dense forest, crack intricate puzzles, and dodge deadly traps — all while the cartel hunts you down. Time is running out. Will you unveil the conspiracy or become their next victim? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Of the three games we played at EVADE, this one offered the most immersive introduction. Our GM, dressed in full government military uniform, set the tone perfectly by escorting us to the game entrance, which was adorned with evidence of the criminal gang’s activities. The backstory and mission objectives were clearly communicated, building anticipation before we were separated into individual cells to kick off the experience. The game immediately challenged our teamwork with several cooperative puzzles that required clear communication to reunite the group. As fans of collaborative tasks in escape rooms, we found this a strong and engaging start. The jungle aesthetic, while not overly elaborate, was effective. Foliage-covered walls and subtle decorative touches created a convincing Amazonian atmosphere, while the shipping containers used to imprison us felt authentic and added to the immersion. A diverse mix of puzzles kept the gameplay dynamic, incorporating dexterity, communication, observation, and decoding. The hands-on nature of many tasks further enhanced the sense of realism and kept us fully engaged. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The game’s biggest drawback was its multi-use approach on two puzzles. This goes against the widely accepted “unwritten rule” of escape rooms that items and information should only be used once unless explicitly stated otherwise. For experienced players, this lack of clarity caused unnecessary confusion and broke the game’s otherwise smooth flow. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a fun and dynamic escape room best suited for teams of 2-4 players, regardless of experience level. The variety of puzzles ensures no two tasks feel repetitive, and the immersive setup creates an exciting atmosphere. However, the game’s price point feels steep for what is ultimately delivered. If budget isn't a concern, it's definitely worth playing — just be prepared to think outside the usual escape room conventions. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is very limited free parking in front, however none was available on our visit. There is a public car park (fee required) within a 5-10 minute walk from the escape center. There are toilets on site, and as mentioned above a comfortable reception area with chairs, a sofa, lockers, and drinks/games for sale. The games are all available in English or French. The rooms are CASH ONLY, although they do accept TWINT (with a small fee). There is no ATM at the location or in the nearby vicinity that we could find. Some crawling is required Photos above are property of Evade Escape Game (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Evade Escape Game for providing us with a media discount for this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Adventure #EvadeEscapeGame #Switzerland

Looking for something to do during this holiday season? Check out the list of escape rooms and at-home games we've compiled for you that are holiday themed! You might find some "discount codes" in there as well from the companies as a gift of appreciation to you! We also found some cool games/gift ideas for your holiday shopping! Here's the list! Lastly, here's a FREE puzzle game created by Edaqa's Room for us. If you enjoyed that, check out his other games as well - HERE! From the team at ESCAPETHEROOMers, we wish you a happy holiday! #christmas #holidays #holidaygames #escapetheroomers #2022holidaygames

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN! For anyone who missed out on ER Champ last year, be sure to sign up NOW! ER Champ is a FREE competition organized and designed by our friends at lock.me (Fun fact: they are also the creators of Escape Tales!) Their main goal is to promote the escape room industry and provide entertainment to people from all over the world. Originally, the event was staged in real life escape rooms located in Poland but due to the pandemic the format has converted to online. All the games will be presented in a point-n-click format. You can join as a team of 2 - 4 players where one player will act as the captain. There'll be 3 rounds before the winners will be announced (prizes to be determined): October 8, 2022 | 16:00 UTC - Stress test - test of the elimination system November 5, 2022 | 16:00 UTC - Elimination stage - a point and click game November 26, 2022 | 16:00 UTC - Grand Finale - top 100 teams will compete for the title of the champions If you get into the top 100, you'll get an invite from them to join a secret FB page group but for now you can just subscribe to their main page for updates. Time and hints used will be calculated into your final score. During each round, you will see live updates on each team's performance on their Facebook. The final result will be published later after verification in case of any cheating. This is our third year being their media patron and we are super eager to see what they've created! Apparently this year's plot revolves around a clinic? Perhaps something to do with Soulmenders? This is all we know... Updated Nov 29th, 2022 - RESULTS ARE IN! Who are the winners? Click HERE to find out!!! This year the competition attracted more than 2,000 players who formed 660 teams. More than 6.5 million actions were performed during the elimination stage! We can't wait for next year! #erchamp #escaperoomchampion #pointnclick #game #event

