With Escape Games and Haunts being linked hand and hand for so much of the genre’s history, it just makes sense that the Horror Theme has become one of the undisputed kings in our industry. Adding an obvious and tangible sense of urgency and a tantalizing taste of immersion to the experience, Horror Themes make up some of the very best Escape Games in the market today.
Escape Authority is honored to announce our 2020 Keys To Greatness – Best Horror Theme winners:
July 11, 2020 – Escape Authority takes racially intolerant comments very seriously, and as such, in light of those recently made by the owner this former award-winning venue, we can no longer support, recommend or endorse this game. As such, this award has been removed.
This is not a political issue, nor is it a matter of opinion. This is an issue of respect and human decency. We need to do better as a people. The time for that is now.
The Basement
The Basement
(Sylmar, CA / Las Vegas, NV / Kansas City, MO)
One of the early leaders in the Escape Game industry may just be due credit for the Horror Theme taking off as solidly as it has. Within each of The Basement’s multiple locations, all games are interconnected to the storyworld of Edward Tandy, a psychotic serial killer with a taste for human flesh. But it’s the venues namesake original game that may just be its most terrifying. Macabre settings, theatrical effects and well-placed live actors take an already tense environment and crank the dial well past eleven. Very few games are able to create a sense of urgency the way The Basement can. In fact, it’s so successful at establishing its dark and tormented world that even returning guests may find themselves caught off-guard by the scares should they opt to play it again.
Click here to read our full review of The Basement.
ZOE
(Fullerton, CA)
Zoe transcends the world of our industry, taking its crown of “scariest Escape Game” and stretching it far into the realm of “scariest Horror-based Attraction, ever.” With a heavy focus on show, Zoe’s puzzles almost become second priority to its troop of multiple live actors – each seemingly hell-bent on killing us in their own uniquely horrifying ways. Zoe is the real-life embodiment of every classic horror movie scene that sees the demented killer chase his victim down darkened halls swinging an ax just inches from their skulls. Even the bravest members of your group will be left with shaking hands and weak knees after a chilling supernatual encounter with little Zoe and Uncle Robert.
Simply put, Zoe is nightmares come to life.
Zoe wins our gold Keys To Greatness – Best Horror Theme honor for the second consecutive year.
Click Here to read our full review of Zoe.
Congratulations to our winners of the second annual Keys To Greatness – Best Horror Theme award!
With more than 1,000 games played across the site, being picked as one of the best three in the country is a well-earned honor to truly be proud of!
With so many deserving games worthy of recognition, our goal is to ensure these Keys To Greatness awards are attainable to all – not just those with blockbuster budgets that might be otherwise out of reach. As such, it’s important to note that we have, as much as possible, limited games to winning a single category – but every game will still be qualified to win the coveted Keys to Greatness – Best Game award, as well as the Keys to Greatness – Remote Play awards.
*Although the games I’ve personally designed are consistently very highly rated by both enthusiasts and newer players alike, I cannot in good conscience nominate an attraction I created. As such, those games and the venues that call them home have been intentionally omitted from consideration for any Keys To Greatness award.
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