A new game challenging participants’ wit and patience has opened in Dundee, after sweeping the UK by storm.
Escape rooms are a set of puzzles in which attendees are locked in a room and left with a number of objects and clues on how to escape.
The object of the game is to work together as part of a team to try and escape from “the room” in as quick a time as possible, with a time-limit of one hour.
Each item players are given has to be utilised in the escape and each puzzle in the Dundee centre is based on a theme- retrieving Davy Jones’ heart on the black pearl or bringing an artificial intelligence programme to life.
Escape Rooms Scotland were the first to open in Dundee and have already become one of the most popular attractions in the city, according to co-owner Linda Torrance.
She said: “We are very pleased with the response we have had from people in Dundee, and teams of people have come from all over to take part in the games.
“We have two rooms at the moment, with the plan to open another two in the coming months.
“This would allow us to cater for up to 24 players at a time, spread over the four rooms.”
Escape room venues have popped up all over the UK and the world, with the game type proving incredibly popular in London, Manchester, Toronto in Canada, Pittsburgh in the USA and Singapore in Asia.
Analysis:
The first thing you come to realise when trying to breakout of the escape room is almost every object you are given has a purpose.
Its purpose however may be a red-herring, making you waste valuable minutes until you figure it out.
According to centre staff, different teams have different methods for figuring clues out- some choosing to communicate loudly with one another, others working in complete silence.
Either way, the thrilling experience certainly gets the brain-cogs moving and it is easy to see why escape rooms are currently one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
I’m just pleased our work experience candidate Alec was happy to join in, otherwise I’m sure I would still be trapped.
