Escape rooms are often noted for their puzzles and action-style themes that take players on adventures. But what if an escape room could do more than that? What if it could make you feel real emotions, maybe even bring a tear to your eye? These are questions Jonathan Driscoll asked himself when he set out to create Wardrobe for Sale.

Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St. Denis, owners of Escaparium, join us on the Spoilers Club to talk all about the making of Wardrobe for Sale. This was one of the first games where Escaparium started experimenting with actors and developing their theatrical and cinematic brand of escape room design.

I really enjoyed hearing a little more about the narrative of this story. There’s such an expanse of game and so many delightful puzzles that it’s possible for the nuances of the story to get lost in the mix. Jonathan and Sacha also break down all the different puzzles in the game and what drove some of their decisions behind how the game eventually evolved.

Jonathan also tells us a very funny story about “the David puzzle.” If you’re a fan of Escaparium and Wardrobe for Sale, this is a can’t miss episode.

How to Listen

When you support Room Escape Artist on Patreon at $15 per month (or above), you get access to the Spoilers Club, our exclusive podcast where hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law chat in depth with creators about iconic escape rooms… spoilers and all!

The post How Escaparium found a Wardrobe for Sale appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

The companies in Montreal have put a lot of focus on character building in recent years, and this really left an impact on the players who attended this Tour. They loved the sets (that were on a scale many had never seen!), and they delighted in the puzzles, but the characters and the stories truly made these games’ worlds memorable.

I expect we will run another Tour to Montreal in the future, but we won’t run one in 2026. However, in 2026, we will take our convention, RECON, to Laval (which is just outside of Montreal.)

If you create escape rooms or immersive games, or if you operate them, you won’t want to miss RECON Laval. It’s a chance to learn from other industry professionals and meet vendors. Plus, there will be a game inside the event, and live entertainment. It’s the best place to meet other industry professionals, share ideas, meet potential collaborators, and strategize about how to grow your business and the industry as a whole. And as an added bonus, when you join us at RECON 26, you’ll be in Laval, just minutes away for all of these world-renowned escape rooms.

The Favorite Game

For the second time this year, we have a Tour with a dominant top-ranked game.

Magnifico at Escaparium was the Tour favorite, with 75% of survey respondents ranking it #1.

Only one respondent didn’t include Magnifico in their top 5, and of those who did, only 3 people didn’t include it in their top 3.

This isn’t surprising, since it is currently the top game in the world, according to TERPECA.

The Top 5

The top 5 games stood a bit ahead of the others in the weighted ranking:

1. Magnifico (Escaparium)
2. The Forgotten Cathedral (Escaparium)
3. Wardrobe For Sale (Escaparium)
4. The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen (Escaparium)
5. Project R.E.S.E.T. (Immersia)

Escaparium took the top 4 spots with their “big” games, the epic adventures in huge sets, clocking in at over an hour long, and some much longer.

Project R.E.S.E.T stands out differently, for its unusual game mechanics.

Of note, each of the top 5 games was at least one person’s favorite game. Interestingly, no other games received any first place votes. In this way, this top 5 is decisive.

Session Variation

Escape Immerse Explore Montreal ran in two sessions, but functionally 3 cohorts of players. When we break out the data by cohort, we see some variation, which goes to show that in escape rooms, ranked placement is never absolute.

Session 1 ran a week earlier than Session 2. The Optimal ticket played the games in the order we expected to be optimal, building up to the show-stopping Escaparium games at the end of the Tour. The Essential ticket visited the companies in a different order, with the majority of Escaparium games on the middle day.

Session 1 Optimal Ticket Top 5

1. Magnifico (Escaparium)
2. The Forgotten Cathedral (Escaparium)
3. The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen (Escaparium)
4. Wardrobe For Sale (Escaparium)
5. Circus of Lost Souls (Immersia)

Looking at the data for this session alone, #3 and #4 have swapped spots, by just a hair.

Also, the #5 ranked game changes to Circus of Lost Souls (Immersia), which just barely edged out Project R.E.S.E.T.

The love for this game among the first session players surprised us, as this had previously been regarded as the weakest game in Immersia’s Boisbriand location. However, when Immersia sustained flood damage last year, they had to rebuild a portion of this game, giving them an excuse to rip out anything that didn’t play perfectly smoothly. They made puzzle upgrades, and added a lot of character to the game in other ways, leveling it up substantially. The players responded positively to the changes. Props to Immersia!

Session 2 Optimal Ticket Top 5

1. Magnifico (Escaparium)
2. The Forgotten Cathedral (Escaparium)
3. Project R.E.S.E.T. (Immersia)
4. Wardrobe For Sale (Escaparium)
5. The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen (Escaparium)

This is the group who really loved Project R.E.S.E.T. For them, it jumped up to the #3 ranked game. Otherwise, their responses match the overall data.

Session 1 Essential Ticket Top 5

There were fewer players in this cohort, so their rankings collectively have a little less influence on the overall rankings.

1. Magnifico (Escaparium)
2. The Forgotten Cathedral (Escaparium)
3. Wardrobe For Sale (Escaparium)
4. The Grand Immersia Hotel (Immersia)
5. The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen (Escaparium)

We wondered whether visiting the companies in a different order would drastically shift their rankings, but it did not. They have the same top games, with the surprise exception of The Grand Immersia Hotel in the #4 slot. This one landed exceptionally well with this group of players, pushing the Immersia games that other cohorts liked best out of the top 5.

Immersia’s Varied Top Games

A different Immersia game was the most popular with each cohort. This speaks to the breadth of Immersia’s offerings. Each of their games feels remarkably different, and these land differently with different people. They have many high caliber games.

Their newest game The St. Onge Case opened just before the Tour, and thus wasn’t officially on the Tour, although many people added it in to their schedules. It also ranked well, but only about half of survey respondents ranked it.

Other Noteworthy Games

A lot of people asked why we didn’t include Escaparium’s The Final Stop V2 on the official Tour schedule. The answer is, when we bring 104 escape room players into a city (and 65 players at the exact same time!), for a very limited time, we have to make cuts to make the schedule logic puzzle work. In this case, we we had to cut The Final Stop V2. More than 75% of the players who filled out this survey fit it into their trip anyway, and landed comfortably in the top 10. It’s a great game.

While Sauve Qui Peut, the third company on the Tour didn’t land a game in the top 5, two of their games also sit comfortably in the top 10: Falderon Forest and The Wrath of Poseidon.

They also just launched a new game The Castle of Eternal Suffering– unfortunately after the Tour visited – and we’re already hearing incredible things about it. We look forward to playing and reviewing it soon. If you’re thinking of booking it, please note that it’s a very physical experience.

