Room Escape Artist

Room Escape Artist awarded 35 Golden Locks in 2025.

The 2025 winning games are located in 8 different countries. The US winners are in 6 different states. There are also tabletop game winners.

And 7 REA Contributors gave out the award in 2025.

The winners include sprawling, epic adventures, and cozy, intimate experiences. Many of the winners push the boundaries of what an escape room can be.

Some of these escape rooms opened in 2025. Others have been open for many years, but 2025 was the year that a REA Contributor finally visited. Regardless of when they first opened, all the winners exemplify the top of the escape room craft in 2025. These games wowed us.

And now, we present the complete list of 2025 Golden Lock Award winners.

Presented in the order they were announced:

The Family

Escaparium Shawinigan – Shawinigan, Québec, Canada

Awarded: January 19, 2025 (REA Review)

“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.” – Cindi Saiewitz

The Mind’s Eye

Enter the Imaginarium – Pittsburgh, Pensylvannia

Awarded: February 19, 2025 (REA Review)

“With a trailblazing approach to full-room projection mapping, The Mind’s Eye was an enjoyably novel take on an escape room. Across multiple vivid environments, we were tasked with the poignant mission of helping Daedalus to process the untimely death of his son Icarus.” – Matthew Stein

The Mole of the Mountain

Upside Down Escape Games – Mashpee Commons, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Awarded: March 13, 2025 (REA Review)

“The Mole of Mountain delivered a plot twist like no other… and our strange adventure in a beautiful, intricate mountain of trash took a dark, yet playful turn. Upside Down Escape Games lived up to their name, turning all our expectations, well, upside down.” – David Spira

Judgment Day (Le Jour du Jugement)

Eliviascape – Québec City, Québec, Canada

Awarded: April 16, 2025 (REA Review)

“Few games utilize an interactive medium like Judgment Day. Eliviascape’s dark and haunting story resonated through incredible set pieces and the puzzles we solved with, in, and around them. The tension ebbed and flowed in such a way as to be thought provoking long after the experience ended.” – Lisa Spira

Magnifico

Escaparium – Laval, Québec, Canada

Awarded: April 20, 2025 (REA Review)

“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.” – David Spira

Pandora’s Legacy

TED-Ed + PostCurious – Tabletop Game

Awarded: April 29, 2025 (REA Review)

“Pandora’s Legacy was as beautiful as it was ambitious. It delivered an incredible time by blending jigsaw puzzling with a wide variety of other puzzles – all set against the backdrop of Greek myth. The precision in the game’s design was remarkable, and I still find myself thinking about the ending.” – David Spira

The Medieval Mishap

History Mysteries – Kids’ Tabletop Game

Awarded: May 7, 2025 (REA Review)

“In the world of family-oriented puzzle games, the Medieval Mishap distinguishes itself through handsome artwork and exceptionally thoughtful puzzle design that masterfully lets kids dive in while adults think ahead. It seamlessly met each of us at our level without sacrificing anything in the process. For family play, this is THE game I would recommend.” – Sarah Mendez

The Bird

MyssTic Rooms – Brooklyn, New York

Awarded: May 11, 2025 (REA Review)

“The Bird was the complete package: a detailed set with a true sense of place, engaging gameplay built into the set and props, and magical transformations. MyssTic Rooms turned a tiny space into an exciting and memorable, yet intimate experience for small teams.” – Lisa Spira

The Music Academy

Paradox Project – Athens, Greece

Awarded: May 14, 2025 (REA Review)

“Set within an actual former music school, The Music Academy – like all of Paradox Project’s epic games – dared to present deep, layered puzzles. The gameplay was more challenging than we typically find in the escape room world.” – David Spira

Chapel & Catacombs

Lockhill – Athens, Greece

Awarded: May 19, 2025 (REA Review)

“Lockhill built a world with a sense of presence and dark adventure. As we explored Chapel & Catacombs, we also descended into Lovecraftian madness.” – David Spira

Zoltar Speaks

Escape Cafe – Hilversum, Netherlands

Awarded: May 24, 2025 (REA Review)

“Set in a historical Middle Eastern bazaar, Zoltar Speaks was equal parts daring, dashing, and detailed. Escape Cafe’s debut experience had it all: stunning scenery, creative gameplay, and a worthy mission of aiding the shopkeepers in their peaceful resistance against a tyrannical leader.” – Matthew Stein

Lost and Found

Hotel Veloria – Volkel, Netherlands

Awarded: May 30, 2025 (REA Review)

“An evocative masterclass in environmental storytelling and escape room puzzle design, Lost and Found showcased how deeply our memories are attached to the objects we carry with us. This ambitious, experimental experience touched both our minds and our hearts.” – Matthew Stein

Pray

Escape Room Katwijk – Katwijk, Netherlands

Awarded: June 13, 2025 (REA Review)

