Over the years, escape rooms have become a go-to source of fun for friends, families, and coworkers around the world. Whether you're looking for an escape room to celebrate a birthday party or just a night out on the town, there are always fun and unique designs out there.
Thousands of escape rooms mean thousands of creative themes, but some puzzles are so one-of-a-kind that the experience is almost impossible to duplicate. Escape room enthusiasts love out-of-the-box ideas, so without further ado, we give you some of the most original, the most memorable, the most unique escape room themes out there!
1. Movie Magic
Teams are on a deadline to finish a film. They must choose from one of four genres, then spread out as different department heads (writer, director, actors, camera operator) as production commences. Clues lead to breaks in the script, shooting a scene and finishing the edit - all before the studio shuts down production. Teams also get a link to their real 30-second movie!
2. Gangster Squad
Become immersed in a world of gangsters on prohibition-era booze run from Chicago to St. Louis. The room is divided into four sections, each with the front and back seat of a different gangster-era car. Teams move from vehicle to vehicle as cops and angry locals give hot pursuit. TV screens acting as windows, weather changes (heater/ac), and daytime/night variables all add unique layers to the chase experience.
3. A Jungle Look
Teams are thrust into an exotic escape from poachers who are trying to capture a shipment of prize baboons. One moment clues are discovered within a thicket of dangling vines; the next, teams must wade through knee-deep grass, avoiding snakes and vigilantes, as they make their way to the animal sanctuary. Along with immersive sound effects and plenty of thrills, this room also boasts a charitable caveat - half of all proceeds go to helping endangered species!
4. Home Cooking
Starting simple can be fun! "The Kitchen" pulls back layers of its innocuous premise and evolves into something completely out of this world. Teams start in a regular kitchen, but as clues are uncovered, the room slowly transforms into a spaceship. The stovetop folds back, and the oven door drops down, transforming into a control panel. The refrigerator turns into a supercomputer, and the cabinets become battle stations. By the end of the hour, teams are in orbit, narrowly escaping disaster back on earth.
5. Trouble in Paradise
Tropical themes can be especially fun for people who live in colder climates. During the dead of winter, it can be invigorating to be transported to an island destination. Complete with souvenir leis and sunglasses, "Beach Bums" challenges participants to crack a number of clever puzzles hidden on a deserted island. Teams must dig for treasure, find a message in a bottle, and dance at a luau, all while trying to escape before the island blows its top like a volcano!
6. Horror Wedding
By combining comedy and horror, "Wed of the Undead" offers one of the coolest, genre-bending rooms on the market. Escape a nightmare, zombie-themed wedding reception before getting captured. Teams must navigate the various pitfalls of a disastrous wedding: bad food, lame dancing, and family tension as the guests around them begin to transform into flesh-hungry zombies!
7. A Game Within a Game
Metagaming is a growing trend, and nothing exemplifies that more than Classics: a room that uses iconic board games and vintage video games to guide the escape. Teams play sequences of Mario Kart, Monopoly, and many others in an attempt to escape from "Game Limbo" and get back into the real world.
8. Rock-a-Billy Fever
Get transported back to 1956 with a room completely devoted to The King. Teams must get Elvis out of the building before a mob of rabid fans overtakes him. It's a full dose of Elvis hysteria and includes real artifacts and memorabilia from the glory days of rock and roll.
9. Vegas Nights
Participants are on the run after beating a group of shady card sharks in a game of poker. A helpful blackjack dealer, loose slot machines, and plenty of other Vegas frills and flare help guide teams through a gauntlet of bright lights and Sin City action, making this an adrenaline-pumping escape for teams looking to put it all on the line.
10. Born Country
It's an escape from mother nature on a midwestern farm as teams are challenged to harvest their grain before a huge thunderstorm hits. Crack clues to start the machinery, cut the crop, and get it stored, Real stalks of wheat, remote control trucks, and a gradual weather change (fans for wind and rolling thunder over speakers) make this an unforgettable experience.
And there you have it! Ten escape room themes as diverse as the booming fan base ready to experience them! Perhaps you can design an escape room as clever as the ones that made this list. Whether you're a designer working on a new concept or a fan looking for the most memorable experience, we hope this list got you excited and inspired!