Reactions from Tour Attendees

The clearest through line in all the comments written about the games was how much of a difference the gamemaster makes. Whether they are an actor with a central role throughout the experience, or whether their in-character introduction added something to the experience, many comments came back to the staffing. Both Escaparium and Immersia have leaned into in-character gamemastering since we’d last visited Montreal, and the survey results show that their efforts were worth it.

“Magnifico made me tear up, not just while playing the game, but any subsequent time I describe it in detail. I’ve attended theater that wasn’t as emotionally impactful! It’s an exploration of storytelling within the genre of escape rooms that is breaking ground. I can’t get over it!”

“My best memory from the trip comes from The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen! Our gamemaster made a HUGE difference. They were amazing and hilarious to the point where we were all hanging out with the REDACTED throughout the game… we all talked about it for days after.”

“Circus of the Lost Souls is a beautiful, immersive space, and the puzzles are creative and fun. However, the thing that makes it really stand out is the performance of the actor.”

“Sauve Qui Peut taken as a whole is also amazing as each room has some utterly bizarre design choice that makes the whole experience of playing there an utter delight.”

“I also want to give a shout-out to Opus Memori, which was not on the tour, because I was really impressed by the fact that they never broke the illusion that you’re visiting some weird cursed manor instead of an escape room, even when paying the bill at the end.”

“Project R.E.S.E.T. blew my mind. I love it when a room does that.”

“This trip really changed my view on in-game actors towards the positive. In the past most, but not all, games that I played had felt more like in-game chaperones than characters.  Both Immersia and Escaparium effectively used actors that drove the plot and allowed for some creativity from the players.”

“I will not soon forget The Forgotten Cathedral.”

RECON 26 Tickets

If you want to play these games, come to RECON 26. We’ll have a whole community of people in town to play them with and talk about them with.

This is in addition to everything that’s happening at RECON itself… speakers sessions, discussion groups, an exhibit hall, a game, live entertainment, and more!

• August 16-17, 2026
• Laval, Québec, Canada
• Event Details

Use code REA50 to get $50 off a RECON 26 General Ticket. (This holiday coupon code expires on December 31, 2025.)

Escape Immerse Explore Orlando 2026

Just us this April for Escape Immerse Explore Orlando. Tickets are on sale now!

Orlando might not be as hyped a destination as Montreal, but it is a market on the rise.

The top escape rooms in Orlando showcase humor and character-driven storytelling. On this escape room tour, you’ll experience a variety of styles, and some incredible one-of-a-kind escape games. Last time we took a Tour to Orlando in 2023, these were the top games.

Plus, the “Orlando” Tour will be more than just Orlando. We’ll go by bus to Clearwater and Port Charlotte, cities on Florida’s west coast that are also home to top tier escape rooms.

Dates: Sunday, April 12 – Wednesday, April 15, 2026

This will be our first 4-day tour in North America. This design lets us play more games, and travel the distances between them.

More on Montreal

Check out these REPOD episodes with the creators we visited on the Montreal Tour, and whose games you can play when you visit for RECON Laval.

We have two episodes with Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St. Denis of Escaparium:

We also interviewed Maxime and Roxane Filion of Immersia:

The post The Top Escape Rooms of Montreal 2025 Edition [Tour Survey Results] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

“ We’re evolving the [escape room] experience towards something that’s more theatrical, with puzzling, gaming, and immersive art all together.”

Magnifico is currently (as of November 2025) the top escape room in the world, as voted on by experienced escape room enthusiasts. For 2.5 hours, we were transported to another world where magic is real and anything is possible. This game was a culmination of Escaparium’s signature style: epically sized and meticulously built sets with large-scale puzzles that involve the whole team, and meaningful stories told through both gameplay and theatrical moments featuring live actors.

Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St. Denis are the owners and driving force behind Escaparium, in Laval, Canada (just outside of Montreal). Since their previous appearance on REPOD, they’ve cemented their spot as one of the top companies in world. Last year, in 2024, they captured the #1 and #3 spots on the TERPECA rankings, with their games Magnifico and Forgotten Cathedral, respectively. Wardrobe for Sale ranked at #14, and Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen ranked at #37 in the world.

It’s clearly not a fluke. Escaparium is consistently creating world-class games, year after year, and when they’re not busy opening new games, they’re renovating and remodeling old experiences. Rain Corp. has been given a make-over into Ctrl Alt Reboot. They are also overhauling their lobby once again, creating an immersive bar experience featuring a crashed space ship.

Jonathan and Sacha joined us to talk about their new games, what’s driving them, and where they’re getting inspiration. My biggest takeaway from this conversation was that they are very involved in the escape room community and industry. They are constantly traveling and playing games. They attend every convention. For them, it’s always about the details. If even one small detail inspires their next idea, Jonathan says it’s gold. That’s the mindset they instill in their whole team as well.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: REA Patreon Backers, PG’s Playhouse, Buzzshot, and COGS. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Support Room Escape Artist on Patreon

Love escape rooms as much as we do? At Room Escape Artist, we’ve been analyzing, reviewing, and exploring the world of immersive games since 2014. We help players find the best experiences, and push the industry forward with well-researched, rational, and reasonably humorous escape room and immersive gaming content and events.

By becoming a Patreon supporter, you’re not just backing a blog — you’re fueling a mission to make the escape room and immersive gaming community stronger, more thoughtful, and more connected. You can also access exclusive Patreon content such as the Bonus Aftershow, Spoilers Club, and get early access to escape room Tour tickets and REA articles.

Your Patreon support goes toward our mission: paying our contributors, funding our infrastructure, and supporting deep research and industry advocacy.

PG’s Playhouse Podcast

If you love wordplay, puzzles, and trivia, this is the podcast for you! PG’s Playhouse recreates a fun game night with friends, all in a short, 30-minute format. Of course, what’s game night without making new friends? We bring on different guests for the different episodes!

Each episode features a puzzle packed with wordplay and trivia, a short chat with the guest, and a segment exploring an interesting topic. I hope you’ll take a listen and play along with us at PG’s Playhouse.

