Behind the Scenes: Designing a New Escape Room at Escapism Chester - In Time For Christmas!

03/09/24

At Escapism Chester, we’re all about creating unforgettable experiences that challenge the mind, spark creativity, and bring people together. As we embark on the exciting journey of designing a brand-new escape room, we’re eager to give you a peek behind the curtain at what goes into crafting an adventure that’s as thrilling as it is immersive.

The Concept: Where It All Begins

Every great escape room starts with a concept—a central theme or story that draws players into a new world. Whether it’s solving a mystery in a haunted mansion, embarking on a treasure hunt in an ancient temple, or cracking codes in a high-tech spy thriller, the concept sets the stage for everything that follows.

For our new room, we wanted to explore a theme that’s both intriguing and different from our existing offerings. After brainstorming sessions filled with wild ideas and creative debates, we settled on a theme that blends elements of adventure, mystery, and a touch of the unexpected. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that players will find themselves in a place where time doesn’t quite work the way they’re used to—and where every decision could lead to a new twist in the story.

Storytelling: Crafting a Narrative

Once we have a theme, the next step is developing the narrative. A great escape room is more than just a series of puzzles—it’s a story that unfolds as players progress through the room. Our narrative team works hard to create a plot that’s engaging and immersive, with plenty of surprises along the way.

In this new room, the story will be at the heart of the experience. Players will start with a simple mission, but as they dig deeper, they’ll uncover layers of intrigue, hidden motives, and unexpected alliances. We want players to feel like they’re not just solving puzzles but living out a real adventure.

The Design: Building the World

With the concept and story in place, it’s time to design the physical space. This is where our set designers and artists get to work, transforming ordinary rooms into extraordinary worlds. Every detail, from the furniture and props to the lighting and sound effects, is carefully chosen to enhance the theme and immerse players in the experience.

For this room, we’re creating a space that feels both familiar and otherworldly. Imagine walking into a room that seems normal at first glance, only to realize that things aren’t quite what they seem. Perhaps there’s a hidden door, or maybe the furniture has a mind of its own. The environment will play a key role in the puzzles, with players needing to interact with the space in ways they might not expect.

The Puzzles: Challenges that Engage and Excite

Puzzles are the heart of any escape room, and designing them is one of the most challenging—and fun—parts of the process. Our goal is to create puzzles that are not only challenging but also deeply connected to the theme and story. Each puzzle should feel like a natural part of the world we’ve created, and solving it should give players a sense of accomplishment and progress.

For this room, we’re experimenting with a mix of traditional puzzles, like ciphers and locks, and more interactive challenges that require physical manipulation of objects in the room. We’re also incorporating technology in new ways, using sensors and hidden mechanisms to create moments of surprise and wonder. Players might find themselves solving a puzzle by aligning constellations on a ceiling, decoding a message hidden in the ambient sounds, or triggering a hidden mechanism with a sequence of actions.

Playtesting: Perfecting the Experience

Once the room is built and the puzzles are in place, it’s time for playtesting. This is where we invite small groups to try out the room and give us feedback on everything from the difficulty of the puzzles to the flow of the narrative. Playtesting is crucial—it helps us identify any issues and make sure that the room is as fun and fair as possible.

During playtesting, we’re looking for balance. We want the puzzles to be challenging, but not frustrating; the story to be engaging, but not overwhelming; and the overall experience to be smooth and satisfying. We’ll adjust puzzle difficulty, tweak the narrative, and refine the design based on player feedback until we’ve created an experience that’s just right.

The Launch: Welcoming Players to a New Adventure

After months of hard work, the big day arrives—our new escape room is ready to open its doors! Launching a new room is always exciting, as we get to see players step into the world we’ve created and embark on the adventure we’ve been working on for so long.

At Escapism Chester, our mission is to create experiences that challenge the mind, thrill the senses, and bring people together. We can’t wait for you to try our newest escape room and experience the magic, mystery, and excitement we’ve been crafting behind the scenes. Whether you’re a seasoned escape room enthusiast or a first-time player, we’re sure this new adventure will leave you with memories you’ll be talking about long after the door clicks open.