I know you've been waiting for this moment! It's now time to stock up on gift cards and games at a very discounted price! Check out the LIST of games from all over the world we have compiled for you to make your shopping easier! Now BUY BUY BUY! #blackfridaysale #cybermondaysale #games #escaperooms

We had so much fun guest starring last time on The Infinite Escape Room with Jon, we had to come back again when given the opportunity. This time, our incredibly witty host, Jamie a/k/a the Armchair Escapist, was exceptional and once again we had an amazing time with the team (Cici only realized in the middle of the game that Mike was actually on our side). "The Infinite Escape Room" is a podcast in the UK that creates original content where they mix up hilarious "choose your own adventure" stories along with entertaining puzzles. We highly recommend giving them a subscribe. For further support, check out their Patreon page. Photo above is property of The Infinite Escape Room Photo above is property of The Infinite Escape Room #BrandonChow #Articles #Events #EscapeRooms #TheInfiniteEscapeRoom #AudioEscapeRoom #Guest

BOOOOoooooo! I see you!!! Happy Halloween! Looking for something fun to do? We've compiled a list of escape rooms, at home games and free games from all over the world for you! Check out what's happening in your neighborhood and if you're lucky, you might even find a yummy "discount code" treat for the games! From the team at ESCAPETHEROOMers, we wish you a spooky but safe Halloween 2022!!! Click HERE for the Halloween Game List (Currently it's sorted by Country, feel free to use the sort button on top to your needs). #freegames #halloween2022 #halloweengames #escaperooms #athomegames

Written by: Mike Schnurr, ESCAPETHEROOMers // Writer In order to get the most when going to an immersive theater production, one needs to be familiar with how a show works. As this is a fairly niche artform, not all are familiar and some people may be scratching their heads at the end in confusion. Immersive shows are some of the most intimate forms of artwork due to the nature of blurring participation and perception. This is a list to prepare you for your first show to get the most out of the runtime and hopefully seek out other similar experiences. Note: This is a generalization and while I personally have been to multiple shows, the creators of each production aim to make a show their own. Not all tips will be applicable for all shows but the tips listed below are a good starting point if this is a new industry for you. There is no proper way to see the show. It is all about what you want to do in the production's runtime. When you see a theatrical production, all of the action happens on stage and the actors, with their dialogue, convey the story all while the set changes around them and you remain stationary. In an immersive show, you are integrated with the set and the actors move around you and the space. Some experiences can be large, spanning multiple floors, others are a limited ever changing set. You will most likely not come close to seeing everything that is offered on a single viewing. Take the show as your own journey. If you are looking to see what is behind every doorway and passage, go for it. If a character comes across your path and is intriguing to you, follow them. Think of it like you are walking down a city street at night and each and every person there has their own story of what brought them to that street. Immersive theater lets you keep walking and explore each section of the street with its own beauty or observe a person, or group of people, and follow their story. Follow where the action is happening... It can be easy to get lost in the world the designers and creators set up for you. Usually the most engaging and immersive portions of the show deal directly with the actors and watching their choreography during the production. There will usually be a crowd that forms around them but every once in a while if an actor is roaming the halls, you might be lucky enough to get a one on one experience with them. A scene that only you have seen and will be one of the few people who ever get to witness it. Or don’t... Due to the nature of this artform, it is left to be interpreted by each and every person differently because each and every person has seen a “different” show. If you are the type of person who wants to get lost in the atmosphere and possible labyrinthian construction of the set, do so. There are notes to find and read, details on desks, possibly active phones that give auditory backstory. All bits are put into place for the audience to find and explore to make it seem as if it is their own story. Everything can be explored. Immersive theater seeks to break boundaries, it allows you, the individual, to see a show on your own terms. Be on the lookout for nooks, crevices, alcoves...If it is not blocked off then feel free to interact with each area. Are you not enjoying a plot line from one character, no issue, instead of “tuning out” during those scenes you can walk around and find a new plot/character to follow or one could even find notes and details hidden throughout the set that explain the world you are in. This is a show about how you want to make it and experience it. Discuss with others after