Escape Game

An escape game, also known as an escape room, puzzle room, or exit game, is a game in which a team of players discover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms in order to accomplish a specific goal in a limited amount of time. The goal is often to escape from the site of the game.

Most escape games are cooperative but competitive variants exist. Escape rooms became popular in North America, Europe and East Asia in the 2010s. Permanent escape rooms in fixed locations were first opened in Asia and followed later in Hungary, Serbia, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and South America.

History
Different attractions contained elements similar to modern escape rooms and could thus be seen as precursors to the idea, including haunted houses, scavenger hunts, entertainment center 5 Wits or interactive theater. An additional inspiration for escape rooms came from the "escape the room" genre of video games. Escape the room games, which initially began as Flash games for web browsers and then moving onto mobile apps, challenged the player to locate clues and objects while within a single room.

Reception
The South China Morning Post described escape rooms as a hit among "highly stressed students and overworked young professionals." Sometimes the excitement becomes a bit much, though, and players get so invested that they tear down equipment or decorations inside their fake prisons. The use of Hong Kong room escapes as distractions from the living conditions of the real city of Hong Kong has been reviewed by local journalists.

Evolution
Early games consisted mainly of puzzles that were solved with paper and pencil. Some versions are digital or printable only. As escape rooms became more sophisticated, physical locks were introduced that could be opened by finding combinations, hidden keys, and codes using objects found in the rooms. These ideas have evolved to include automation technology, immersive decoration, and more elaborate storylines to make puzzles more interactive, and to create an experience that is more theatrical and atmospheric.