Photo above is property of Jacob & Megan Hannah of Hannah Photography What a beautiful, magical, and of course "puzzling" wedding! This one is close to our hearts because our very own reviewers Krista & Dave got married last year! Offbeat Wed's article perfectly captured all of their memories on that special day. If you want some inspiration for your own wedding, make sure to read about it! And best of all, if you need help planning a wedding like this, check out their company "Whimsically You" to make your fantasy wedding come true! #wedding #interview #puzzles #bespoke

In this interview with "The Board Game Specialist" (hosts Carla and Melanie), you'll be able to learn about: - How Matt got "addicted" to escape rooms/tabletop games - How he became a reviewer at ESCAPETHEROOMers - Matt's favorite puzzle games & escape rooms - And more! The video above is the property of The Boardgame Specialists #podcast #interview #media #canada

LOCATION: Norwegian Prima Ship Photo above is property of Norwegian Cruise Line Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📖 THE STORY You and your friends were transported by a time machine to P. Clearwater's private collection. Something went wrong and you seem to be trapped! Only when you're able to assemble a sacred statue will you be able to travel back in time. Time is ticking... Video above is property of Deep Inside 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The intro was done outside the room and the AI on the door felt futuristic as if we were about to embark on a time machine. The props accurately resembled a collector's den. There were items received from various locations and different timelines. The main objective was clearly displayed so the group knew exactly what we were looking for. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some items desperately need repair and touch-ups. We understand that it is difficult to get materials at sea but it was disappointing for players to discover that they couldn't get the full experience after the fact. In this case, it would also help if the GM could inform the players while they were in the room that a certain puzzle is not in play anymore due to malfunction so the players could keep going and avoid the unnecessary red herrings. It was hard to tell if a puzzle had been completed or not when there were many other players in the room. Some players were trying to rework puzzles that were already solved. A solution was displayed right in front of the puzzle which made it very confusing to players as no solving was needed. Due to broken items, some puzzles didn't make sense as the logic was also broken. The communication with the GM was hard to hear sometimes over the speaker. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This was the first escape room we've done on a cruise. The last NCL one we did back in 2019 was more like a puzzle hunt. We are glad to see escape rooms being offered on cruises as an option for entertainment. However, we also see the potential issues it could have due to technical issues and unable to be repaired in time. Perhaps more sustainable props and less techy rooms could be the solution as a Gen-1 room with great puzzles could be just as fun. Since we were unable to experience this room at its full potential, it's difficult to give an accurate review of this room. But we did enjoy ourselves in their other room called "Magic Room". I hope they will be able to repair the issues by the time you onboard the amazing NCL Prima. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Located inside the Galaxy Pavilion on Deck 17 You will likely be paired with strangers unless you have a big group to book a private session On sea days, the ship could be quite rocky (a player ended up sitting on the couch the entire time) 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 Norwegian Cruise Line for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #NorwegianCruiseLine #NCL #NorwegianPrima #PearlsRoom #Adventure #CruiseShip

