The history of escape rooms
What Exactly is an Escape Room?
Let's start with the basics. An escape room, also known as an exit game or escape game, is a game where players must solve various logical and skill-based puzzles within a set time limit, navigating through different rooms or room systems.
Escape rooms have quickly gained popularity worldwide, thanks to their unique settings, exciting stories, and varied puzzles that easily immerse players. Once someone tries a truly great escape room, they are likely to become hooked on this world.
The range of themes is limited only by imagination: whether it's a broken-down subway car, a western jail, or stories filled with pop culture references, everyone can find something they enjoy.
But where did this craze start? Who came up with the first escape room, and when was the first escape room opened? In this post, we aim to answer all these questions for you.
How Did Escape Rooms Evolve?
Believe it or not, the origins of escape rooms can be traced back to video games.
One such example is the Japanese video game Planet Mephius from the 1980s, which was one of the first to challenge players with truly difficult puzzles, serving as a kind of virtual prototype for escape rooms.
This was followed by the game Behind Closed Doors, whose concept is very close to that of modern escape rooms. The player is trapped in a locked room and must find a way out. The entirely text-based game became incredibly popular among players.
Similar style games became truly well-known with the rise of the internet, and in 2004, Toshimitsu Takagi's game Crimson Room brought a real breakthrough for fans of the genre.
The first live-action escape room also originated in Japan, opened in Kyoto in 2007 under the name Real Escape Game. This is almost identical to the concept of escape rooms as we know them today: a logical game set in a room system designed for 5-6 players.
Thanks to the popularity of these games, escape rooms quickly became a global service. This form of entertainment has spread to around 60 countries worldwide, including the United States.
What do Escape Rooms Draw Inspiration From?
-
LARP, or Live Action Role Playing: a rule-based leisure activity where participants portray a character, improvising their speech and movements in an imaginary environment.
-
Point and Click Video Games: players click on objects, solve puzzles, and interact with their digital environment. These games provide perfect inspiration for translating the live-action escape room experience into the physical world.
Escape Rooms Today
Escape games are now an integral part of the entertainment industry.
Thanks to their puzzles requiring unique thinking, they offer a perfect alternative for:
-
groups of friends
-
families
-
bachelor and bachelorette party organizers
The industry has grown so much that there are now conferences organized for escape room enthusiasts, where creators and players can meet and discuss the latest trends, share experiences, and learn from the newest innovations.
It’s clear that escape rooms are cultural experiences with a rich history, offering a range of alternatives for small groups looking for entertainment. Knowland in Debrecen welcomes everyone for an unforgettable experience.