The past year has been one of learning, adapting, and evolving in ways we never thought possible. Today, we’re excited to once again do our part to recognize those venues who rose to the moment and offered us all a little bit of joy in the most uncertain of times. Escape Games have always been about thinking outside the box to solve problems in creative new ways – so it should come as no surprise that our industry did exactly that when faced with the inability to welcome players in person throughout much of the last year. That evolution brought us a whole new genre of entertainment: Remote Play Escape Games.
This new segment of our industry brought with it a seemingly endless debate in the fandom: just which style of game works best – In Person or Remote Play? Today, that friendly battle will come to a head, in our first-ever themed brackets. Soon, you, our readers, will officially pick your favorite!
Escape Authority is thrilled to announced the fourth annual return of our Readers Key Tournament:
IN person or remote play?
Vote for Your favorite venue in the WORLD!
The Power is in your hands!
We’ve awarded our fair share of 5 Key, and even 6 Key reviews – but now, for the fourth consecutive year, you have the power to award a title far more coveted – the one and only Readers Key – 2021 Favorite Venue honors! This is our most exclusive Readers Key Tournament yet – limiting the number of venues to ensure each and every contender is truly among the very best of the best. And, for the first time ever, thanks to the advent of Remote Play, we’re including acclaimed venues from all around the world!
This year, we’ve restructured each Readers Key Tournament brackets by region. Venues nominated for their In Person games are represented on the Red Bracket and Purple Bracket – the branding colors of Escape Authority. Of them, Red Bracket venues are roughly based around the eastern United States, while Purple Bracket locations reside further west. Venues nominated for their Remote Play games are represented on the Teal Bracket and Blue Bracket – the branding colors of Remote Escape Authority. Similarly split by location, the Teal Bracket features venues based in North America, while the Blue Bracket is content around the world.
(To qualify for this year’s tournament, a venue must have received at least one 5 Key or better review by today, April 1, 2021. Due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the operation of nonessential businesses around the world at the time of posting, we are waiving our typical requirement that all nominated venues must remain open and operating through the duration of the tournament to be considered. Similarly, we may include venues who no longer offer remote versions of their games, as long as their in person content is still an option. Placement within each bracket was determined via a random number generator.)
The Readers Key Tournament will take place over four rounds spanning the next five weeks. First Round brackets features two venues going head to head, with only one top vote-getter advancing in each. Please note that this year, there will be NO Second Chance vote, making each and every First Round contest matter more than ever before! Each Second Round bracket features four venues, with the top three vote-getters advancing. The Semi-Final Rounds feature the winners of the Red Bracket vs. the winners of the Purple Bracket, as well as the winners of the Teal Bracket vs. the winners of the Blue Bracket. The top five vote-getters from each Semi-Final match will advance, making our grand finale the Top Ten Best Venues as voted on by our readers.
Readers Key voting will occur on our Homepage, not Facebook page. One vote per person, per poll, per day is allowed, and no registration is required to participate. (And yes, participation is open to everyone, including venue owners and their employees.) A new poll opens each day at 3:00 pm EST.
Each First Round poll will remain open for exactly 24 hours, and allow one vote per person.
Second Round polls remain open for exactly 48 hours, and allow one vote per person per day (a total of two votes.)
Third Round Semi-Finals polls will remain open for 72 hours, and allow one vote per person per day (a total of three votes.)
The Final Round, beginning with the top five In Person venues and the top five Remote Play venues will remain open for 120 hours, and allow one vote per person per day (a total of five votes.) The lowest two vote-getters will be eliminated each day at 3:00 pm EST, building towards a head to head, one on one contest on last day for our Readers Key Tournament!
Our newest EA Readers Key Winner will be announced on May 6, 2021. Once official, the winner will receive a dated Readers Key badge posted in all of their reviews on our site, as well as the right to post their award in their venue, on their own website and across their social media channels.
Each daily Readers Key post will be the only the place to vote for YOUR favorite venue, while also giving an opportunity to learn more about them through shared venue details, as well as a re-posting of each of their highest scoring reviews.
And best of all, you can cast your daily vote in our Readers Key Tournament for the very first time THIS Monday, April 5, 2021 at 3:00 pm EST!
Please be sure to share your congratulations with all thirty-two of this year’s nominated venues. Please also consider sharing your support for them across your social media platform of choice, and if you’re in a position to do so, give thought to booking a game or purchasing a gift card from them. Helping your favorite venue maintain a social media buzz can make all the difference in getting through these uncertain times.
Please click the link of your favorite venues’ sites to visit them directly, and show them your support in what ever way you prefer. All venues are listed in the identical randomly drawn order that placed them in their respective tournament brackets:
Doldrick’s Escape Room | Escape the Netherworld
The Escape Ventures | 13th Gate Escape
Cross Roads Escape Games | Maze Rooms
Strange Bird Immersive | Hatch Escapes
Hourglass Escapes | Mind Trap Escape Room
Mad Genius Escape Co. | Improbable Escapes
Reason | Looking Glass Adventures
Lost Escape | Locked Room Budapest
Sky High Escape Room | Emergency Exit
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, the venues that call them home have been intentionally omitted from the thirty-two options in the Readers Key Tournament.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