the show. One of the best parts of the evening is when your group has returned from the show, (some shows deliberately separate the group you came in with) and everyone can discuss their favorite scenes, interesting sets, confusing portions, intense visuals just to name a few topics. It is a conversation with your friends about how the story plays out as well as a method to fill in the gaps of the story that the director of the show was trying to portray. Keep an open mind. An actor lights a candle and walks in a manner that you perceive as stealthy. Do you follow their movements to see what they are up to? There is a stairwell up ahead and you have no idea where it goes. Do you ignore that actor and go up the stairwell for other possible interactions? As you make your choice, someone else comes running towards and past you. Now do you go and see why they were running? Running to something...or from something? Continue up the stairs? Continue following the stealthy actor? All of those questions can come up within a minute. No matter what choice you make, remind yourself, this is your story, do what intrigues you the most. Immersive theater is a show that tells us to live in the present. I urge you, when you are in the show, don’t focus on the things you didn’t see. Reflect upon the show that YOU saw. Once the show has completed, it turns into a collective story with your friends and other audience members about each and every person's show. It’s a unique feeling, but one that hopefully will get you to seek out this unique and budding artform time and time again. Immersive theater blends very closely with escape rooms and below are some examples of shows and rooms that seek to fade the line between real and imaginary. Escape Rooms: "Servant’s of Slight" - The Exit Games "Puppet Heist: The Hand of Life" - The Bureau "Frost Base Z" - Rabbit Hole Recreation Services "Storyteller’s Secret" - Boxaroo "Project Minotaur" - QUEST ROOM "Heresy: 1897" - Doors of Divergence Immersive Theater Shows: "Sleep No More" - The McKittrick Hotel/ Punchdrunk "Reaper’s Remorse" - Delusion "The Clown Academy" - Intruder Escape "The Burnt City" - Punchdrunk #MikeSchnurr #7TipsandTricksForYourFirstImmersiveTheaterShow #articles #perspectives #shows

1,000s of Escape Rooms in dozens of countries appear all over the world now, but what are they, and where did they come from? An escape room, at its core, is basically an interactive Mystery Puzzle Game with the room itself as the primary game interface and that has a time limit. This differentiates escape rooms from at-home Mystery Puzzle games where the interface is physical props, books, and often online elements you access through a web browser or app and that generally can be done at your own pace. They are also different from computer and app puzzle games and escape rooms where the computer, phone, or game console is the primary game interface. Escape Rooms are one of the most recent branches on the Mystery Puzzle Game tree. But first, an extremely abbreviated look at what led to the earliest escape rooms...Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons & Dragons, created in 1974 the pen-and-paper role-playing game where friends get together, roll up characters and with one friend being the “Dungeon Master” who controls the game, imagine themselves going on epic quests and dungeon delves, inspired many of the early computer games. Around that same time, in the 1980s, Mystery Puzzle Games moved from magazines, newspapers, and books heavily into the computer game market, with Infocom text adventures and similar games that also drew their inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons. cfrom True Dungeon allows a group of adventurers (players) walk through a simulated Dungeon (rather like a haunted house), where they will fight monsters (using a shuffleboard combat mechanic), solve puzzles, and interact with props while they seek treasures. It is a 2-hour experience that uses a Dungeon Master (person in the room helping control the game) and became one of the most popular experiences at GenCon (one of the largest gaming conventions each year) and is now being played at multiple conventions each year! True Dungeon was created from the idea of Dungeon Master Jeff Martin, with help from Dungeon Forge owner Stefan Porkorny, and a collaboration with Peter Adkinson of Wizards of the Coast.(1) A class 41 trademark for TRUE DUNGEON was submitted March 20, 2003 by Jeff Martin and was first used on 24 Jul 2003. (4) Then, on July 24th of 2003 at GenCon in Indianapolis, True Dungeon, the first live escape-room type game premiered...however it wasn’t marketed as an “Escape Room,” and didn’t have its origins directly from the computer escape rooms...it was more about being able to play Dungeons and Dragons live! True Dungeon allows a group of adventurers (players) walk through a simulated Dungeon (rather like a haunted house), where they will fight monsters (using a shuffleboard combat mechanic), solve puzzles, and interact with props while they seek treasures. It is a 2-hour experience that uses a Dungeon Master (person in the room heping control the game) and became one of the most popular experiences at GenCon (one of the largest gaming conventions each year) and is now being played at multiple conventions each year! True Dungeon was created from the idea of Dungeon Master Jeff Martin, with help from Dungeon Forge owner Stefan Porkorny, and a collaboration with Peter Adkinson of Wizards of the Coast.