Election DayAppleseed AvenueEscape roomOther This was such an impressive immersive experience. The puppets, the plot, the puzzling - everything comes together into such a cohesive storytelling experience that highlights deduction, critical thinking, and collaboration. There is such a great mechanic that makes sense in-universe and all the elements of play are so thoughtfully designed. It is a 100 minute experience but my team was groveling for more - we were not ready for it to end. I cannot recommend this game enough. What a delightful, satisfying adventure from start to finish. Bravo, Matt and Pat!
The Scholars of the Islamic WorldMuseum of Islamic ArtEscape roomOther This cleverly crafted learning experience is a prime example of how to blend museum education with student engagement. It is a heist theme, with players having to find the missing artifacts (high-fidelity replicas of the real deal!) and place them back in the right location. Split into four wings, participants cycle through each station to interact with different artifacts and solve themed puzzles. Reflecting the rich history & culture of Qatar, the different rooms range from ancient astronomy & mathematics to art & music, with creative takes on how players would learn something and then immediately apply it (think: learning about the historical use of an abacus and then using it to solve a math puzzle). This "activation" not only promotes and teaches the museum curatorial content, but it offers participants a means of getting hands-on and tactile with their puzzles -- not something a museum could typically boast. I hope to see collaborations and experiences like this in museums (and other comparable spaces) so ubiquitous they become the norm.
