When we set out to build online escape rooms, we also began defining what we wanted to be and who we want to connect with. We could build whatever we wanted, but the beauty (and magic) is in the chosen constraints. It is the conscious choices that define us.
Since our biggest source of inspiration comes from playing real physical escape rooms, we wanted to mimic that feel. Many physical rooms have brought their rooms online using technologies like Telescape (which we respect a lot), but we knew that wasn’t really an option for us since it requires a physical room first; we are developers, not craftsmen.
So we set out building the rooms we wanted in 3D software instead – to lower the entry barrier and mimic some of our favorite games, we wrote the games to run in a web browser. We love the web. It is a magnificent invention. Thank you, Tim Berners-Lee.
This has led us to a set of rules we try to follow – a dogma, if you will:
Any rooms we make should be buildable in the real world as a physical room
This may sound very limiting, but really it is not. We have actually tried a physical room where we, as players, shrunk in size; this was, of course, achieved by scaling parts of the room up, but since it can be done in the real world, we are allowed as well. If we want to do something extra, we think of a way of doing it in the real world and if we can do that, we can add it.
Easy Controls
In our games, you navigate around the room by jumping between a number of pads and zooming in on certain things. Free movement, while great for people who are used to playing computer games, is not for everyone. We want to include as many people as possible and have them focus on the collaboration and puzzles and not on how to get from A to B. Also, we hope to bring all our games to touch devices like tablets and phones, and there, free movement is clunky. We have tested our interface on age groups 8-67 and so far, it has been a success and this has included some people who were afraid to navigate freely using a keyboard.
Family-friendly
We have been asked to make horror stories, but that is not really a category that we enjoy ourselves. While we do want to create suspense in our games, we still want them to be for everyone – that being a family with kids or a corporate team-building event.
Accessible
While we don’t expect our games to be playable by blind people, we hope to be able to cater to people with minor visual impairments, color blindness, or hearing impairments. (If you are in this group, we would love to hear from you. Maybe you can let us know how we are doing.)
Again, it is about making something that invites as many people in as possible. If you are in a wheelchair and really want to do an escape room with your family or your team at work, then we can bring something to the table.
Collaborative Gameplay
Our rooms can all be played as a single player but are better as a team. A few of our puzzles adapt to single-player mode when you are playing alone or if your team members are inactive for a few minutes. We have also added a few features to help you understand what is happening when other players perform actions: at the bottom of the screen, you will find a log that shows who did what and usually also the correct solution when a puzzle has been solved. On the left-hand side of the screen, a list will show “who is where” in the room. And when a puzzle of significance is solved by someone else, a small replay window will show you what happened from their perspective. Makes following the game and collaborate easier.
Play Anywhere, Anytime
Because our games run in your web browser, you can play from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. No downloads, no installations, no complicated setups—just click and play. Perfect for teams spread across different locations. Perfect for that work setting where you can’t install anything. Right now, the game is designed for desktop, but we hope to expand to tablets and phones soon. Since it is 3D, a relatively new computer is needed. Also – if playing at work, there can be setup protections that blocks the game (same goes for VPNs). If in doubt, try our free game first to see if the games work in your specific setup.
Our games do not have a game master, but don’t worry. Hints are available. We have a dynamic hint system that knows where you are in the game.
Play at your own pace
Our rooms are all about solving puzzles and having fun – not racing against the clock (unless you want to!)
Take your time and enjoy the experience. If life gets too busy, you can pause the game (for the entire team) and resume whenever you want. Pauses are, of course, subtracted from the total play time.
We hope you enjoy our games. While they are opinionated, maybe they fit your play style? We hereby invite you to take our free room, JP Hansen, for a spin and see if it’s something for you.
Whether you’re a puzzle master or just looking for a fun way to spend time with work team, friends and family, we believe there’s something for everyone in our rooms. We’re always looking for ways to improve, so feel free to share your feedback and let us know how we can make your experience even better.