Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK: BUDAPEST'S LIVE ESCAPE GAMES
In the last few years, Budapest has seen the emergence of a new, quirky and justifi-
ably popular activity: live escape games, in which teams of between two and six will-
ingly lock themselves in a set of rooms in order to spend 60 minutes working through
numerous riddles that will eventually unlock the door back to freedom.
Similar to the city's ruin pubs, the games are often set in empty and disused apart-
ment blocks, especially their dank and atmospheric basements. Each game has a dis-
tinct theme and story - from Ancient Egypt and medieval to Cold War and sci-fi - and
involves not only the solving of puzzles but, crucially, the ability to identify the puzzles
in the first place.
Inspired by escape-the-room video games, some claim the game is unique to the
city, although a similar idea was actually developed in Japan in 2007. Mentally challen-
ging - teams frequently get 'locked in' - the games are incredibly addictive and popu-
lar with tourists and locals alike; it's estimated that Budapest now has as many as 100
of them, with more appearing all the time.
Some of the first to open their doors are still the best:
Parapark
,
Claustrophilia
,
Factory
take things to a grander level. No Hungarian is required and it's best to book in
advance, although you may get lucky if you just show up. For solo travellers, TRAP of-
fers a helpful find-a-teammate option when booking.
Tips for First-Timers
Failing is half the fun, but if you want a head start, game creators suggest the follow-
ing:
Don't waste time; don't hesitate; try all of your ideas
Search everywhere - look up, under and behind, and go back and forward between
spaces
Share your findings with your team - cooperate and listen to each other
Don't be ashamed to ask for help - your captors will happily give you clues along the
way
Don't think too hard - make sure you enjoy it!
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
CAFE
LUMEN
