Escape games are one of the great wonders of the modern entertainment world. The magical formula of escape games has not only been a worldwide hit, but proven to be a lasting trend. Read on to find out some fun facts.
1. There are 50,000 escape games all over the world.
Escape games are an international phenomenon that has caught on like fire since their inception in 2007. Escape games have made their way to at least 44 different countries, with Europe being a top consumer. It’s estimated that there are now at least 2,300 escape rooms in the United States and 1,500 in the United Kingdom. With so much interest from players across the world, the industry is constantly expanding and innovating.
2. Prison escapes and zombie escapes are the most popular themes.
Escape rooms are known for creating immersive, true-to-life environments with fun themes. The most popular themes are post-apocalyptic zombie escape games, which often involve a quest to find an anti-zombie vaccine. Another favorite theme is prison breaks, as friends can work together to outsmart prison guards and plan escape routes out of high-security jails. These genres probably owe their popularity to TV shows, movies, and video games. Other favorites include bank robberies, crime investigations, space travel, and pirate adventures.
3. Escape games were influenced by video games.
Before escape games became IRL experiences, they were virtual games you could only play on your computer. The concept of escape games in video games dates back to the 80s. Creator John Wilson released the game Behind Closed Doors in 1988, in which a player is trapped in a bathroom of all places and must make their way out. The 1993 adventure game, Myst, was another popular escape game in which the player had to navigate an ancient landscape in search of clues that would allow travel to other worlds. Crimson Room was also a cult favorite escape room. In this 2004 virtual escape game, a player wakes up in a room painted completely red, with minimal furniture and a need to escape. From then on, the concept stuck, with the first real-life escape game developed in 2007 in Japan.
