Living Outside The Lines: The Escape Room Craze

In fact, a large majority of us, I would guess, look for an exit strategy immediately upon entering an unfamiliar room. So, why the “sudden” escape room craze where folks actually pay money to be trapped?

Becky J Miller | Exclusive to Corridor News

Raise your hand if your “Bucket List” includes, “Attempt to escape from a dark, locked room.” Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? No? Me neither. The majority of rational and sane adults prefer not to be locked in a room with little hope of escape. In fact, a large majority of us, I would guess, look for an exit strategy immediately upon entering an unfamiliar room. So, why the “sudden” escape room craze where folks actually pay money to be trapped?

According to a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, the madness can be traced to July 2007, Kyoto Japan. From there the games spread to Europe, Australia and the U.S. Thus far, the game has failed in only one locale, the island of Malta. Perhaps they have established wiser ways in which to spend their hard earned income?

Although the games have large appeal across age demographics, it is not surprising that escape rooms are particularly appealing to millennials. After all, they are virtually live action video games. For me personally, a non-millennial, I don’t understand the fascination and success of them.

Left to my own devices, I probably would have never ventured to an escape room on my own, but it was a friend’s birthday and she invited us to join a group of people she knew. Naively I thought, “Why not?” Honestly, I envisioned an adventure in kicking butt and taking names. After all, my husband and I are intelligent, educated, analytical people; surely we could find our way out of a locked room. Negative.

There were ten people in our group; mature grown-ups, career professionals, entrusted to raise children, and yet we managed to find not one single, solitary, clue on our own. We had fifty-minutes to do one job, and we failed, miserably. Even as I write this column, I am still disgusted with myself. I tried, I really did, but Sarah Martinez owner of the Riddle Room, outsmarted us all. #kudostoher

Adding insult to injury, the average cost for an escape room attempt, is $25 per person. Lucky for us, the birthday girl picked up the tab so at least my wallet isn’t screaming along with my pride.

Would I try again? Sure, if the moon were in perfect alignment with Saturn, perhaps. Such an event occurred just last month, so the likelihood of a repeat performance anytime soon is unlikely. Hopefully my pride will have sufficient recovery time before then.

For anyone who decides to attempt an escape room and makes it out in the allotted 50 minutes, PLEASE, keep your celebration to yourself. My psyche simply could not handle the knowledge that others succeeded where I failed.

Until Next Time,
Becky J. Miller
“Warrior Princess”

Becky J Miller is a contributor and is exclusive to SM Corridor News. You can read more of Becky’s columns in Lifestyle.