{"id":72728,"date":"2019-01-02T11:06:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T16:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roomescapeartist.com\/?p=72728"},"modified":"2024-05-16T18:24:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T22:24:32","slug":"2018-golden-lockin-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roomescapeartist.com\/2019\/01\/02\/2018-golden-lockin-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"2018 Golden Lock-In Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"2018<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We played and reviewed 191 escape rooms in 2018.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was an invigorating year of escape games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We throttled down our playing a little bit (255 in 2017) and put an emphasis on hunting down amazing and unusual games in the markets that we visited. As a result of that decision, we have a diverse pool of Golden Lock-In winners that broadly span styles, budgets, and geography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no such thing as the perfect escape room, but these are the ones that we wish we could play again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were plenty of other amazing escape rooms, but we can\u2019t honor them all. In the end these 13 rose to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. We only considered games that we both played in 2018.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. We both had to agree to award the room the Golden Lock-In.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. We established no arbitrary minimum or maximum number of rooms that could appear on the list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. A company could only win once for the year. Update: In 2024 we retroactively awarded some games that were originally disqualified over this rule.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    2018 Golden Lock-In Winners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Listed chronologically in the order we played them.<\/em>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Blind Pig<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Murfreesboro Escape Rooms – Murfreesboro, TN<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    With its intimate setting, great puzzle flow, and hidden surprises, Murfreesboro Escape Rooms designed a remarkably tight and balanced adventure game. The Blind Pig <\/em>was a traditional escape room where everything gelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sasquatch<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Escape the Netherworld – Stone Mountain, GA<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:
    Image via Escape The Netherworld. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What began as  a traditional cabin escape room became so much more as Sasquatch\u2019s <\/em>narrative hiked to a magical finale. Escape the Netherworld told an unusual story that was intense, exciting, and unexpectedly charming.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Catacombs<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Logic Locks – Amsterdam, The Netherlands<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:
    Image via Logic Locks<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In the depths of a church, we unearthed Logic Locks\u2019 theatrical story of crypts and demons. As the puzzles built tension and the scenes became more dire, win or lose, Catacombs<\/em> careened towards a commanding conclusion.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Experiment<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The Great Escape – Zwolle, The Netherlands<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Intimidating yet funny, The Experiment <\/em>made us feel like we were truly escaping, more so than in any other game in our memory. The Great Escape designed around character building, both theirs and our own, which added depth to the experience.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Honeymoon Hotel<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    DarkPark – Zoetermeer, The Netherlands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [At the time of this review, DarkPark was called Escape Challenge.]<\/em>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Escape Challenge builds games that feel alive, haunted, and out to get you. Honeymoon Hotel <\/em>transformed from mundane to insane as it pushed us through an exquisitely detailed reimagining of the H.H. Holmes \u201cmurder castle\u201d story.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Orphanage<\/em><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    DarkPark – Zoetermeer, The Netherlands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    A masterclass in lighting and sound design, The Orphanage<\/em> had absolute control over the atmosphere. DarkPark has long been one of the most consistently high performing escape room companies that we have encountered and The<\/em> Orphanage<\/em> demonstrates their control over the subtleties of escape game design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cutthroat Cavern<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    13th Gate Escape – Baton Rouge, LA<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:
    Image via 13th Gate Escape<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    With towering ceiling and wet depths, Cutthroat Cavern<\/em> was breathtaking. For 60 minutes we frolicked in our own Goonies<\/em> adventure. The scale of this escape room is unrivaled. 13th Gate Escape\u2019s latest creation is in a class of its own.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Playground<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The Escape Game – Nashville, TN<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Who would have guessed that returning to the classroom would be as joyful as it was at The Escape Game? With a playful premise, whimsical setting, and well-rounded gameplay, Playground <\/em>had us frolicking through school.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Edison Escape Room<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Palace Games – San Francisco, CA<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The invisible adaptive intelligence within The Edison Escape Room<\/em> floored us. Palace Games took ambitious design to another level by hybridizing escape rooms and video games into something  beautiful and new.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pop Star’s Room of Doom<\/em><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    SCRAP – San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In Pop Star\u2019s Room of Doom<\/em>, SCRAP introduced North America to the time loop escape room. This has slowly been catching on as a genre, but at the time it was revolutionary. When we played it, we were caught up on how hideously utilitarian the set was, but as time has progressed, we have found ourselves appreciating how much it accomplished with almost nothing in the gamespace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lab Rat<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Hatch Escapes – Los Angeles, CA<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    As we ventured through Lab Rat\u2019s<\/em> whimsical yet imposing world, we journeyed through a story. Hatch Escapes put narrative in the driver\u2019s seat with gameplay that supported it\u2026 humorously, intensely, and ridiculously.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stash House: A Los Angeles Crime Story<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Stash House – Los Angeles, CA<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Story-driven and puzzle-focused, expansive and intimate, challenging and fair, Stash House<\/em> achieved a balance that few escape rooms deliver. Through these oppositions, we were immersed within its imaginative and cohesive world.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Over the Falls<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Escape City Buffalo – Tonawanda, NY<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    With an over-the-top build, Over the Falls<\/em> was light on puzzles and high on adventure. We were engaged and enthralled with Escape City Buffalo\u2019s vessel and its seafaring woes.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Grand Parlor<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    13th Hour Escape Rooms – Wharton, NJ<\/strong>
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In the vast expanses and the tight nooks of The Grand Parlor, <\/em>we played a challenging puzzle game with a beautiful set that continually surprised us. Plus we  met 13th Hour Escape Rooms\u2019 delightfully rambunctious actors (who only roam when the haunt is operating).
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Observatory<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The Gate Escape – Leominster, MA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"In-game:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Marvelously eccentric, The Observatory <\/em>taught us how to unravel its mysteries through the act of playing. The Gate Escape crafted a fair and challenging game for experienced escape room players, with great  interactions to boot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Congratulations to the 2018 Golden Lock-In Winners!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Past Golden Lock-In Awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n