The Market Will Eventually Bring Escape Rooms Back to Being a Regular Business

The market will eventually bring escape rooms back to being a regular business.

People often ask how many more years escape rooms can last, or where the industry is heading. I find it difficult to give a definite answer. More than a decade ago, before escape rooms were available, people already enjoyed going online, singing, drinking, playing cards and having tea. How long escape rooms last depends on whether operators can offer a game experience that differs from other forms of entertainment.

For years, some operators have seen themselves as part of a special industry. They put the product first and may describe business setbacks in terms of passion for the craft. Running an escape room still requires attention to the usual rules of business. Location, operations and the product all deserve serious consideration.

The quality of an escape room can only be judged after playing it. Before buying, customers have limited ways to know how good a theme really is. While operators carefully refine the details inside a room, they also need to recognise the direct influence of its name and poster on the customer’s choice.

Even with careful attention to location, operations and the product, rent can still put a venue under considerable pressure during an economic downturn.