(1) A class 41 trademark for TRUE DUNGEON was submitted March 20, 2003 by Jeff Martin and was first used on 24 Jul 2003. (4) The first True Dungeon adventure at Gencon 2003 was TD1: “The Five Aspects.” True Dungeon was held on the 2nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Ballroom and ran from Thursday through Sunday.(5) The Dungeon had eight rooms. 300 slots were opened, with a cost of 7 generic tickets per slot.(5) Although around 500 played in this first ever escape room according to the official website.(1) It was a last minute event and was not in the convention book nor was available for pre-registration(5). However, it was listed on the website as of at least February 2003 (5), and was referred to as “New to Gen Con Indy this year, True Dungeon is a d20 variant that allows players to experience their D&D adventure within a life-size, dungeon environment. Not a LARP, True Dungeon focuses on problem solving, teamwork and tactics while providing exciting sets and interactive props. Players may find themselves creeping down a dark passageway and entering a long-forgotten crypt. After dispatching a lurking guardian, the players may have to solve a cryptic puzzle or find a secret door in order to gain a wondrous treasure chest -- a chest that might hold a shocking surprise if opened without care.”(5) From this description one can easily see the Escape Room aspects, however it is still steeped in Dungeons & Dragons where characters can die, players can gain treasure for future adventures, and each player has a character sheet describing their character and abilities. In 2004 True Dungeon returned, bigger and better than before! In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast (owners of D&D) sponsored and teamed up with True Dungeon to make an adventure firmly set in the D&D world of Greyhawk, in the classic module The Village of Hommlet!(7). True Heroes also debuted in partnership with Upper Deck, using some of the rules of their Marvel Superhero Trading Card Game.(6) In this game players were official Marvel characters and went against Marvel villains, while also solving puzzles and problems. (6) True Heroes could arguably be considered the 2nd escape room. To get a feel as to the “Escape Room” feel of True Dungeon, here are a couple of the rooms from the 2004 event: Room Three – The Imp Entrance This room was really a creative problem solving exercise that was sort of disguised as a physical challenge. Some players said that there were less puzzles this year…when in reality many failed to see that this was actually a puzzle! You were supposed to land a gem inside the pentagram…which is possible with a lucky throw. The “sleaze” or trick in this room was to use the two 10 ft. poles in the room to make a gutter-like device to slowly roll the gems onto the platform. Several groups came up with other clever ways to get this done – including putting a gem inside a boot and tossing that onto the circle! Room Four – The Octagon Room This was a tough puzzle that had a simple solution – if you thought of it. Your basic choice was one of three archways, but two of the pictures above the archways could be spelled with the cubes (avian and shell). The trick was to drop the cubes in the pool of water…and allowing the letters A-V-I-A-N to always float to the surface. The cubes were especially rigged to do so.(8) True Dungeon was influenced primarily through the idea of bringing Dungeons and Dragons to life with a mix of puzzles and combat and has been a huge success! Four years after the premier of True Dungeon, and half-way around the world, in 2007, Takao Kato from Kyoto, Japan was trying to come up with a new event to host, and the girl sitting next to him said she was hooked on online escape room games. His response: “[S]o I just tried to make one.”(9) Real Escape Game came out of this thought process where large groups of players had to solve elaborate puzzles to escape a room that was set up in various locations as an event. Later Real Escape Game would make permanent escape rooms. It does seem that Real Escape Game was independently created from the same zeitgeist as True Dungeon...the desire to make an event out of a game and turn it into a physical reality. One was from pen and paper games, and one from online puzzle games...one became a very successful niche product, while the other has become a worldwide phenomenon, but one that could learn from the other…however, both paths had their origins back in Dungeons & Dragons. 2004 also saw the opening of another experience that is not quite an escape room, but also feels similar and even closer then True Dungeon: 5 Wits. 5 Wits focuses more on the experience of the game but does contain some puzzles. It does not consider itself an escape room per se and seems to follow more along the lines of True Dungeon then the Escape Room phenomenon that would explode in the following years across Asia and then Europe, with the first opening in London and Hungary in 2012 (see future articles). This leads to the first escape rooms in America. The first full escape room in America was brought over by SCRAP where they put on the first “Real Escape Game” in San Francisco in 2012 on March 23rd for $20-$25.(12) “The Escape From the Werewolf Village” was the premier escape and was held in the Superfrog gallery in Japantown(12) at New People, at what is known as the J-Pop Center, which promotes Japanese popular culture. The Japanese escape rooms were adapted for America by Kazuya Iwata.