“Pray vastly excelled in vibes. We were repeatedly left speechless as we navigated a creepy yet absurd world, full of unexpected twists and turns. With Pray, Escape Room Katwijk guided the Dutch style of religious horror in a bold and intriguing new direction.” – Matthew Stein

The Concierge

Hotel Veloria – Volkel, Netherlands

Awarded: June 25, 2025 (REA Review)

“The Concierge was a delightful, detailed, and abundantly satisfying ode to escape room puzzle design. In crafting this full-scale game for exactly 2 players, Hotel Veloria selflessly prioritized player experience above all else.” – Matthew Stein

Parlour Nouveau

Puzzalarium – San Diego, California

Awarded: July 2, 2025 (REA Review)

“I loved the format-breaking design of this experience, that allowed both puzzle-centric players and optimization junkies to shine.” – Tammy McLeod

The Case of the Curiously Correct Blueprints: An Ells and Ernie Mystery

Bluefish Games – Tabletop Game

Awarded: July 12, 2025 (REA Review)

“In The Case of the Curiously Correct Blueprints, Bluefish Games created not only a tabletop puzzle game, but also wrote a compelling abridged audio book. These two pieces were so seamlessly tied together that we were able to experience the challenges and excitement of Ells and Ernie’s adventure firsthand through the puzzle pacing and flow.” – Christina Rohlf

The Taxidermist

Deep Inside – Paris, France

Awarded: July 16, 2025 (REA Review)

“The Taxidermist was set in the City of Martyrs, one of the most immersive game worlds I’ve ever experienced. This narrative-driven game wowed us with its moody setting, compelling actor interactions, dramatic reveals, and emotional story-telling. It joins The Magician of Paris and The Funhouse for a trifecta of must-play games at Deep Inside. ” – Cindi S.

Rise of the Icarus

CU Adventures in Time & Space – Urbana, Illinois

Awarded: July 23, 2025 (REA Review)

“With Rise of the Icarus, CU Adventures brought their signature playful and whimsy game design aboard a spaceship. They did this with collaborative puzzles, character interaction, and a surprising reveal. However, it was the detailed, weathered set that elevated this experience further, making it stand out among the games at CU Adventures.” – Lisa Spira

The Toy Maker

Big Break Hamburg – Hamburg, Germany

Awarded: August 4, 2025 (REA Review)

“The Toy Maker was inventive and whimsical, with surprising reveals and gameplay that re-imagined how standard escape game norms can be used. Loaded with toys & games that would fulfill many childhood dreams, it was pure joy to experience. This is one toy store you don’t want to miss. ” – Cindi S.

The Forest of Fables

CU Adventures in Time & Space – Urbana, Illinois

Awarded: August 10, 2025 (REA Review)

“With an adorable game world, and dynamic gameplay, The Forest of Fables was as strange as it was delightful. Every time we felt like we had a handle on what this game was, CU Adventures changed things up on us.” – David Spira

Fantastic Warehouse

Pandore & Associés – Paris, France

Awarded: August 25, 2025 (REA Review)

“The team at Pandore & Associés has built an immersive world around the assumption that fairy tales and mythical creatures are real and a part of our everyday lives. The Fantastic Warehouse complemented creative storytelling with fun and unusual actor interactions. The set design was inventive, pushing the boundaries of what defines the game space. This experience was indeed fantastic.” – Cindi Saiewitz

Metropolis 2099

Dream Labs Adventures – Bad Steben, Germany

Awarded: August 30, 2025 (REA Review)

“Set in a Blade-Runner-inspired dystopian future, Metropolis 2099 blew us away with immersive sets, an intriguing neo-noir detective story, and a finale that was brilliant for its depiction of the moral choices between betrayal and trust, good and evil.” – Cindi Saiewitz

Temple of Light

The Keepers of Balance – Charlotte, North Carolina

Awarded: September 19, 2025 (REA Review)

“Temple of Light was utterly gorgeous. The Keepers of Balance produced one of the most aesthetically beautiful immersive experiences that we have ever seen. It was topped off by a beautiful adventure.” – Lisa Spira

The St-Onge Case

Immersia – Boisbriand, Québec, Canada

Awarded: September 24, 2025 (REA Review)

“Immersia is best known for high concept games, and The St-Onge Case continues to deliver on that reputation. This standalone sequel to one of their earliest games beautifully used puzzles to establish our understanding of the game’s mythos, and then set us on a thrilling adventure deeper into that world.” – David Spira

The Mysterious Miseries of Franklin N. Stein

Improbable Escapes – Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Awarded: September 29, 2025 (REA Review)

“In my years of playing escape rooms, I’ve never experienced a game that built up as much momentum as The Mysterious Miseries of Franklin N. Stein. Improbable Escapes set out to have players solve one puzzle per minute, and while I don’t know exactly how many I solved, the progression felt rapid and exciting throughout the game.” – David Spira

Josep Fontcalda House Museum

1801 Escape Room – Tona, Spain

Awarded: October 6, 2025 (REA Review)

