Room Escape Artist

The month included 6 Golden-Lock winning reviews and some exceptional editorials. Plus, take a look at the RECON Speaker Sessions that were announced through the RECON newsletter.

RECON 25 Speakers Announced

This summer, we’re hosting RECON – our escape room convention – online, so that it is accessible from anywhere in the world. The event is August 17-18th, 2025.

If you’re subscribed to the RECON newsletter, you’re probably seen the latest speaker sessions announced, including a mix of design and business topics including:

• The Many Small Steps to Becoming Escaparium
• Inspiration from European Horror: Whether You Like It or Not
• Fire Safety Doors and Hardware for Escape Room Creators
• Five Star Failures: Hard Learned Lessons on the Path to Improvement
• Don’t Get Heisted: Fraud Prevention and Detection for Escape Rooms

More sessions will be announced soon!

Reviews

🔒 Golden Lock Winners

Chapel & Catacombs, Lockhill (Athens, Greece) – With Chapel & Catacombs, Lockhill didn’t just build a game, they built a world: a town, a chapel, a catacombs, and even a graveyard. (Review by David Spira)

Lost and Found, Hotel Veloria (Volkel, Netherlands) – Through its gameplay, Lost and Found brought to life a number of nuanced characters and vivid emotions. (Review by Matthew Stein)

The Bird, MyssTic Rooms (New York, NY) – Is it possible to build a top tier escape room into a (practically) closet-sized space? With The Bird, MyssTic Rooms answers “yes!” (Review by Lisa Spira)

The Music Academy, Paradox Project (Athens, Greece) – The Music Academy offered wonderful layered and complex, yet solvable puzzles in an unusual environment. (Review by David Spira)

Zoltar Speaks, Escape Cafe (Hilversum, Netherlands) – Zoltar Speaks whisked us to an exquisite 15th-century Middle Eastern market. This escape room was a standout amongst standouts. (Review by Matthew Stein)

Play-At-Home

The Medieval Mishap, History Mysteries (Kids Tabletop Game) – For a tabletop escape room experience that genuinely entertains your whole family, The Medieval Mishap is top-notch. (Review by Sarah Mendez)

More Escape Rooms

Don’t Take a Breath, Verone (Athens, Greece) – Don’t Take a Breath was basically a robbery larp in a realistic set with a menacing character. It’s a thriller. (Review by David Spira)

Podcast

REPOD S9E6: Steven Medway, Creator of Blood on the Clocktower – In this podcast we go behind the scenes of the #1 social deduction game Blood of the Clocktower with creator Steven Medway.

Recommendation Guides

• New:
  • Melbourne, Australia
• Updated:
  • Athens, Greece
  • Tabletop Escape Games

Commentary

A Case for Smaller Sets and Deeper Worlds – With small escape room sets, creators must utilize other storytelling techniques. Here are some world class examples and why they work. (By Matthew Stein)

Emergency Equipment Aren’t Game Mechanics – Don’t use emergency equipment like “Push To Exit” buttons as game mechanics in your escape room. It is not worth the risk. (By David Spira)

The Importance of Sightlines in Immersive Escape Rooms – Let’s dig into a niche problem in high end escape room design: when players can’t see immersive actors perform scenes. (By David Spira)

Player Tip

Plebs! Look Upon My Escape Room Pants With Envy! (By David Spira)