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Sponsor Break: Buzzshot, Escape Room Marketing Software
• 03:20 Magnifico’s Circus: The Journey and Evolution
• 08:23 Pricing and Business Strategy
• 12:32 Costuming Challenges and Lessons
• 15:00 Rebuild of Rain Corp. Into Ctrl Alt Reboot 
• 22:48 Sponsor Break: Room Escape Artist Patreon – Bonus Episodes, Spoilers Club & More
• 24:21 Escaparium’s New Game: Escape Plan
• 29:38 Escape Room Travel: Business or Pleasure?
• 31:50 Facing Fears in Horror Games
• 33:58 Tourists Trends in the Escape Room Industry
• 36:34 Sponsor Break: PG’s Playhouse – Puzzles, Pals, and Trivia
• 38:43 Plans for an Upcoming Lobby Enhancement
• 43:14 Merchandising Success
• 46:03 Sponsor Break: Cogs By Clockwork Dog, Interactive Show Controls
• 47:29 Public Speaking Challenges
• 54:43 Escaparium’s Road Map
• 57:51 Building a Strong Team
• 01:01:56 Credits

Leave a Voicemail

Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Escaparium Website
• TERPECA 2024
• Actors as Puzzles in Escape Rooms
• REA Reviews of Escaparium
  • Magnifico
  • The Final Stop (V2)
  • The Forgotten Cathedral
  • Wardrobe for Sale
  • Bernie Block
  • The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen
  • Tyranno Industries
  • The Blind Tiger
  • The Golden Jubilee
  • Alice and the Mad Hatter’s Mad Hat’s Hat
  • The Wizard Four and the Book of Black Arts
  • The Wizard Four and the Rise of Lord Thulsa
  • The Family
• REA Articles Featuring Escaparium
  • Escape Rooms As A Performer’s Medium – The Player’s Perspective
  • Escape Rooms As A Performer’s Medium – The Owner’s Perspective
  • The Importance of Feeling Seen in Escape Rooms
  • Defining “Premium Escape Rooms” & Why It Matters
• Jonathan’s RECON Remote 25 Talk

• Magnifico Soundtrack

About Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St. Denis

Instagram: @escaparium

Jonathan Driscoll is the proud co-owner of Escaparium (and Ezkapaz), one of the world’s top escape room companies, based in the Montreal area. Along with his wife, Sacha St. Denis, he started Escaparium from scratch in 2016, growing it into a leader in immersive entertainment. Through hard work, learning from mistakes, and a relentless drive for innovation, Jonathan has built a powerhouse 15-person team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of escape room design.

Sacha St. Denis is a creative designer and hospitality innovator who loves bringing ideas to life through storytelling, design, and experience. She specializes in creating immersive spaces and concepts that make people feel something — such as a themed cocktail bar or an imaginative escape into another world. Sacha is hands-on, detail-driven, and a little obsessed with turning wild ideas into something real (and unforgettable).

Support REPOD

• Subscribe to Patreon for bonus content.
• Please rate and review our podcast!

Thanks for listening!

Support Room Escape Artist’s Mission

There are lots of ways to support Room Escape Artist, like buying from Amazon or Etsy after clicking into the links included in this post or backing us on Patreon.

The money that we make from these helps us to grow the site and continue to add more value to the community that we love so much.

The post REPOD S10E7 – The Best Escape Room in the World: Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St. Denis of Escaparium appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

With RECON talks, speakers like Jonathan Driscoll, owner of Escaparium, share insights into how they operate escape room businesses. In this talk, Jonathan breaks down some of his financial decisions, among other things. This talk first aired at RECON Remote 25 this past August, and is now available for free on the Room Escape Artist YouTube channel.

We hope you’ll join us at RECON Laval 26, for more talks like this one, and to connect with the wonderful community of people who create and operate escape rooms all over the world.

If you want to see the live Q&A that followed this talk, it is available to our Patreon backers at $5 per month and above. Just join our Patreon community to get access.

About this Talk

The Many Small Steps to Becoming Escaparium

Escaparium has become synonymous with some of the most renowned escape rooms in the world. Today, the brand is backed by an incredible and professional team and a catalogue of award-winning epic adventures. However, it didn’t start there. Its origins were humble. If you played at Escaparium in its early years, you would have had a good time, but you never would have predicted it would be an industry leader in 2025. Escaparium Co-Founder Jonathan Driscoll will break down some of the key and replicable steps that they took to get from being a very typical escape room company to the force they are today. Whatever stage you are at with your business, there is something here for you to learn.

About this Speaker

Jonathan Driscoll, Escaparium

Jonathan Driscoll is the proud co-owner of Escaparium (and Ezkapaz), one of the world’s top escape room companies, based in the Montreal area. Along with his wife, Sacha St. Denis, he started Escaparium from scratch in 2016, growing it into a leader in immersive entertainment. Through hard work, learning from mistakes, and a relentless drive for innovation, Jonathan has built a powerhouse 15-person team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of escape room design.

RECON 26

• August 16-17, 2026
• Laval, Québec, Canada
• Event Details

If you create or operate escape rooms or immersive games, this is an event you won’t want to miss. If you’re thinking about getting your start in this industry, come to RECON and get connected… to people and ideas. RECON is designed to propel this industry forward, creating sustainable careers, and giving players memorable adventures long into the future. Come be a part of this conversation.

Use code REA50 to get $50 off a RECON 26 General Ticket. (This holiday coupon code expires on December 31, 2025.)

The post 🎥 RECON Replay: The Many Small Steps to Becoming Escaparium appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

The Greatest Showman

Location:  Laval, Québec, Canada

Date Played: March 4, 2025

Team size: 4-6; we recommend 4-5

Duration: 150 minutes (2.5 hours)

Price: about $160 CAD per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration:  All players must climb steep steps (repeatedly), crawl, traverse tight spaces, and experience motion

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock with one small section as [A] Push To Exit

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

“No escape room has brought me more joy or left me more awed than Magnifico. Escaparium has not been shy about their ambitions for greatness, but even for them, this game is wildly impressive.”

REA Reaction

Within a few minutes of entering Magnifico, I got lost in the world that Escaparium created. And for 2.5 hours I was enthralled, my mind only slipping to awareness of the experience twice:

The first was to laugh at the hilariously over-the-top transition from Act 1 to Act 2. The second was at the beginning of Act 3 where I allowed myself a moment to appreciate that Escaparium was really pulling this off. The rest of the time I was lost in their world.

If you play escape rooms to be transported to another world, Magnifico is for you. The detailed sets brought the world of the circus to life.

If you play escape rooms for the puzzles, Magnifico is for you. The puzzles were large, interactive, and often magical. Sometimes we had to think outside the crate. The puzzles wove beautifully into the fabric of the gameworld.

If you play escape rooms for trap doors, so to speak, or hidden secrets, Magnifico will surprise you with each transition, even when you think you know where you’re going.

If you play escape rooms to experience meaningful stories… everything about these sets, puzzles, and moments furthered character development and narrative.

I’ve spent 11 years envisioning and advocating for the promise of what escape rooms can be. Throughout Magnifico’s 2.5 hours, it made me confident that the hope that I have held on to so deeply is real, and beautiful. It was an honor and a privilege to experience Escaparium’s masterpiece.

Who is this for?

• Anyone who loves the immersive arts
• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• Epic adventure
• Magical puzzles
• Spectacle
• A meaningful story

Story

We had tickets to the circus (yay!) and we were intent upon seeing this most magnificent show.

Setting

When we walked up to the circus tent entrance, we had no idea how much world existed inside of it. There were so many scenes with beautifully detailed, expansive sets.