(14) In July of 2012, Real Escape Game SF presented, “Vol 2. The Crazy Last Will of Dr. Mad.” at the conference center of Building A in Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.(13) It was advertised as follows: “The game involves solving puzzles in order to get out of a locked room.”(13) On December 14 of 2012, the first permanent escape room in America opened, it was REG’s Volume 1: Escape From the Mysterious Room. According to REG, no one escaped that day... Opening in September of 2013, “Escape From Studio D” by Puzzle Break in Seattle, is America’s first escape room company. While it wasn’t the first escape room event, or even the first permanent escape room, it was the first owned and operated by an American company. Founder Nate Martin saw the success of escape rooms in Asia and Europe and decided to bring them to America.(10) The rooms became popular and they quickly expanded, and by September of 2014 gross revenue was about $30,000/month.(10) In October 2013, the explosion had begun. Escape the Room “The Office” opened in New York City, soon to be followed by many, many more. Escape the Room is a fun, interactive game taking place in New York City. While it looks like any other ordinary room, it’s actually a mystery puzzle. Find the hidden objects, figure out the clues and solve the puzzles to earn your freedom and “Escape the Room.” You have 60 minutes, so be quick! Come with your friends, family and coworkers and have a great time.(11) One of the earliest (or possibly the first) newspaper articles on escape rooms was from The Fresno Bee, published on Jun 7, 2014. Written by Chris Suellentrop of the New York Times News Service, it discusses how escape rooms mix video games and the theater into a new type of entertainment.(14) The author claims the direct influence on escape rooms were the web browser games such as “Crimson Room” and iPhone apps like “Doors” and “Rooms.” He brought in quotes from Timothy Haskell of Trapped NYC and Kazuya Iwata of Real Escape Game.”(14) Iwata compares themselves to video game creators by saying, “‘We are coming from the puzzle side…[T]hey are coming from the theater.’” but that the goal is where the two cross.(14) Escape rooms are an amazing blend of puzzles and immersive theatre. They pull their roots from their immediate predecessors of the escape room video games, which owe some of their heritage to 1980s and 1990s graphic puzzle adventures and the text adventures before them. Some of those games owe their heritage to Dungeons & Dragons and then to the desire to be able to play D&D on a computer. With the computer age and puzzle age blending, it would seem that the idea to immerse people into a live-action, interactive simulation/game/experience popped up with True Dungeon, 5 Wits, and then the first self-described escape rooms in Japan with SCRAP. From there they quickly spread throughout parts of Asia and Europe and landed fully in America by 2012. Timeline 2003 Jul 24: True Dungeon event premiers at Gencon (still going in 2021) 2004: 5 Wits live-action interactive experiences debut in New York. 2004 Jul: True Heroes even premiers at Gencon (would last 2 Gen Cons) 2007: SCRAP created “Real Escape Game” in Japan 2012 Mar: The first Real Escape Game in San Francisco 2012 Jun: Early (1st) newspaper article discussing escape rooms in the Fresno Bee. 2013 Sep: Puzzle Break Room #1 “Escape From Studio D” opened in San Francisco 2013 Oct: Escape The Room #1 “The Office” opened in New York City 2014 May: Puzzle Break Room #2 “The Grimm Escape” opened in Seattle and San Francisco The Reference List https://truedungeon.com/how-to-play/item/30-td-history The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) · 13 Jun 2003, Fri · Page 60. Downloaded on Aug 28, 2021 The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) · 20 Jul 2003, Sun · Page 120. Downloaded on Aug 28, 2021 Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademarks 2004-04-13: Volume 1281, Issue 2. Page ™ 459. https://web.archive.org/web/20030628045130/http://www.gencon.com/display.aspx?file=indy-true-dungeon. Accessed on 29 Aug, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20040815080628/http://www.gencon.com/displayindy.aspx?file=indy-true-heroes. Accessed on 29 Aug, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20041022150151/http://truedungeon.com/1/articles.php?articleId=1. Accessed on 29 Aug, 2021. True Dungeon forums from the source: The Riddle Reveal videos. https://truedungeon.com/forum?view=topic&defaultmenu=141&catid=590&id=193775&start=0 https://realescapegame.com/thoughts-reg/. Accessed 09/01/2021 “Thoughts and lessons 1 year after co-founding Puzzle Break, a live-action escape-the-room game in Seattle and San Francisco.” Nate Martin. https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/2ioof7/thoughts_and_lessons_1_year_after_cofounding/ Accessed on 09/01/2021 Website. Escapetheroomnyc.com. July 2014 archive. Accessed 13 Sep 2021 from the Internet archive. “The Real Escape Game” The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 18 Mar 2012, Sun • Page B5 “Puzzle Game” The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 08 Jul 2012, Sun • Page A2 “Physical games imitate digital realm.” The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. 07 Jun 2014, Sat • Page C2 #BrentPrice #TheTrueOriginOfEscapeRooms #articles #perspectives #USA #EscapeRooms

