The Lab: Outbreak

The Brief

Thrill Factor Entertainment needed a marquee attraction for their new Manchester venue — something that would generate social media buzz and position them as the most intense escape room operator in the north of England.

The Challenge

The brief called for expert-level difficulty without feeling unfair, horror elements that could be toggled on or off for different audiences, and technology-driven puzzles that wouldn't break under heavy daily use. The 45-minute runtime (shorter than industry standard) meant every second had to count.

The Solution

We engineered a modular scare system: RFID wristbands let players opt in or out of live actor interactions at booking. The puzzle flow uses a branching path design — two sub-teams solve parallel challenges before reconvening for the finale, maximising engagement per minute. All electronic components use industrial-grade sensors with automatic fault detection that alerts staff before players notice.

Results