The images in this review are from the scene that took place in and around the circus performers’ trailers, all parked beneath a gorgeous night sky. Each trailer belonged to a different character, with their own personality and motivations, which we figured out through the set and the puzzles.

This was one of many scenes. Although they came in different shapes and sizes, each was just as thoughtfully crafted to create a world that felt inhabited. The scenes were distinct, memorable, and each part of a cohesive place.

Gameplay

Escaparium’s Magnifico was a story-driven escape room that balanced actor interaction and gameplay.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and solving puzzles. Gameplay required us to move around the set and engage with set pieces, props, and the characters who inhabited these places. Those characters adapt to each group’s level of engagement and comfort.

Analysis

 Magnifico used multiple onboarding scenes to teach players how to enjoy it: both how to interact with characters, and how to solve puzzles. This was essential for a 2.5 hour experience that would ramp up in difficulty and intensity.

 The actors were exceptional. They played different characters – who felt like different people with different motivations, perspectives, and personalities. We had the freedom to interact with them, and they would “yes, and” us, bantering and playing with us, all within character. Furthermore, they were all performing and improvising in their second language!

/ The actors play multiple roles (additionally impressive!), usually with distinct costumes, so it is immediately apparent who they were. However, in one instance, similar costuming led some of our team to be initially confused when we met a new character, played by an actor we’d met previously in another role. We figured it out after a beat, but more distinctive costuming would have been helpful.

 Magnifico was a 2.5 hour escape room in 3 acts that told a complete story. Each act had a beginning, middle, and finale. The finales were especially memorable, in one case, even explosive. Another act’s finale sequence delivered drama and theatrics, both as plot points, and through a (“omg i can’t believe they made this!” type of) physical interaction.

Magnifico foreshadowed plot points, sometimes overtly roaring at us and other times letting something roll by within set details and effects. This was storytelling through immersive experience design at its finest.

The key scenes were poignant, because of exceptional staging, writing, and delivery. This worked so well, in one instance in particular, because we were right there, in front of the character. Escaparium took advantage of the escape room medium for delivering key plot points.

The sets were large, and the puzzles traversed them, using space to their advantage. Especially in the second act, we were able to explore all facets of the set, from all angles. The puzzles involved the entire group. For the most part, the puzzles developed the characters of the world, making the actor interactions richer, and deepening our connection to the story.

We loved how Escaparium turned classic magical illusions into puzzles. It was so much fun to do magic

 One space was too narrow for us to comfortably take a stab at accessing the information available there, especially considering the low lighting.

 While the concept was great, one late-game puzzle was a bit deflating. We didn’t immediately understand when this interaction was in play, or how to work it, and given some very specific wear, we expect that we weren’t the first team to struggle in this regard. It took an exorbitant amount of effort to keep ourselves pumped up to complete this puzzle.

 Escaparium minded the little details with their big interactions. The details were everywhere, with every set and prop, in every direction we looked. From scents, to interactions that impacted the set, literally, to how puzzles presented themselves, the player experience was always at the forefront of design. The effects were so extra, and we delighted in this. It made the world feel real. For example, one early scene transition reversed our expectations.

Hinting was native to the world. In one instance, two characters had an argument in front of us, and that was our hint. We picked up on what we needed to do immediately, but it never felt like a hint. It was entertaining!

/ There was one impressive performance where we didn’t all have great sight lines from our vantage point, and couldn’t fully appreciate the moment.

Every scene change was an exciting reveal, and they all delivered, exceeding our expectations.

Magnifico included solo moments of different styles that made different players feel special. Solo moments can be deeply powerful, and Escaparium has designed one especially beautiful, impactful one into Magnifico. The strength of this design, however, was that as incredible as the solo player’s experience was, the rest of the team was equally enthralled with the scene they saw, and in our group, all players were immensely satisfied with the story’s conclusion. While your mileage may vary with any given team, we found the solo moment to be handled exceptionally well from all sides.

We love how the performers singled us out to be the stars of different moments, big or small. One word of caution to the performers: with larger players, certain interactions won’t fit like a glove, as they are intended, and these players should be selected for something else.

/  One player was handed an essential prop early on, which was clearly going to be important at a later point. Unfortunately, this was cumbersome to carry around, even as we could tell the design was meant to be unobtrusive. That said, the payoff was impressive.

The soundtrack was phenomenal… and Escaparium makes the soundtrack available on YouTube.

 We aren’t players who collect stuff, but Magnifico left us with a small takeaway that was perfectly fitting for the experience. Furthermore, the game toyed with disappointing us in this regard, and then came through with the memorabilia, making that a great moment in and of itself.

 The end credits were an event of their own – a look back at scenes from the experience, while getting to appreciate the work and care that went into Magnifico.

Tips For Visiting

• Magnifico is located at Escaparium’s Laval location.
• There is a parking lot.
• This game can be played in English or French.
• We strongly recommend that you empty your pockets before entering this experience. You will be moving around a lot, and you don’t want to be worried about losing any of your belongings. Wear clothes you can move around in, including flat shoes and pants (not a skirt or a dress).
• Use the bathroom before the game starts. It’s a 2.5 hour game.

REPOD

If you enjoy Magnifico we hope you’ll check out our interview with creators Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis on The Reality Escape Pod.

Book your hour with Escaparium’s Magnifico , and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escaparium comped our tickets for this game.

The post Escaparium – Magnifico [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Date Played:  October 21, 2024

Team Size: 2-10; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $30.44 CAD per player

Ticketing:  Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

We’ve played quite a few games influenced by Game of Thrones, but other than a cursory nod to the rich “Lenekers” in the Riverlands, The Legend of the Three Dragons at Escaparium felt original and more centered in medieval fantasy. Tasked with finding dragon eggs stolen by a rival faction, we first had to rescue part of our team who’d been captured and thrown into the castle dungeon. 

The set was simple yet atmospheric, with stone walls, flickering torches, wooden furniture, and various props that felt at home in a medieval castle. We were immediately split up into different spaces, with a few simple puzzles that had us working together right away. Though not especially challenging, it was a nice warmup to the rest of the game. We encountered a variety of puzzle types, from physical challenges to mechanical and logic-based puzzles that gave us plenty to do. We enjoyed the non-linear gameplay that provided opportunities for players to each have their moments. Though several puzzles were familiar escape-room-type puzzles, they were well-themed and fun to solve. We did struggle with one puzzle that was confusing, and ultimately time-consuming, and another that contained a few non-translated French terms that added an extra level of difficulty. But the game had its high points, including an impressive effect that drew everyone’s attention.

Escaparium Sherbrooke is an independent franchise located about 90 minutes from Montreal. It’s not to be confused with Escaparium Laval, which is well-known in the escape room community for their oversized and over-the-top, TERPECA winning experiences, and as a Room Escape Artist Tour destination. At Sherbrooke, we found solid, fairly standard escape rooms. If you are looking for a fun game that would be great for newer players, check out The Legend of the Three Dragons.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Any experience level

Why play?

