Take Part in a Real-life Minimalistic Escape Quest

Minimalism is by no way a new concept. It has been with us since the end of the previous century, and it stays one of the most prominent trends in interior design. The main idea is not to hold onto too many things and pieces of furniture at a time so that the room could be as “empty” as possible. It creates extra space for air circulation, lets in more light, and makes cleaning much more straightforward. But for an escape room, minimalistic approach is often impossible, as it’s breaking the ground design. Most escape quests are created around the idea of searching for hidden objects. And what’s the better way to protect a key or note than to throw it among a bunch of other stuff? Attention cannot catch on every little detail at the same time, so the players are forced to stop and try to detach useless trash from vital clues. That’s what often presents the most challenge, and that’s why many inexperienced teams end escape adventures without completing them in 60 minutes.

But with minimalistic escape quests, you don’t have as many details to work with. For many, it might seem like a difficulty downgrade, but in reality, it’s not. Minimalism presents a different approach to the problem of escape rooms – and you might even find it worth your time if you give it a closer look.

Man in a suit shows an infinite set of doors in a big mirror.

What Makes an Escape Room a Minimalistic Quest

Many experimental escape rooms utilize the main concepts of minimalism in one way or another. We’ve collected the best ideas that might catch even the most experienced escapee off-guard:

  • Escape rooms based on a single puzzle. The central problem can be anything: for example, untying knots (yes, there’s an escape challenge on that) or getting away from a labyrinth of mirrors. What differs a themed escape quest from an attraction is that you need to cooperate with your teammates to progress.
  • Escape quests with a minimalistic interior. These are very hard to make, but if built right, they become the perfect escape quest environment. The peculiar thing about minimalistic locations is that they can be perfect for hiding small objects. Such quests often make use of electronics, so you’ll probably have to deal with lasers and sensors to get out in time.
  • Escape rooms with no storyline. You can’t find too many of them these days, though they stay the core of the genre. No vampires, zombies or bank heists here. Just you and your puzzles for sixty minutes straight.

Do you like minimalistic escape rooms? Would you want to visit one of them someday? Share your opinions in the comment section, and don’t forget to visit us in Seattle, Shoreline or Redmond!