One of the most impactful and effective means of immersing guests into a storyworld is a game’s ability to cast players into uniquely themed roles. These roles both act to further the overall narrative, while also giving guests sort of “super powers” – abilities only they can utilize at some point in the experience. Well implemented Role-Based Gameplay not only ensures each and every member of the team will serve a vital role in an adventure’s outcome, but also can add a rare layer of repeatability to an other-wise largely “one and done” genre.
Escape Authority is honored to announce our 2019 Keys To Greatness – Best Role-Based Game winners:
The Lost Expedition
(National City, CA)
For a decent portion of the overall experience, Steal and Escape manages to create a role-based game so unique that it’s almost two distinct experiences worthy of replaying. Not only are the two starting rooms differently themed, but they carry their own unique skill sets and puzzle styles – each which cater to very different types of player personalities. Even after regrouping, The Lost Expedition’s solidly crafted Role-Based Gameplay continues right up to the finale, with some tasks utilizing the focus of certain team members, while others require different disciplines join forces to accomplish a common goal. No matter the origin point of your Expedition, Steal and Escape creates a world that leaves every player feeling like a vital piece of the story.
Click here to read our full review of The Lost Expedition.
Smugglers Tunnels
(North Hollywood, CA)
Smugglers Tunnels is not only a shoe-in for Best Role-Based Gameplay, but could easily win Best Score-Based Game (a category which, at least this year, doesn’t even exist!) Prior to entering the Tunnels, each guest is assigned a unique role, dictated by a special bracelet received during check-in. Each member of the team is vital to successfully achieving the objective of gathering as much loot as possible from the Smuggler’s Tunnels. Throughout the heist, moments become clearly suited for specific guests to solve, making every member of the team feel both involved and important. Moreover, many of those specialized moments were so uniquely compelling that others in the group will likely stop what they’re doing to watch each personalized challenge unfold.
Click Here to read our full review of Smugglers Tunnels.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
(Los Angeles, CA)
An officially licensed game based on the blockbuster film of the same name, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle holds true to its inspiration by casting each guest in the group as a uniquely skilled avatar straight out of the movie. With puzzles that can quite literally only be played by a specific character and skillsets so wildly varied, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle enters rare territory as a game so immersive and original that it could actually be played multiple times. And thanks to its fully in-world means of character selection, returning guests are guaranteed a unique experience each time they venture back into the jungle! 60out creates an epic, authentic adventure that’s equal parts solo challenge seamlessly blended with all the most compelling moments of a classic team-based escape game, immersively framed within the storyworld of one of Hollywood’s best adventure-based motion pictures.
Click Here to read our full review of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Congratulations to our winners of the first ever Keys To Greatness – Best Role-Based Game award!
With nearly 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 with just one exception, a given game can only win in a single category – but every game will still be qualified to win the coveted Keys To Greatness – Best Game award on June 2, 2019.
*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.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