• Heroic quest
• To puzzle in medieval times for an hour

Story

Our precious three dragon eggs had been stolen, and the Lenekers from the Riverlands were the likely culprits. Comrades who tried to recover the eggs were captured and thrown in the dungeon. Our mission: rescue our fellow comrades and find the missing dragon eggs before the Lenekers would return.

Setting

The game started with half the team held captive in a dungeon, while the other half stood outside the castle walls, looking in at their trapped comrades. The dungeon cell was bleak, with gray cement walls and a simple wooden floor. The exterior of the castle was made of stone and wood, sparsely decorated with a random barrel and some flags. Flickering torches in both spaces added to the moody setting.

Gameplay

Escaparium’s The Legend of the Three Dragons was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observation, making connections, and puzzling.

Analysis

 The set was immersive, with interactive props that fit the time period. Lighting and sparse furnishings worked well to support the initial scenario. An early reveal was unexpected and elevated the experience.

 There was a nice variety of puzzles requiring different puzzling skills, and we each had a different favorite.  One teammate really enjoyed a layered solve that used observation and logic, while another gravitated towards a more hands-on challenge.

 We struggled with one puzzle that had several logical pathways, yet we weren’t sure which path would lead to the one correct answer. Through multiple rounds of trial and error – and a bit of frustration – we finally solved it.  Better cluing or feedback would have streamlined our puzzling.

 Minor wear and tear on some of the props detracted from the overall aesthetic.

 A mid-game discovery revealed a surprising task that had me dusting off a skill I hadn’t used since summer camp; we actually had to negotiate taking turns, since everyone wanted to try it.

Tips For Visiting

• Escaparium Sherbrooke has two locations. The Legend of the Three Dragons is at the Centre-Ville (Downtown) location at 266 rue Aberdeen.
• Escaparium is accessible by public transit with a bus stop located directly in front of the building.
• There is street parking and a small shared parking lot on the Rue Gillespie side of the building. From Monday to Friday 8am-5pm, use the spots marked for Escaparium along the tree-lined park fence. All parking spots may be used after 5:00 and weekends. 
• This game is entirely bilingual (French and English).

Book your hour with Escaparium’s The Legend of the Three Dragons, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post Escaparium Sherbrooke – The Legend of the Three Dragons [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Blood is thicker than water

Location:  Shawinigan, Québec, Canada

Date Played:  October 26, 2024

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $43.49 CAD per person

Ticketing:  Private

Accessibility Consideration:  Players need to go up stairs, climb a ladder, and crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A] Push To Exit

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

“In Escaparium’s The Family we went back in time to discover the dark secrets of this so-called perfect family. As we got closer to the truth we stumbled into a horror story revealed in a way we’ve never seen before. It stopped us in our tracks.”

REA Reaction

Escaparium’s The Family sent us back in time to investigate the abandoned home of a seemingly perfect family. But as we explored the homey den filled with trophies and hunting souvenirs – all under a layer of dust and cobwebs – we soon understood that not all was well. Hidden truths and family secrets would lead us into the dark abyss of this twisted family. 

The set was ambitious. Though gameplay began in a typical living space, it changed drastically as the game progressed, with one of the most stunning reveals I’ve ever seen. We all stood back and watched it unfold, not really believing what we were seeing. As the true theme emerged – an homage to a particular horror story – we were suddenly engaged in a compelling narrative as we discovered what really happened with this family.

A wide variety of puzzles integrated nicely with set and story; some were playful, while others were macabre, offering interesting shifts in tone and gameplay. As the finale neared, we worked through an unusual puzzle in which we had to make choices that affected the outcome, though either choice would lead to a valid, yet meaningful, ending.

The Family is the first game at Escaparium’s Shawinigan location, located halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. It is a franchise of the well-known venue in Laval. Going into it, we knew little about the game and avoided spoilers, which led to some really impressive reveal moments. I recommend you do the same. The Family was quite an achievement as the first one for this franchise; we can’t wait to see what they’ll do next. After playing the top games in Laval, make the 2-hour trip to Shawinigan – you’ll be glad you did.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Horror fans
• Dysfunctional family members
• Players with some experience

Why play?

• Immersive, high-quality set
• Puzzle variety
• Impressive reveal and effects

Story

They were the perfect family: father and mother both successful in their respective fields, and a son who excelled in school. But they had dark secrets, and we were going to back in time to find out the truth, no matter the consequences.

Setting

The game began in the den of the family home, long since abandoned. Realistic set decor of cobwebs and dust lingered on shelves that were filled with knick-knacks, empty liquor bottles and family memorabilia. Dark wood paneling and leather furniture conveyed a sense of wealth and importance, while plaques and trophies were silent reminders of the recognition bestowed on the well-accomplished family members. 

Gameplay

Escaparium’s The Family was a standard horror-themed escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observation, making connections, and puzzling.

Analysis

 Set design was original and high-quality, with unusual choices that took the game to a whole new level. Special effects added to the immersion and were unexpected, yet believable in this world. Playing the game with little to no knowledge of the theme made the experience even more impressive.

 The story that we learned through gameplay was detailed and compelling, and we felt emotionally connected to the characters and their saga. When faced with a decision at the conclusion of the game, the choice felt obvious.

 Transition from lobby to game space via a small scene was confusing and felt disconnected from the rest of the game. While providing a bridge of sorts from the real world to the scenario, it did not land for us.

 The variety of puzzles kept the game moving and allowed everyone to be involved in most solves. Though a few players had their moments, we were still able to work together. Including lighthearted, active puzzles in an otherwise grim-themed experience kept us engaged without making the game feel too heavy. 

One visual effect immediately brought the theme to life; it was so realistic that we could not stay away from it. We still talk about it today.

 Audio instructions for one puzzle were in French, though we didn’t realize what they were until post-game. We solved it through trial and error, though it would have been more enjoyable had we known what to do from the start.

While the game had an overall creepy vibe, there were no in-game actors or jump scares. I did not find the game to be especially scary. And while the game space wasn’t small, it was enclosed in a way. It will not be an issue for most players, but those with claustrophobia may want to reach out to the company to get a better understanding of the space.

Tips For Visiting

• There is street parking available directly in front of the entrance.
• Escaparium in Shawinigan is a franchise of Escaparium Laval. It is located about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City.
• This game is entirely bilingual (French and English).
• We stayed at Hotel Oui Go in nearby Trois-Rivières and enjoyed the tapas menu at Le Bette.

Book your hour with Escaparium’s The Family, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escaparium provided media discounted tickets for this game.

The post Escaparium Shawinigan – The Family [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Good ’til the last stop!