“Josep Fontcalda House Museum was a beacon of wonder, curiosity, quality craftsmanship, and human ingenuity. It provided an escape to a wholesome alternate reality filled with giggles and glee.” – Matthew Stein

NightShift

CruPont Legacy – Sabadell, Spain

Awarded: October 18, 2025 (REA Review)

“CruPont Legacy’s debut experience NightShift took a bold step into the darkness, successfully pulling off a number of tricks and twists that I’ve never before seen in another escape room. The environment was immaculate, the storytelling was compellingly self-aware, and each scene perfectly flowed into the next.” – Matthew Stein

K.O.N.G. Protocol

Escape Barcelona – Barcelona, Spain

Awarded: October 24, 2025 (REA Review)

“K.O.N.G. Protocol was the ultimate escape room action-thriller. With a stunning set, brilliant cutscenes, creative gameplay, and a jaw-dropping density of ‘holy shit’ moments, this blockbuster experience truly had it all.” – Matthew Stein

Election Day

Appleseed Avenue – Newhall, California

Awarded: November 25, 2025 (REA Review)

“Election Day combined puppetry and crime scene investigation into an experience that was equal parts clever, hilarious, and inspiring. By pulling learnings and techniques from numerous other storytelling mediums, Appleseed Avenue boldly redefined what an escape room can look like and how it can make you feel.” – Matthew Stein

Kaleidoscope 1963

Time Maze – Baden, Switzerland

Awarded: November 14, 2025 (REA Review)

“Kaleidoscope 1963 offered a vivid portal into altered states of consciousness, first transporting us back in time before guiding us on to even more fantastical planes of existence. Combining exquisite scenic design, innovative gameplay, and masterful storytelling, Time Maze created an unforgettable tribute to psychedelic history.” – Matthew Stein

Aunt Hilda’s Room

Trip Trap – Geneva, Switzerland

Awarded: November 25, 2025 (REA Review)

“Aunt Hilda’s Room crafted an immaculately charming fairytale world filled with beautiful puzzle reveals in a uniquely compelling setting. With staggering levels of detail and realism, it was impossible not to get lost in this rustic fantasy.” – Matthew Stein

Antenna Palace

Trapgame – Charrat, Switzerland

Awarded: December 4, 2025 (REA Review)

“Equal parts absurd, surreal, magical, and whimsical, Antenna Palace presented a fresh take on the ever-popular multiverse adventure. Expect the unexpected… and it’ll still be even more unexpected than you could have imagined.” – Matthew Stein

The House of Uncle Cornelius

Trip Trap – Geneva, Switzerland

Awarded: December 12, 2025 (REA Review)

“The House of Uncle Cornelius embodied the spirit of adventure, guiding us on a series of unforgettable quests in jaw-droppingly varied environments. This was the pinnacle of Trip Trap’s signature style: a balance of world-class set design, tactile puzzling, and fantastical yet sincere storytelling.” – Matthew Stein

West City

Trapgame – Charrat, Switzerland

Awarded: December 17, 2025 (REA Review)

“From a theatrical opening to an explosive finale, every moment of West City took full advantage of its incredible environment. The world was elegant in its efficiency, utilizing every trick in the book to make their hamlet feel like a full city.” – Matthew Stein

The Dark Memories of Elisa Doll

Next Level Escape – Kloten, Switzerland

Awarded: December 22, 2025 (REA Review)

“The storytelling in The Dark Memories of Elisa Doll was ambitious, unsettling, and deeply effective. Across a spectrum of both literal and memory environments, this tantalizingly mysterious sci-fi thriller kept us on edge and intrigued throughout.” – Matthew Stein

Golden Lock Awards in 2026

The 2025 Golden Lock Award winners include games played between October 2024 and September 2025.

The 2026 Golden Lock Awards will pick up again with games played in September 2025 through the end of 2025, and then into 2026, of course. We’re excited to share more winning games with you soon.

Patreon Early Access

Room Escape Artist Patreon backers get early access to 3 written pieces each month.

We released 17 of these 35 reviews (49%) to our Patreon backers before anyone else got to read them.

These were interspersed with some of our other favorite reviews and a number of commentary pieces including:

• Escape Room Players Should Be Asking Why Too (by Richard Burns)
• Choreographing Player Movement in Escape Rooms (by Matthew Stein)
• Even More Tips for Surviving Horror Escape Rooms (by Heather Burns)

If you want to hear about Golden Lock Award winners before they are announced, and discuss these games and other game design and player tip topics with our community, we hope you’ll join our Patreon.

Past Golden Lock Award Winners

• 2024 – This is the year we changed how the award is given out. A winner list was announced in April, but then the award continued throughout the rest of the year and you can see all the winners here.
• 2023
• 2022 – This is the year we shifted the award to April, so we didn’t have 2021 winners. They were all awarded in 2022.
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015