We had an amazing time being guests on The Infinite Escape Room. Our host, Jon, had a really exciting adventure waiting for us where we had to escape from a giant!!! If you're wondering how a Q-tip was involved, then you should really give this episode a listen (click below). "The Infinite Escape Room" is a podcast in the UK that creates original content where they mix up hilarious "choose your own adventure" stories along with entertaining puzzles. We highly recommend giving them a subscribe. For further support, check out their Patreon page. #CiciCao #Articles #Events #EscapeRooms #TheInfiniteEscapeRoom #AudioEscapeRoom #Guest

Written by: Matthew Lui, ESCAPETHEROOMers // Writer As the final ballot is revealed showing Terri’s name, I am thankful that Amy reached out to me and helped save me from being voted off. With the other 3 castaways in our alliance, we would be safe for a few more tribal councils, but the real question is how long I could trust each of them before they turn on me… Outwit. Outplay. Outlast. The Survivor motto for anyone who is familiar with it, which is about to air its 43rd season in September 2022. During the pandemic though, as with many things moving online, ORGs or Online Reality Games really gained a following. I first became familiar with them in May 2022 when Jarod, a previous Survivor ORG competitor posted about them in the escape room enthusiast discord. After some back and forth, we found out we were from the same city and had a common friend who has played the same ORG he did. He then tells me that they are recruiting for the next season of Survivor YEG (the airport code for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) and sends me the application form. I sign up and think “Sure, how much time could this take to play?”, a question I would regret asking later. Playing similarly like the TV show, the Survivor ORG runs about 40 days with someone aiming to be the final Survivor. Everyone is assigned to a tribe at the start and they must win challenges to secure immunity for their group. If not, the losing tribe will be sent to tribal council where one of the tribe-mates would be voted off. The ORG was played through Discord as it is an easy social platform to use as well as one of the hosts, Keegan, who wrote a bot called “Chenbot” to automate group chats and do more automatically. Discord was also easy to open up channels for challenges and tribal councils and control permissions for the hosts, participants, and viewers. Oh, yes, did I mention that there is an audience watching the game as well? Joining Survivor YEG, I became a castaway for their 8th season titled Lost at Sea. As this season was mostly pirate themed and “located” at Alberta Beach near by, we were broken up into 3 tribes at the start, Blackbeard Tribe, Hook Tribe and Morgan Tribe. After competing in a few challenges and having the losing tribes vote castaways off, we slowly reformed into another 3 tribes named after more pirates; Drake, O’Malley and Sao. Finally, after a few more eliminations, I was lucky enough to join the final merge, which consisted of the 10 castaways in the appropriately named Sparrow tribe. Due to the nature of the game, all of the challenges had to be set up to be played online. For some challenges, they were played live, where we were given 24 hour notice to select a time that would work best for us. We would then convene on the Discord server at that time and complete the challenges together. Some challenges we played live included games like Wheel of Fortune, Battleship and Memory Madness. Since we did have lives outside of the game, we were given 24 hours to complete other challenges which included things like the longest Wordle streak, Photo Scavenger Hunt, Emoji Movies and Name that Tune. As with the TV show, you could also gain immunity idols and advantages through different activities. Some of them included a map search which you could do every day. Some were offered up during challenges under certain stipulations such as being the first to complete challenge. The final one (which was my favorite) were puzzlehunts hidden in the server. This season had 3 puzzlehunts (which were all completed by yours truly). For a more detailed rundown of the how the puzzles are hidden through discord, you can check out this video from one of the hosts Keegan. As for this season, some of the highlights of the puzzle hunts included combing through different areas of the discord server, researching Cicada 3301, playing the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme song, and (which was nominated as a favorite moment of the season) calling the Alberta Beach Library and Municipality to find who the first mayor of Alberta Beach was. Survivor isn’t all about winning the challenges though. You have to have a social game where reaching out to people, starting alliances and getting to know people are key to making it through. During the game, there were a few people who reached out to me and a few people I had to reach out to. This was tough too because at times, I didn’t know who to trust and you have no way of testing how much to trust someone else, sometimes before it is too late. Are you interested in playing one? If you google search ORGs, you might be able to find some places on Reddit or others that are looking to recruit. When talking to Jarod, he said, “There are a quite a few Survivor themed ORGs and anyone can