Location:  Laval, Québec, Canada

Date Played:  October 24, 2024

Team Size: 3-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 75 minutes

Price:  $50.99 CAD per player

Ticketing:  Private

Accessibility Consideration:  All players must go up a few steps as well as crawl. Motion effects can be turned off upon request.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Editor’s Note: The original version of The Final Stop is no longer in service. While this version retained some of the decor, all of the puzzles and the entire storyline have been changed.

Having played more than my share of subway-themed escape rooms, I went into the experience with a pretty good idea of what to expect for the next 75 minutes. To our delight, we were soon immersed in an adventure that gave a fresh and exciting spin to a familiar theme. 

We were asked to test out the new Automated Metro System before it opened to the general public. As soon as we stepped into this world, motion and visual effects combined to create a moving experience.  Additional set spaces were expansive, and they were decorated with aging and wear to produce just the right amount of realism. Puzzles made good use of the set and theme, often in original and unexpected ways, though the motion did make some tasks more challenging. One oddly-satisfying puzzle explored new heights, while another had us squealing as we finally worked out the solution.

As the story developed, we were joined by an in-game actor who ratcheted up the experience with narrative, unique puzzling, and well-timed humor. It was these memorable interactions that made the game feel uniquely ours, which doesn’t happen very often. The more we leaned into it, the more fun we had; it was a definite highlight of our game.

With four games at Escaparium each earning a 2024 TERPECA, including Magnifico at #1, it could be easy to overlook the other high-quality games available to play in their Laval location. From inventive puzzles that were delightful to solve to impressive sets and interactions that felt like we were in an adventure movie, this game was a blast. If you think you’ve played enough subway games, set aside your expectations, make your way to The Final Stop – V2, and get ready for an exciting ride.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Commuters
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Fun actor interactions
• Immersive, high-quality set
• To ride a subway without the hassle of riding a subway

Story

Our team was invited to test out the updated version of the AMS, Automated Metro System – hence V2. With the station conveniently located in Escaparium, we quickly stepped aboard the subway car and headed down the tracks.

Setting

The game began in a well-lit subway car, with plastic seating, handle straps dangling overhead, and a large metro map on the wall showing available routes throughout the system. Ads for refreshments and local things to do were posted above windows on each side of the car. Through set decor, the space had the look of a grimy, well-used city transport.

Gameplay

Final Stop – V2 was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, making connections, observation and puzzling. Actor interaction was an integral part of gameplay.

Analysis

 The setup started simply enough as a typical subway-themed scenario. But as it progressed, there was an energy created by characters and story that brought the experience to life. It was more than a static game with puzzles; instead, we were part of the action, and it felt this way through to the very last moments.

 Puzzles were engaging and fun, involving thematic props in unique and surprising ways. Though a few we expected to see in a subway scenario, others were fresh and original, even funny.  We encountered one large mechanism that was weirdly whimsical, and contained my favorite puzzle of the game. Another was simple in its execution yet so immersive; I’m surprised I’d never seen it done before.

Our momentum was stalled early in the game due to a puzzle that was difficult to see clearly due to its positioning. 

The set was roomy, with tall ceilings and colorful, well-worn design that gave it a realistic look and feel. Special effects and high-quality set pieces added to the immersion; it felt real from start to finish.

The audio at the start of the game was difficult to hear, causing us to miss some of the story introduction.

The in-game actor elevated the experience and made the game something special, providing puzzling opportunities that went beyond standard props and puzzles. They kept the game on track, while still allowing us to have fun in our mission. 

Though the movement effects didn’t necessarily bother us, I could see where this could be an issue for some players, especially because it goes on for more than a few minutes. As noted, this feature can be turned off.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.
• Note that Escaparium has multiple venues around Montreal. The Final Stop – V2 is in Laval. 
• This game is entirely bilingual (French and English).
• Review our tips for playing escape rooms with actors.
• We enjoyed the smoked-meat sandwiches at Dunn’s. Vegetarian and vegan options available as well.

Book your game with Escaparium’s Final Stop – V2, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escaparium comped our tickets for this game.

For more about Escaparium and their games, check out our interview with creators Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis on Reality Escape Pod.

The post Escaparium – The Final Stop – V2 [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

If you enjoy The Forgotten Cathedral we hope you’ll check out our interview with creators Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis on The Reality Escape Pod.

The Forgotten Cathedral is one of the best escape rooms around Montreal, Canada. Here are our recommendations for great escape rooms in the Montreal area.

La Cathédrale Oubliée

Location:  Laval, Québec, Canada

Date Played: May 6, 2023

Team size: 4-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 90 minutes

Price: $59.99 CAD per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: To fully experience the game, all players need to climb a ladder and climb through a small opening.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Over the last few years, Escaparium has leveled up their craft. With each new escape game, they have pushed deeper into the theme park world. They’ve incorporated practical effects, lighting and sound, animation, motion, and more to make their players feel the stories of the adventures.

They’ve certainly accomplished these aims with Rain Corp, The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen, and Wardrobe for Sale, establishing themselves as the only venue in the world where you can play three 2022 TERPECA winning games under the same roof. For us, however, The Forgotten Cathedral ushered in a new level of their realization of this ambition. They are succeeding at building some of the biggest and most bombastic escape rooms in the world.

Escaparium owners Jonathan and Sacha have often cited 13th Gate Escape as an inspiration. The Forgotten Cathedral feels like an Escaparium game that has also out 13th-Gated 13th Gate.

Escaparium’s multi-year ascension to the top of the North American escape room scene has been accomplished by being present. The Forgotten Cathedral was clearly designed by those who are continuously engaged with our community and the conversations in this industry: by reading, listening, conversing, networking, and most of all, playing.

The Forgotten Cathedral was made up of scenes, puzzles, and moments that each had a purpose to drive the adventure forward by telling a story. As players, we couldn’t help but connect with the story as we explored, interacted with, solved, and appreciated the world of this escape game. I was completely transported. I loved this game.

Near as we can tell, the reason to dislike this escape room, or to opt out, is the theme: whether it’s the occult aspect or the darker tones. But for everyone else, play The Forgotten Cathedral.

When you discover escape rooms of the caliber at Escaparium, individuals will disagree about which one is their favorite. But there is no question that this is one of the finest games in North America. There are few companies who can rival this level of escape room craft.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Thriller fans
• Any experience level
• Best appreciated by players with at least some experience

Why play?

• Breathtaking sets
• Memorable moments… that drive the plot forward
• Set-driven interactions and puzzles

Story

We’d arrived at Escaparium to tour an ancient cathedral hidden within their massive escape room complex. Excavation and restoration were underway. The work had demonstrated that the cathedral had been a sanctuary for a now extinct cult, and further investigation into the cult rituals would be warranted. We eagerly followed our tour guide to the cathedral to learn more about it.

