Pure escapism, adventure, and let’s face it, joy can all be found in an Escape Room. Everyone from the investigator, the thrill-seeker and the code-cracker can all find something to like. With the adrenaline pumping, clues to discover and time ticking away on the clock, there’s very little that can compare.
Then, we find ourselves immersed in the world of videogames. Unlocking doors, deciphering codes and finding our way through the story – it all sounds familiar! Whether your means to claim your freedom is a gun or taking over the controls of a space ship, the outcome is the same: escape!
So, let’s go on our next adventure! Here are our favourite videogames that we think escape room fans will enjoy:
Everyone’s Gone to the Rapture
Everyone’s Gone to the Rapture explores a mysterious world of a small English town. All of the inhabitants are missing, and it’s your job to discover why. During gameplay, you interact with objects littered throughout the landscape and floating lights which reveal parts of the story.
The Guardian described the game as “a beautiful game of patience.” From the little glimpses and clues you gather, the story slowly comes together as you make sense of the apocalyptic world.
If you have played an Escape Room, you can see the parallels. Like Rapture, there is an unfolding mystery to solve – little nuggets of information that later give you the full picture before making your exit from the game.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Returning to the franchise’s survival horror roots, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard takes place in a derelict plantation that is home to an infected family. There you play the central character, ‘Ethan Winters’ from a first-person perspective as he desperately tries to find his missing wife.
Throughout the game, you have to solve puzzles, fight enemies and power through the final chapter. Videotapes are scattered for Ethan to find, offering essential clues and revealing crucial plot information. If you want to take gameplay to the next level, Playstation 4 offers VR (virtual reality) for “the players.”
Now, imagine that as an Escape Room plot!
Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea
“Even in a utopia, someone has to clean up the mess. That’s where I come in. The girl promised me a way out, and I was desperate enough to believe her. We were all buried at sea; we just didn’t know it yet.”
― Booker DeWitt
An oldie, but a goodie Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea offers the exploration and mystery that players have come to love from the franchise. Based in the iconic city of Rapture, the story follows private investigator Booker DeWitt as he is called to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The mission is set, a mask is retrieved, and the mystery unravels.
A first-person shooter that offers role-play elements, Burial at Sea takes you through a series of flashbacks. As the story unfolds, you need to piece together and collect clues along the way, unlock essential plot information and solve the mystery of the Little Sisters. Tying together the events that launched the Bioshock series, this is an exhilarating ride!
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Your mission is to save the galaxy. Thrown into the deep end, the original trilogy centres around the space navy soldier, Commander Shepherd. From exploring the origin of the Reapers to preventing a cosmic battle to 2020’s release of Mass Effect: Andromeda, the franchise goes from strength to strength.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition brings together the remastered original trilogy. Celebrated for the player’s choice affecting your gaming experience – from interactions with other characters to deciding to wage a galactic war, there’s a lot to unpack.
So, put your investigative caps on! This one’s for you!
Tomb Raider series
Fewer characters in gaming history are as memorable as Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft. The franchise famously focuses on Croft’s adventures around the world as she unearths artefacts while infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.
From exploring different environments, fighting enemies to solving mechanical and environmental puzzles, it’s all there. As you follow Croft through her adventures, you get to solve mysteries, crack codes and reveal hidden chambers.
With the highly anticipated Tomb Raider Reloaded due for release in 2021, you can expect more high-octane hijinks from the franchise. A new adventure awaits, and we’re all itching to take on the action-packed journey!
Losing yourself in immersive experiences is all part of an Escape Rooms allure. Taking on fun challenges, solving puzzles and unveiling the mystery keeps us coming back for more.
Now, imagine exploring that as an RPG (role-playing game). It sounds fun, doesn’t it? What will be your next gaming discovery?