apply to play in a season. As for viewing, most ORGs allow anyone to view, but most use a "trusted spectator"; system which requires someone in the ORG with trusted spectator status to vouch for new members. Viewers that can't be vouched for right away, can still watch the season but can only see the channels that all the players can see like the general tribe chat or tribal council. They wouldn't be able to see private confessionals or alliance chats. The purpose is to maintain the integrity of the game so that players aren't being told any game info they shouldn't have.” The winner of Season 8, Lost at Sea ended up being Jack, who seemed like a new player to these games until it was revealed at the reunion that he has actually played 40 ORGs. Therefore, I asked Jack for his top 3 tips for new players. He says; Survivor is filled with moving parts; Never sit still to avoid being crushed. Play a fluid and an adaptable game to avoid sinking like a stone. The second you tell yourself "Wow, I'm winning this"; you're probably about to go home. Never underestimate your opponents because they're following the same strategies as you. Make sure you have at least one BFF who's tight with people you aren't tight with. (Note that BFF here stands for Best Friend For as long as keeping them furthers your game). Connections are crucial to getting far and winning a jury over. But be careful about how long you keep them, because if you both make the end.....you both can't win. After a grueling 26 days, I did depart the game in 6th place after holding onto the trust of my alliance a little too long, (unfortunately while still holding an immunity idol). Joining the jury and viewing the rest of the game from Ponderosa island, the game finished with an epic ending with so many more twists and fun challenges to watch. In the final Viewer Voted Awards though, I did win (in a 3 way tie) for Best Confessional and was a pivotal part in the Favorite Moment of the season, which was Tribal Council 9, where we went to Rocks (apparently the 2nd time ever in the 8 seasons Survivor YEG has been around). This was a fun experience and very different from anything I have played online. Would I do it again? My FOMO says "yes", but my wife says "no". If someone tells you, the game only requires 30 mins a day, that is a blatant lie, but no doubt about it, what you get out of the game is completely what you are willing to put into it. (Just want to give a big shoutout to all the hosts, Danny, Darren, Jess, Keegan, Kristin, Lance and Zoco, who organized and put on an amazing event as well as the final 10, Jack, Stat, Aimory, Amy, Megan, Melody, Jessica, Terri, and Tony, who all played a fantastic game and made for a great adventure!) #MatthewLui #TheOnlineRealityGameofSurvivor #ORG #Survivor #articles #perspectives #USA

Written by: Claire Adams, Lock Paper Scissors // Guest Writer Not everyone is cut out for an escape room. It takes a special kind of person to be able to think under pressure and work well as part of a team. But if you think you’ve got what it takes, then the next step is to choose the right personalities for your team. Here Are Some Personality Types That Make for a Successful Escape Room Team: 1. The Leader This is the person who takes charge and ensures that everyone is on the same page. The leader motivates the team and keeps them moving forward towards the goal. It’s important to have a leader on your team, but beware of someone who is too bossy or overwhelming. The leader should be someone who can keep cool under pressure and knows how to delegate tasks. It’s also important to have a flexible leader who can change the plan if necessary. Things rarely go according to plan in an escape room, and the leader needs to be able to adapt on the fly. 2. The Analytical Thinker This person likes to sit back and observe the situation before taking action. The analytical thinker is good at spotting patterns and solving puzzles. This person is an asset to any team as they can help solve some of the trickier puzzles. However, they can also be a liability if they get too bogged down in the details. The analytical thinker needs to be able to take a step back and see the big picture. They also need to be able to communicate their ideas to the rest of the team. 3. The Action-Oriented Person This is the person who is always ready for action. They’re not afraid to take risks, and they’re always up for a challenge. The action-oriented person is a valuable asset to any team as they can help move the team forward. However, they can also be a liability if they act without thinking. They need to control their impulsiveness and think before they act. 4. The Creative Thinker This is the person who likes to think outside the box. They’re good at coming up with creative solutions to problems. The creative thinker is a valuable asset to any team as they can help solve puzzles that require out-of-the-box thinking. However, they can also be a liability if they get too distracted by their own thoughts. They need to be able to focus on the task at hand and communicate their ideas to the rest of the team. 5. The Organizer This is the person who likes to keep everything in order. They’re good at keeping track of the team’s progress and ensuring that everyone is on track. An organizer is a valuable asset to any team as they can help to keep the team focused and on track. However, they can also be a liability if the team feels like