Setting

After walking by a workshop area where we saw some of the drawings and learned about the restoration currently underway, we entered a small museum space. The walls were unadorned. Our focus was directed to the beautiful artifacts on pedestals in the center of the room.

The cathedral itself was magnificent. It towered above us, with detailed stone work, classic gargoyles, and an imposing wooden door.

Gameplay

Escaparium’s The Forgotten Cathedral was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Escaparium stages this as a tour of a cathedral, but it is an escape room. It leans into theatricality by way of the set, technology, and characters.

Core gameplay revolved around observing the immense and detailed environment, making connections, and solving puzzles.

Analysis

 The onboarding was fully in world. We learned the terms of engagement, complete with a safety briefing, without ever being read rules. The dual purpose introduction scene served to further build the mystique of the place.

 The opening scene was magnificent. Escaparium used a thrilling technique in a novel way. We’ve previously discouraged anything like this early in an escape room, but Escaparium used their characters and story to shatter this boundary that we’d previously drawn in escape room design. This subtle orchestration was impressive to us, but to most, I expect a different moment from this scene to be one of the most memorable of the game.

 The cathedral structure contributed to the theatricality of the experience. The doors punctuated scenes brilliantly. The stained glass reflected the narrative. Escaparium used a subwoofer expertly to enhance the cathedral setting and bring the space to life. They also relied on lighting cues to direct our attention where it belonged to further our objectives or experience the story.

 As Escaparium continues to polish every aspect of game design, they can mask the sound of internal mechanisms more thoroughly. There was also an opportunity to lean more into directional sound.

 Escaparium used projections to bring the spirits of this ancient space to life. We loved the interplay between digital and physical, with the projected characters affecting the physical world.

The Forgotten Cathedral included some jump scares, but they were purposely built to tell the story of this place. Fear wasn’t the end goal, and thus, we never felt on edge. Rather, these scares added dramatic effect and emphasis at key moments. As players, we were always safe. In fact, Escaparium seamlessly incorporated a certain ritual into the gameplay to ensure that all players were always in the right place when it mattered.

For one bold player, a thrilling solo moment beckons. Note to the cautious players: it will be abundantly clear that someone is opting in to this solo moment.

 There was a missed opportunity for the end of the solo moment. Because of what becomes available to the other players during this scene, the re-emergence of the separated player lacked drama. This could be rebalanced just slightly to further wow.

The varied puzzles made use of the space, often requiring communication and coordination between teammates.

 In The Forgotten Cathedral, each reveal upstaged the previous one. Doors opened, but not-doors opened too. It’s rare when we don’t see the cracks.

 As dramatic as the final scene was (truly!), it was undercut by the gameplay. The first interaction made a splash, but lacked some clue structure. The final boss battle lacked feedback, and we ended up repeating the interaction a lot, long after the aha moment, which made the gameplay drag at an especially inopportune time. Furthermore, the longer we spent in this space, and the more carefully we explored it, the less dynamic and impressive it felt. The conclusion would be more of a rush if these interactions moved more swiftly.

The gamemastering was superb. With a narrative conceit for who our gamemaster was and their relation to us and the space, it felt natural if they reached out to us with a hint. They most definitely had a reason to want to talk to us, and even a reason to have a perspective that differed from ours.

We appreciated the end credits. We got to relive a few exciting moments and glimpse behind the scenes, while appreciating the crew that built the escape game.

Tips For Visiting

• The Forgotten Cathedral is located at Escaparium’s Laval location.
• There is a parking lot.
• This game is entirely bilingual (French and English).
• The theming is demonic.

Book your hour with Escaparium’s The Forgotten Cathedral, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escaparium comped our tickets for this game.

The post Escaparium – The Forgotten Cathedral [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

In Season 4, episode 5 of Reality Escape Pod, we headed to Canada to chat with Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis, owners of Escaparium escape games, Nuit de Terreur haunted attraction, L’Atelier resto-pub game cafe, and Ezkapaz immersive experiences. As you can tell from their list of businesses, Jonathan and Sacha have big ambitions. Not only do they have over 30 escape rooms under the Escaparium brand, they have recently expanded into a haunted attraction with escape room elements, a game cafe integrated into their Laval location, and an immersive experience at a local speakeasy bar.

It’s not just the number of experiences that are epically sized. Their flagship games Rain Corp., Wardrobe for Sale, and The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen are jaw-droppingly enormous, filled with endearing characters, immersive puzzles, and touching storylines that actually made me cry. When setting out to build a haunt, Jonathan and Sasha didn’t want a generic maze. Instead, they created a haunted attraction that’s part maze, with mini-escape room elements and private immersive interactions.

It’s no easy feat juggling so many different projects. Jonathan and Sacha are supportive leaders and are extremely appreciative of their large creative team. The owners of Escaparium have managed to stay humble and are receptive to constructive feedback, while maintaining their ambitious aspirations. Escaparium is an immersive gaming brand of epic proportions. It’s hard to put into words how massive their games are, and that’s why I highly encourage you to visit their locations in Montreal.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: Morty App, World Escape Room Championship (ER Champ), and Buzzshot. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Morty

Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings.

Special Badge for REPOD listeners:

You can learn more at MortyApp.com/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).

World Escape Room Championship (ER Champ)

ER Champ is a global competition for escape room players.

Details:

• Held virtually this year
• Free Entry
• Elimination round on November 5, 2022
• Each member of the winning team will receive a Nintendo Switch Lite

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is ‘Customer Satisfaction Software’ for your escape room business. Streamline your marketing and grow your escape room business with pregame and postgame features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and integrated review management.

Special Discount for REPOD listeners:

Use our link when booking a demo for 20% off your first three months.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• Jonathan tells us that part of the reason why they build such ambitious games with high production value is because he takes into account the lifetime of his games lasting over ten years. [3:56]
• Peih-Gee mentions the enormous scope and scale of Escaparium’s three largest games: The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen, Rain Corp., and Wardrobe for Sale. [5:43]
• Jonathan and Sacha tell us about how it all started with wanting to buy a giant boat. [6:17]
• Jonathan tells us about how 13th Gate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and particularly Cutthroat Cavern, had a big influence on his games. [7:34]
• Jonathan gives us a behind the scenes look at how he managed to transport an 80-foot long ship from Florida all the way to Montreal, including how it managed to rip off the aluminum siding from their warehouse. [7:58]

