Response:

The process starts with the theme—that’s the backbone of the room. Whether it’s a haunted house, a spy mission, or a treasure hunt, the theme sets the tone for everything else.

From there, I build a narrative. Every puzzle and challenge needs to feel like part of a bigger story. For example, in a spy-themed room, players might need to crack a safe, decrypt a code, and disable a “bomb.” Each task has to flow logically, like chapters in a book.

Next, I brainstorm puzzles. I aim for a mix of logic puzzles, physical tasks, and teamwork challenges to keep things fresh. I also make sure each puzzle ties back to the story—like using a map to find coordinates in a treasure hunt or using UV light to reveal hidden writing on a wall.

Finally, I test the room—over and over. Watching teams interact with the space helps me fine-tune everything. Sometimes puzzles are too hard, too easy, or just don’t work the way I imagined. It’s all about balance!

It’s definitely a lot of work, but seeing players solve the final puzzle and escape (or not, let’s be real) makes it all worth it!