Escape Room News, Reviews, and Articles of Interest - May 2020
While we continue to adjust to COVID-19, businesses are starting to reopen. We will have an article on that and the effects of COVID-19 soon. Meanwhile here are some news, reviews, and other articles of interest, including a couple on the status of easing restrictions by state/country.
Where states are reopening after America’s shutdown (May 29th)
All states and U.S. territories have eased restrictions on businesses and social activity, trying to restart economies battered by the novel coronavirus pandemic and weeks of stay-at-home orders that affected some 315 million Americans. …
How cities around the world are lifting coronavirus restrictions (May 27th)
From Rome reopening cafes to London allowing picnics in the park, many cities are easing lockdowns, but governments have a tricky balancing act. Lifting restrictions too fast could lead to a new spike in infections overwhelming health services, but …
The best virtual escape rooms to play online with friends
We could all do with a bit of escapism from reality at the minute, as lockdown continues in the UK. Escape rooms are very popular with groups who love a challenge, but due to the coronavirus outbreak, all of them in the UK have closed their doors for the …
Governor Ralph Northam says Northern Virginia will join first phase of state reopening
Governor Ralph Northam announced on Wednesday that Northern Virginia will officially join the rest of the state on Friday in the first phase of reopening [escape rooms included]. …
South Carolina entertainment venues now open for business during COVID-19 pandemic
Certain entertainment venues can now open in South Carolina after being closed for about two months during the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses that can now reopen in the Palmetto state are zoos, museums, planetariums, historic buildings, …
Florida man develops virtual escape room to keep business going
TRINITY, Fla. (CBS12) — A computer-savvy Florida entrepreneur who had to shut down the physical location of his escape room game due the …
Puzzle Effect to reopen
Puzzle Effect is Bakersfield’s premier escape room, offering unique and engaging storylines and intriciately designed rooms. Their operating hours are …
Escape One Algarve: The Laboratory (Play at Home)
Nothing is ever going to be quite the same as playing a physical escape room in person, but the virtual version of The Laboratory came close, and was everything I could ask for in a game …
Os Escape Rooms da Game Over para jogar sem sair de casa — só precisa do Zoom
Escape Room Owners Solve the Pandemic Puzzle
Paradox Project – The Bookstore [Review]
From the actual storefront, through the finale 3.5 hours later, The Bookstore was massive and mighty. Each individual scene within The Bookstore could have been an entire 60-minute escape game at the vast majority of escape room companies that we’ve …
Escape Room Market Factors and Upcoming Trends by 2025
The Escape Room market is anticipated to record a global CAGR of AAA% during the forecast period of 2019 2025. North America, SEA & Others of …
5 Virtual Escape Rooms to Keep You Puzzling from Home
In the pre-lockdown era of leaving the house and interacting with other human beings, escape rooms were gaining popularity as a fun new experience to undertake with your friends. Solving puzzles, working with one of your closest pals was fun time …
Escape Hunt: Murder at the Mansion (Play at Home)
I am never going to be a fan of games that are giant logic puzzles as I prefer a more diverse range of puzzles, but saying that, if you’re looking for a decent game to play with friends (remotely) then this should keep you occupied for a while …
Escape Room industry after the COVID-19 pandemic
Our industry took a great blow due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some Escape Room owners decided to run Online Escape Rooms, others waited out and are getting ready to host games again. How the Escape Room business will change after …
VR escape rooms from Pixar and Oculus alumni can help you escape, for a little while
I was a hamster. My friend was a rabbit. We met in a lab. We waved our hands and squeaked and danced. This was a Wednesday afternoon, around 3 p.m., between grocery deliveries and following up emails. …
Save Our Business, Save Our Family
My family and I are the owners of Escape My Reality a locally family-owned escape room center and this is our last resort to save our business and my family. Our business, Escape My Reality, is an escape room center located in Stroudsburg. We are a family of six adults, myself, my brother, my two sisters, my …
Courteney Cox’s inner Monica comes out for Red Nose Day escape room fundraiser
Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars came out Thursday night — virtually — to help raise funds for the most vulnerable kids as part of the sixth annual Red Nose Day event. We learned some interesting facts …
Coronavirus Shut Down Popular Escape Rooms. Now The Industry Is Going Virtual
Here’s the closest I’ve been to an outside-the-home adventure in months. I’m in a virtual escape room Escape From Planet X. I volunteer to get off the ship, to search the planet for fuel. But when I got back, the door was locked …
Escape Room Owners Solve the Pandemic Puzzle
When Rock Avenue Escape Room closed in March—in the middle of what is usually its busiest month—owner Rob Faiella laid off three employees and wondered how the business would survive. “What am I supposed to do, strap a GoPro to my head and have people call in?” he asked local business owners. Faiella, a …
From a Bank Heist to Hogwarts, 6 Virtual Escape Rooms You Can Do at Home
It’s pretty telling that in a time where we’re literally stuck in our homes, we’re drawn to playing games where the goal is to actually break free from a room. Virtual escape rooms are quickly …
ClueQuest: Print+Cut+Escape – Episode 2: Alpha Brain System (Play at Home)
ClueQuest have turned the difficulty up to 11 for this game and that will likely give you love/hate feelings towards it. We loved it and it kept us occupied for nearly 2 hours, which for £12 is a bargain. If you want a challenge …
La Traque – Enquête 100% Digitale (La Ligue des Gentlemen)
La Ligue des Gentlemen -enseigne nantaise où nous avions eu le bonheur d’aller à une époque où on pouvait joyeusement faire tourner les serviettes les chiffres des cadenas, voire les lécher, en toute…
Why an Escape Room Would Make a Great First Date
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a better way to truly get to know someone’s personality on a first date? Sure, you can learn some of their favorite foods over dinner and maybe some of their interests through a movie date. You may even share …
‘We’ve had to pivot:’ Escape Rooms reopen across the valley, with a new twist
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The sound of the time clock is music to Trapped! Escape Room owner Richard Wilson’s ears. “We just announced this morning, and are starting to get customers in today,” said Wilson. A game that’s back on, after …
Calgary couple celebrate after creative virtual escape room proposal
When his original escape room proposal plans were dashed with the closure of non-essential businesses, Chad Van Dyk didn’t let it stop him from getting down on one knee in a creative way Saturday. Van Dyk and his partner, Jenna Bell, …
Trapped at Home? Board Game On!
Rolling dice, dealing cards and moving game pieces: Our writer and her family are playing board games as a survival strategy. Why are these games so soothing right now? I am, in the best circumstances, a poor loser. I’m also a clumsy, fidgety winner. Yet I have spent the past month playing games. All kinds of games …
These Brilliant At-Home Escape Room Kits Will Help You Through Lockdown
Thanks to Escape Kit, you can now take part in brilliant escape rooms from your living room. A slight upgrade from your usual Sunday afternoon puzzle, or—come on, be honest—that somewhat tedious weekly quiz with your family, these escape kits allow you to recreate mysterious and immersive universes …