• Jonathan tells us a little bit about his team at Escaparium, including creators originally from Codex, another escape room company. [12:23]
• Jonathan talks about how incorporating more active participation, such as acting, from his gamemasters made a difference in the enthusiasm of his team. [14:14]
• Jonathan mentions that sometimes, after one of the games, players will come out and applaud the game masters, and he talks about how inspiring it is for his employees. [15:06]
• Peih-Gee talks about how enthusiastic gamemasters can make or break an experience. [16:08]
• Jonathan mentions that getting their team more invested and involved in the player experience also helps with employee retention. [16:47]
• Jonathan talks about his previous life as a professional big stakes poker player. [17:52]
• Jonathan talks about his “risk tolerance” and says it’s actually less about risk tolerance, and more about running the numbers and taking a calculated risk. [18:43]
• Sacha talks about her ambitious ideas and working with Jonathan to achieve the right balance of dreaming big but staying realistic. [19:54]
• Jonathan says he travels to a lot of work related industry events. He feels that if he learns even one thing from the event it was all worth it. [21:57]
• David talks about Jonathan’s duality of having both arrogance and humility as a designer, and the ability to pivot. [22:55]
• Peih-Gee mentions the importance of being able to listen to feedback as a designer. [25:20]
• Sacha says that it’s easier to handle feedback when you’re used to working creatively with a team, as opposed to being a one-man show. [25:53]
• Jonathan talks about working with a large creative team and how ideas evolve. [26:56]
• Jonathan talks about buying escape rooms from Indestroom and the importance of putting your own twist on ready-made games. [28:27]
• David discusses his feelings towards purchased games and whether or not owners should disclose this. [31:16]
• David talks about giving credits to designers of escape rooms, just like the movie industry does. [34:05]
• Peih-Gee tells a story about the time she sent her Survivor friend Gabby Pascuzzi, who was on season 3 of REPOD to a terrible escape room with the same name of Blind Tiger, thinking it was a different game. [34:40]
• Jonathan tells us about their haunt Nuit De Terreur, or Night of Terror, and how they incorporated escape rooms into it. [38:46]
• Jonathan walks us through some of the changes they’ve made to the haunt now that they’re into their third year hosting it, including more actors and more immersion. [40:29]
• Jonathan and Sacha tell us in more detail how they’ve incorporated mini escape rooms into the haunt. [40:59]
• Jonathan teases us with a story about hiring outside help with the haunt that he later shares in our bonus AfterShow (which you can access as a Patreon member). [42:55]
• Jonathan talks about managing the pacing of his haunt so that teams will stop in certain places and experience a scene, as opposed to being shepherded through in a continuous line. [44:23]
• Sacha shares with us their experience and the challenges in opening a bar/ restaurant/ game cafe within their Laval escape room location. [44:55]
• Sacha tells us about the themed dinner they created especially for Spooky Season, complete with Halloween decor, a four course themed meal, and spooky interactions. She also tells us about the ticketing structure for this event. [46:05]
• Jonathan discusses Sacha’s vision for shaping the restaurant into a more themed, immersive concept. [48:12]
• Jonathan talks about the challenges of designing games in a bilingual province, where legally businesses must make everything available in French. He says storytelling that generally avoids dialogue is the easiest. [50:21]
• Jonathan shares some of his favorite escape room companies in Canada including Immersia (who we interviewed in Season 3 of REPOD), Cabinet Mysteriis, Sauve Qui Peut, and Crypto Escape Rooms. (See resources below for links to reviews of the games mentioned.) [52:34]
• Jonathan tells us about Ezkapaz, a company they purchased about five years ago, and how the Ezkapaz team has helped introduce more acting to the Escaparium brand and helped train their employees. [55:16]
• Bonus Story: Sacha tells us about the time she was so terrified in a horror escape room that she made Jonathan play the room all by himself while she watched from the first room. [1:00:00]

Leave us a voicemail

Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Escaparium properties:
  • Escaparium Escape Rooms
    • REA reviews of Escaparium games
  • L’atelier Restaurant/ Bar/ Game Cafe
  • Nuit de Terreur (Night of Terror) Haunt
  • Ezkapaz Escape Room and Immersive Experience
• Escaparium Social Media:
  • Instagram @escaparium
  • Instagram @nuitdeterreur
• Indestroom escape room supplier
• REA review of Jumanji from Bust Out Escape Room in Albuquerque, NM
• REA Montreal, Canada Escape Room Recommendations
• Recommended Canadian Escape Room Companies:
  • Immersia Escape Games
    • REA review of The Salutem Medicina Institute
    • REA review of The Grand Immersia Hotel
  • Cabinet Mysteriis:
    • REA review of Marcheurs de Rêves (Dream Walkers)
  • Sauve Qui Peut
    • REA review of Falderon Forest
  • Crypto Escape Rooms
    • REA review of Below Zero
    • REA review of The Lost Shipwreck
• Le 4e Mur (The Fourth Wall): speakeasy bar with cocktail puzzle/ murder mystery created by the team at Ezkapaz
  • Braquage (only available in French): Murder Mystery Immersive theatre

About Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis

Jonathan Driscoll

My name is Jonathan Driscoll. I was born in the northern part of Canada. I went to university for computer engineering but didn’t end up working in that field at all. In 2014, we watched the movie Maze Runner and after watching that movie, we started developing an experience that had you do puzzles and tasks in one room which when solved would allow you access to the next room. Despite thinking our idea was really awesome, we didn’t have the guts to take the next step.

Then in 2015 we heard about escape rooms, which were similar to what we had thought about the year before and loved the idea. While in Orlando we played our first escape game. We got instantly hooked, played all the games there and said the infamous, “we can do much better.” Once back home we started thinking about games and looking at locations. We didn’t find anything interesting and somewhat gave up on the idea until my friend pushed us to look again and we finally opened in early 2016.

After just a few months of being open, we knew this was much bigger than we had thought. In 2016, we started looking for another location and started looking into investing much more into our games to give a much better experience. In 2017 we opened our Dorval location and started hiring to have a full time team to work on our games. In 2018 we decided to look for a new location, one that wouldn’t limit us in ceiling height and walls. We decided to rent a 45,000 sq. ft. warehouse.

We added to our team and started building experiences that I would’ve never thought we would be doing. Having won multiple awards for our “big three”: The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen, Rain Corp. and Wardrobe for Sale, we are incredibly proud of everything we’ve done here and can’t wait to release our next experiences.

Sacha St.Denis

My name is Sacha St.Denis. I am the proud co-owner of Escaparium, Ezkapaz, Nights of Terror Haunted House, and L’Atelier board game resto and bar. Prior to opening Escaparium with my husband Jonathan Driscoll, I was an elementary school teacher.

In 2016, when Jonathan and I opened our first location, we quickly began challenging ourselves to create bigger, better, and more immersive games for our industry. With each new game, comes the big question: “How are we gonna top the last game we created and built? What does the future hold for me and these entertainment industries I am involved in?” For me, the possibilities are endless, and my goals and aspirations are set high.

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The post REPOD S4E5 – Epic Proportions: Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis, owners of Escaparium, Canada appeared first on Room Escape Artist.