they’re being micromanaged. The organizer needs to give clear instructions and allow the team some flexibility to work in their own way. 6. The Puzzle Solver Every team needs someone good at solving puzzles. This is the person who will be able to figure out the clues and solve the puzzles. Puzzle solvers are a valuable asset to any team as they can help move the team forward. However, they can also be a liability if they get too bogged down in the details. Puzzle solvers need to be able to take a step back and see the big picture. They also need to be able to communicate their ideas to the rest of the team. 7. The Wild Card This is the person who is always up for anything. They’re not afraid to take risks, and they’re always up for a challenge. Wild cards are a valuable asset to any team as they can help move the team forward. However, they can also be a liability if they act without thinking. They need to control their impulsiveness and think before they act. These are just a few of the different personalities that can be found on an escape room team. It’s important to have a mix of personalities on your team to make the most of everyone’s strengths. Check out this clip (see below) from the owners of Deadlocked Escape Room performing a funny skit during ESCAPETHEROOMers' "2021 Bullseye Awards Ceremony Show" of a couple of stereotypical players in an escape room! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Tips for Choosing the Right Personalities for your Next Game Now that you know a little bit about the different personalities that can be found on an escape room team, here are a few tips for choosing the right team for your next adventure: Make sure that you have a mix of personalities on your team. You’ll want to have a mix of puzzle solvers, creative thinkers, and action-oriented people. Choose a team that you’re comfortable with. You’ll be spending a lot of time with these people, so you want to make sure you get along. Make sure that everyone on the team is up for the challenge. You don’t want to have a team of people who will give up easily. Choose a team that you can trust. This is important because you’re going to be working together closely, and you need to be able to trust each other. Make sure that everyone on the team is committed to the cause. You don’t want to have a team of people who will bail on you at the first sign of trouble. Now that you know how to choose the right team for your next escape room adventure, it’s time to get out there and start planning your adventure! Choose wisely, and you’re sure to have a great time. VISIT if you are interested in learning more tips and tricks about Escape room games. #ClaireAdams #HowToChooseTheRightPersonalitiesForYourNextEscapeRoomAdventure #articles #perspectives #USA #History

LOCATION: Athol, Massachusetts, USA Photo above is property of Sure Locke Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ** UPDATE - We regret to inform that "Sure Locke Escape Rooms" has closed. 📖 THE STORY The mayor has placed booby traps inside of the Tooly Theatre in order to protect his secret plans. You have one hour to get in, find the plans, and escape before the mayor arrives. But be careful...he's definitely not making this easy for you... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The concept of finding a way inside of the "Tooly Theatre" was an added bonus (Full disclosure we didn't get to experience it because we had a mix up with the clue that was handed to us but from what the owner told us it's a fun puzzle to figure out). Since this is an abandoned theater, the props used (old soda and popcorn machines, teared up posters and dusty theater seats) really portrayed the storyline. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK *Full disclosure - the owner did tell us that they will be opening this room soon and it's still in beta testing so below is what we've experienced during their beta testing stage. The owner has informed that the game can be set to various difficulty levels so during our game, we had a lock that was used in a previous game and although we had the correct combo it didn't open and the GM had to give us the code instead There were some big logic leaps in some puzzles that as enthusiasts it was quite difficult for us to wrap our head around. There were some spots on the wall that we had to discovery that served as red herring as they had no relevance to the game. This is a gen-1 one and there was a prop used in there that we had to use a bit more than "two finger strength" to open as most of the scenarios that would've been a magnetic lock but since this is a manual operation, we were worried about breaking the prop so a clue was used. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Since we played it in beta testing stage and gave a good amount of feedback to the owner, we hope the game will be more ready to be played in the future. The concept is fun and there are some elements in the game that we saw potential in but in the current stages, there's still a good amount of work that needs to be put in to polish up the game. The introduction and game mastering needed to be improved as well. The game flow wasn't there as some of the more established escape room. But since they are new, we hope to see some improvements from them in the near future! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Sure Locke Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #SureLockeEscapeRooms #USA