Prior to the pandemic, we were fortunate enough to visit a lot of countries and play their escape rooms. Countries such as Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It's always great to experience the creativity from around the world! This year, we are super excited to travel abroad and add Greece, Israel, and Cyprus to the map. Please email us if you are: - Crazy in love with escape rooms like we are and would like to meet up to tackle some rooms together or just chat over a drink or two! - An owner at any of these below locations and would like us to visit you on our tour. - Have suggestions of other locations and escape rooms that we should add to this list. EUROPE Tours Sep 22-23, 2022 - Spain " The Narcos " - Unreal Room Escape (Barcelona, Spain) " Las Maravillas de Agrabah " - Unreal Room Escape (Barcelona, Spain) " APOPHIS Escape Room " - Vortex Escape Room Terrassa (Barcelona, Spain) " Prisoners of Alkaban " - Maximum Escape Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) Apr 6, 2022 - Greece " The Emperor's Masterchef Is Dead " - Mister. E Alive Escape Rooms (Athens, Greece) " Sin City " - Mastermind Escape Room (Athens, Greece) " Enigma " - Mysterylab - Escape Rooms Live (Athens, Greece) " Jack The Ripper " - Game Over Escape Rooms (Nea Smirni, Greece) Apr 7, 2022 - Greece " The Bookstore " - Paradox Project (Athens, Greece) " The Music Academy " - Paradox Project (Athens, Greece) Apr 11, 2022 - Israel " Titanic " - Escape Room (Tel Aviv, Israel) " Flight 301 " - QuestAir (Tel Aviv, Israel) " The Last Job " - MindRush Escape Room (Tel Aviv, Israel) Apr 12, 2021 - Cyprus "Smuggler's Bay" - Lockdown Paphos (Chloraka, Cyprus) "Tomb of the Kings" - Lockdown Paphos (Kato Paphos, Cyprus) NORTH AMERICA Tour Dec 26, 2022 - Cayman Islands " Escape 1932 " - Locked Inn Escape @ Parcel 110 (George Town, Cayman Islands) Aug 20, 2022 - New Mexico " Knight Shade " - Puzzah! (Santa Fe, NM, USA) " M.A.S.K. " - Puzzah! (Santa Fe, NM, USA) " House of Eternal Return " - Meow Wolf Santa Fe (Santa Fe, NM, USA) " BOMBSHELL " - New Mexico Escape Room (Albuquerque, NM, USA) " Captain Morgan " - Escape in Time (Albuquerque, NM, USA) " Arnama Letters " - Escape in Time (Albuquerque, NM, USA) Aug 22, 2022 - Arizona " Return of the Pharaohs " - Paragon Escape Games (Mesa, AZ, USA) " CARN-EVIL " - Escape Rooms Mesa (Mesa, AZ, USA) " JEKYLL & HYDE " - Escape Rooms Mesa (Mesa, AZ, USA) " EVIL Robots " - The Nemesis Club (Phoenix, AZ, USA) " Mogollon Monster " - The Nemesis Club (Phoenix, AZ, USA) " Curse on the Emerald Seas " - Puzzle Effect (Phoenix, AZ, USA) " The Toymaker " - Incredible Escape Rooms (Glendale, AZ, USA " Spirit Trap " - Incredible Escape Rooms (Glendale, AZ, USA) Aug 24-26, 2022 - Nevada " Omega Mart " - Meow Wolf Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " The Asylum: The Doctor's Secret " - Lost Games (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " The Fortune Teller " - Lost Games (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " The Lair of the Puzzle Master " - Trapped! Escape Room Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Pandora's Box " - Trapped! Escape Room Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Who Stole Mona? " - Escapology Escape Rooms Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Star Trek: Quantum Filament " - Escapology Escape Rooms Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Wizard Trials " - PanIQ Room Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " The Haunted Manor " - PanIQ Room Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Rumplestiltskin " - Once Upon an Escape (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Neverland " - Once Upon an Escape (Las Vegas, NV, USA) " Once Upon a Time " - Once Upon an Escape (Las Vegas, NV, USA) Aug 26-27, 2022 - Utah " Secrets of the Maya " - Escapism Room Escape Games (St. George, UT, USA) " Mission: Deep Cover " - Escapism Room Escape Games (St. George, UT, USA) " Afraid of the Dark? " - Mystery Escape Room (St. George, UT, USA) " Nancy Drew and the Hidden Chamber " - Mystery Escape Room (St. George, UT, USA) Various Games - Immersive Gamebox (Salt Lake City, UT, USA) " Neverland: The Hunt for Tinkerbell " - Red Giant Escape Rooms (Orem, UT, USA) " Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Missing Jewelry " - Mystery Escape Room (Salt Lake City, UT, USA) " The Haunted Temple of Au Puch " - Mystery Escape Room (Salt Lake City, UT, USA) Aug 28-30, 2022 - Colorado " Staked! A Vampire Tale " - Time Emporium Escape Rooms: Fort Collins (Fort Collins, CO, USA) " Cleaux's Mansion " - Time Emporium Escape Rooms: Fort Collins (Fort Collins, CO, USA) " Hotel Hell " - Time Emporium Escape Rooms: Fort Collins (Fort Collins, CO, USA) " Wizards Tower " - Time Emporium Escape Rooms: Loveland (Loveland, CO, USA) " Murder In London " - Time Emporium Escape Rooms: Loveland (Loveland, CO, USA) " Rebel Rockstar 2.0 " - Atlas Escape Rooms (Longmont, CO, USA) " Dragon Discovery 2.0 " - Atlas Escape Rooms (Longmont, CO, USA) " Paradox | The Incredible Time Machine " - Rabbit Hole Recreation Services (Louisville, CO, USA) " Frost Base Z " - Rabbit Hole Recreation Services (Louisville, CO, USA) " Contamination " - Mile High Escape Ops (Brighton, CO, USA) " Chapter 1 - Room 303 " - 303 Escape (Thornton, CO, USA) " Chapter 2 - Dark Heart of the Hotel " - 303 Escape (Thornton, CO, USA) " Grim Stacks " - Puzzle Effect (Northglenn, CO, USA) " Convergence Station " - Meow Wolf Denver (Denver, CO, USA) " KAZAM! Escape Room " - The Wizard's Chest (Denver, CO, USA) #escaperoomtours #escaperooms #schedule #events #escapetheroomers #inpersonescaperooms

