Escape Games, by their very nature, have always been about outside the box problem solving. Now, that very notion could never shine more brightly. In the face of global uncertainty, the industry has banded together to innovate and evolve, creating a whole new way to “escape reality,” with Remote Play from the comfort and safety of your own home. Because so many worthy contenders for the title of Best Remote Play have sprung up so quickly, and because for the first time, we’re rating on a world-wide scale, Escape Authority will award equal honors to venues in our home country of the USA, as well as Internationally. Our 2020 Keys To Greatness – Best Remote Play award will also include Top Five Remote Play honors, enabling us to recognize the impressive efforts so many venues have put into offering us all a little bit of fun during such a trying and stressful time.
Escape Authority is honored to announce our 2020 Keys To Greatness – Best Remote Play – USA winners:
Before Moonrise
(New Haven, CT)
Like a full moon on a clear night, Escape New Haven shines bright in their first remote play experience. A classic tale of peril deep in the woods is brought to life through clever puzzles, innovative tech integration, and a character host that jumps at the slightest hint of danger outside. Time is waning before the menace lurking in the woods consumes an innocent hiker. Is that a bear? A dog? A werewolf? Only one thing is for sure… Before Moonrise is a howling good time.
Click Here to read our full review of Before Moonrise.
Miss Jezebel’s Tea Party
(Los Angeles, CA)
The internet has some strange, dark corners that are better left unexplored. It also has some that absolutely should have a light shined on them… just not a blacklight. Miss Jezebel’s Tea Party is one of the most outlandish, unique, and downright fun games players will ever encounter. The immersive theater game play pairs with many laugh out loud funny moments to create a raunchy, hilarious investigation into the potentially murderous Miss Jezebel. While the tasks may seem easy on their face, the added interactions with the lovely host makes everything a bit more hard. We know what we said.
Click Here to read our full review of Miss Jezebel’s Tea Party.
Gold Rush
(Murrieta, CA)
If Gold Rush at MindTrap Escape Room were to receive two thumbs up for every one eye the character host had, it would receive two thumbs up. Because he only has one eye. A wonderfully immersive dive into the the heart of El Dorado county is led by none other than One-Eyed Bill. While Gold Rush is a great game to begin with, it is truly brought to life by its bonus character level. Wacky One-Eyed Bill is the secret ingredient that really bumps this one up to a whole other level, but the super fun game play that ends with a bang make this one of the more memorable remote experiences.
Click Here to read our full review of Gold Rush.
The Truth About Edith
(Portland, OR)
How many cats is too many? According to Edith, there is no limit. She is, after all, a crazy cat lady. But just what is her big secret? In one of the most innovative remote play games on the market, teams of four players (no more, no less) will attempt to answer that elusive question. The Truth About Edith was designed and built specifically for this medium, which allowed Mad Genius Escapes to truly get creative. Traversing the internet, visiting custom websites with countless easter eggs, and even having a fantastic live interaction with Edith herself all come into play. Is she 85 years old? Is she 118? Nobody truly knows. But now that the cat’s out of the bag, gather three friends and try to figure out the peculiar case of the old lady that lives in an escape game establishment.
Click Here to read our full review of The Truth About Edith.
The Official Evil Dead 2™ Live Video Escape Room
(Seattle, WA)
We’ve long said that the sign of a good attraction is one that can stand on its own, with no prior knowledge or emotional connection to its IP required. The Official Evil Dead 2™ Live Video Escape Room is one of the best possible examples of that design rule. While the film that the game draws all of its inspiration from – a cult classic, but shall we say… not the finest movie ever produced – may not have won many accolades, the game delivers an absolutely fantastic remote play experience for fans and detractors alike. Barricaded in an almost exact replica of the cabin from the game’s namesake, the game host Shemp reaches out to his remote team in hope for assistance in returning the evil dead to their home. A brilliant portrayal of this entirely new character to the IP brings much needed comedic relief along the way. Intuitive, creative, and exciting puzzles blend seamlessly with the wonderfully detailed scenic. The story, character, scenic, and challenges come together so well that The Official Evil Dead 2™ Live Video Escape Room is undoubtedly a must-see attraction!
Click Here to read our full review of Evil Dead 2.
Congratulations to our winners of the first ever Keys To Greatness – Best Remote Play – USA 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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