Written by: Joelyn Alexandra, ESCAPETHEROOMers // Writer “There’s a bonus story? How? Oh, but I’m not a puzzle person, can you just tell me how to get the bonus story?” My first encounters with stories that had more lore situated outside its printed / presented forms were various indie video games back in the early 2010s - “Five Nights at Freddy’s”, “Doki Doki Literature Club”, “Undertale”, “Inscryption” etc… Particularly, games that rewarded curious players with bonus lore or answers to lore gaps after they respond to the seeds the game makers planted (e.g. game files, website source codes, parallel storytelling in books). Personally, I did not play the games, but watching videos by The Game Theorists, led by Matthew ‘MatPat’ Patrick, as they dissected and crafted the game series’ lore became an anchor point in my storytelling career. I am a writer - by trade, for fun, and anywhere in between. Specifically, I am a writer interested in thrillers and investigative games. Therefore, each adventure book, escape room, or investigative experience brings about a slew of ideas and inspiration. Quelle surprise. And I am always looking for ways to immerse readers in the universe I built. Gamebooks around me mostly fell into the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure category. At the same time, my previous attempts at seeding routes to bonus lore in my previous works have fallen quiet. This was especially prominent with longer works, where the seeds can be entirely ignored. And with festival and artist markets returning, I was looking for a way to showcase my niche and work in a quicker, more compact version. Enter the Cipher Zine... Cipher Zine? As I mentioned above, I got a huge burst of storytelling inspiration through the likes of lore-heavy games - Curious Correspondence Club, Big Fish Games’ Mystery Case Files, and Inscryption (I’m not joking - there’s a hidden story you can dig for, FIND IT). This was also around the time where I got into Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPGs), where the stories were rich (shoutout to my amazing Game Master (GM) - Shao Han!) and the puzzles / problems were improvised. Coming at this as a writer who had spent a bit focussing and creating only in prose and comic writing, watching Escape Room / Immersive Experience creators combine story with puzzles was highly refreshing. Listening to Tommy Honton (Stash House) speak on Reality Escape Pod (Season 3, Episode 7) in the middle of one of my commutes through the tiny island of Singapore was probably what pushed me over the edge. He was talking to David and Peih-Gee about the impact of a story when the consequences were personal (this kid you knew was sick and you needed to find a cure) versus when the consequences were apocalyptic (and we all hear this with almost every blockbuster). And thus, the question that bloomed: If Daniel Mullins is able to immerse players into his story by seeding clues and curiosities through his games; If my GM is able to immerse us in the world he built without the use of a built-up room or pages of descriptions, what is stopping me from doing the same? About this time, I got reminded of a quick print format illustrators and comic artists use (thanks to my husband) at times to collect illustrations or tell short stories. Using only an A4 / A3 piece of paper, folded to the shape of a booklet, creators have up to eight (8) sections to work with on either side. So that’s how the cipher zine came about - a short story on one side of a folded zine, and a puzzle experience on the other. Each story and its corresponding puzzle is based on a character I have in the fictional universe I’m currently working on. How Do You Fold a Zine? The short answer - You create, you format, you print, and you fold. And there are many pages that will show you how to fold a zine. For the longer answer, buckle up. And hint: The puzzles are the easy part. The first consideration that came to mind was not the puzzles or the mechanics, but the story - what is the story I wanted to tell? What was going to hold everything together while we dive into this lore? Why are we even solving puzzles? The second consideration was how compact the stories had to be. Like many rooms that have to compress lore into a couple of hours, I did not have my usual prose-writing luxuries. I had 5-6 sections (about A6-size) on an A3-size sheet of paper to work with, leaving the zine cover, back cover, and administrative page left for consideration. So this was going to be a glimpse or a slip of a major story, perhaps a single incident or turning point, where a puzzle experience would be relevant. So I chose turning points - newfound discoveries in the digital world, last gifts, instructional letters, that sort of thing. And the next step was to write and edit the story. This is not an article on craft, but what I learnt from this experience was simple - keep your story simple and direct. There is another platform if you are inclined to provide context and countless descriptions. The objective here was to give my readers a quick glimpse into my fictional universe, and how my works can be ideally read in the future. After that, it was formatting. Images do more justice than anything else here so this was how I did it: Story on One Side, and Puzzle on the Other? Aligning the puzzle experience with its short story varied depending on each story. I knew I wanted a puzzle that both the character and the reader can experience, so it had to be there for a reason and not for the sake of one. (If you wanted to push it, you could also argue that the nature of each zine’s puzzle dictated how the stories they were paired with ended.) When I settled on the scenario of each puzzle, it was time to put in the mechanics. This was relatively easier, considering how the restrictions have been set and I did not have to deal with the tyranny of choice. A puzzle box? Simple, one-and-done puzzles that could fit on the face of a box. How about a letter? Deliberate typos can be a start to a multi-layered puzzle. And that process was fun. I just had to make sure that I could fit the puzzles legibly into the dimensions of the zine. In my case, as long as the entirety of the puzzle experience could fit into a single A4 page, I was satisfied. However you wish to format your puzzles on the other side is up to you. The one thing I would ask you to take note of would be the following: You will be cutting a slit down the middle of the zine paper to fold it into a booklet. Test to see if any puzzle intricacies will be affected. As for me, I chose to place the puzzle on one side of the paper, with a space for notes, and the link to check the puzzle answers on the other. And you are on your way! Note: Remember to test print your various formats - because zine-folding is so personal and hands-on, you would want to make sure that your printed products align before you head into mass production. Can I Make One Myself? Personally, the journey itself was the most fun I had as a creator in a while. The ability to combine my interests in the most fun and rewarding way possible was an outcome of this project that I will be highly grateful for. Therefore, if you are a creator looking for a possible step into the creation of story-driven puzzles, or puzzle-accompanying stories, I would say - Give it a try. You might just learn more about the world you just created. And I look forward to your creations (and whatever springs forth from there)! #JoelynAlexandra #CipherZine #Beyondthepage #articles #perspectives #ciphers

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