Table of Contents
- 0.1 There is a lot of technology behind the time-honored facades
- 0.2 What matters is an impressive design, coherent puzzles and a consistent story
- 1 **For Heiner:** How does Escape Room Dorfen’s focus on storytelling and immersive design compare to escape rooms that prioritize puzzle complexity or technological advancements?
The Escape Room Dorfen was awarded the prestigious Golden Lock Award by Room Escape Artist for its room “Johanna”. This honors the best escape room experiences worldwide every year. The rooms “Bavaria Sacrilego” and “Johanna” were both nominated for the world ranking of the best escape rooms by the internet platform Terpeca. Golden Lock and Terpeca are the most renowned organizations in the international escape room scene, and this means great recognition for the Dorfen escape room.
The “Sacrilegio” study room. (Photo: Escape Room Dorfen)
3,500 to 4,000 visitors come to the escape rooms in Dorfen every year, and the trend is rising. Managing director Christian Korn has been running the escape rooms on the Meindl site since 2019. In 2018, he and his wife Rosmarie Neumeier-Korn played an escape room for the first time and they both became passionate. Since then, they have been playing escape rooms wherever the opportunity presents itself. “I’m a mathematician, I like puzzles,” says the managing director.
They started with three rooms, Bavaria Sacrilego and Johanna were only added in 2024. The rooms are his second source of income; he also has his own IT company, which enabled him to survive Corona financially when the escape rooms were closed.
The two new rooms should be something very special. There are big differences in the quality of escape rooms: you can buy kits in Poland and Russia and put them together, which is why there are so many escape rooms with themes like Harry Potter. Or you can create your own story with a consistent thread, with puzzles that fit with it and a coherent finale that solves the mystery.
Managing director Christian Korn in a dark room where Bavaria Sacrilego is being played. The first thing you have to do is find the helpful lantern. (Photo: Renate Schmidt)
Korn has achieved a special feat: the two red threads of Bavaria Sacrilego and Johanna run together at the end and are woven together. The plot of the two stories: Johanna is a maid in love, whose groom does not appear at the altar for the wedding and is never seen again afterwards, which worries Johanna to death. Bavaria Sacrilego is about a secret society in Dorfen, whose history a professor is researching. There is an intersection between the two stories.
There is a lot of technology behind the time-honored facades
The furnishings of these rooms are exceptional. They were realized based on Korn’s designs by stage and illusion painters and model makers who also work for the Bavaria Film Studios. The construction time for an old chapel alone, which plays a role in the stories, took nine months.
And behind these time-honored facades there is a lot of technology: 4.8 kilometers of cables are installed in each of the new rooms for lighting, sound, effects, remote-controlled locking mechanisms, microphones and cameras. The playing teams are accompanied by a game leader on the monitor in the technical room. If you don’t get any further, he offers help and has to act a little: because he doesn’t act as a game master, because that would disrupt the illusion, but rather, for example, as the ghost of the crypt.
Target groups are bachelor evenings, companies that use the visit as team building, groups of friends or senior groups. (Photo: Escape Room Dorfen)
This help is also necessary: Only rarely does a team manage to solve all the puzzles on their own; the game leader has to give an average of four to five tips. It is therefore not at all dishonorable to accept a little support. Because the tasks are demanding, Korn works them out himself and then presents them to his wife for testing. “Sometimes I have to brake him if they are too heavy,” said Rosmarie Neumeier-Korn.
What matters is an impressive design, coherent puzzles and a consistent story
Heiner Stepen fueled the hype about the new rooms. He has already played through more than 2,500 escape rooms in 21 countries, is considered the “pope” of the escape room scene and is also Terpeca’s ambassador in Germany. He was one of the first to play Johanna and Bavaria Sacrilego and then classified them as premium. The ranking only includes the reviews of experienced players; you have to have played through more than 200 rooms to take part. “The testers particularly value an impressive design, coherent puzzles and a consistent story,” said Korn.
Target groups are bachelor evenings, companies that use the visit as team building, groups of friends or senior groups. “There was also a research group of psychologists there because the game is very informative about who in the group has what strengths,” explained the managing director. “We have an age limit for Johanna from 16 years and for the other rooms from 14. We have also had requests for children’s birthday parties and tried it with twelve year olds, but that still doesn’t fit.”
“Anyone who has played an escape room once usually comes back,” said Rosemarie Neumeier-Korn. You get involved in an hour of adventure, a mental cinema that is a lot of fun.
**For Heiner:** How does Escape Room Dorfen’s focus on storytelling and immersive design compare to escape rooms that prioritize puzzle complexity or technological advancements?
## Interview: Escape Room Dorfen – A Feat of Storytelling and Design
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. We’re thrilled to have **Christian Korn, the managing director of Escape Room Dorfen,** and **Heiner Stepen, a globally renowned escape room expert and the “pope” of the escape room scene**, joining us today.
**Section 1: The Rise of Escape Rooms & The Dorfen Success Story**
* **For Christian:** Escape rooms have become incredibly popular worldwide. What do youAttribute this rise in popularity to, and what makes Escape Room Dorfen stand out in this crowded landscape?
* **For Heiner:** You’ve played thousands of escape rooms around the world. What trends have you observed in this industry, and how does Escape Room Dorfen compare to other high-quality escape rooms you’ve experienced?
**Section 2: Crafting Immersive Experiences**
* **For Christian:** The article highlights the incredible detail and design work that went into creating the “Johanna” and “Bavaria Sacrilego” rooms. What inspired you to create these specific narratives, and what role does storytelling play in crafting a truly immersive escape room experience?
* **For Heiner:** As an experienced escape room player, what are the key elements that contribute to a truly immersive and unforgettable experience? How well does Escape Room Dorfen succeed in capturing these elements?
**Section 3: Technological Integration and the Role of the Game Master**
* **For Christian:** The article mentions the extensive use of technology in your rooms, from special effects to remote-controlled locking mechanisms. How do you balance technological advancements with traditional escape room elements to create a cohesive experience? What’s the role of the game master in guiding players through this technologically-rich environment?
* **For Heiner:** What are your thoughts on the use of technology in escape rooms? Do you think it enhances or detracts from the experience?
**Section 4: Escape Rooms as a Cultural Phenomenon**
* **For Christian:** You mentioned that Escape Room Dorfen attracts diverse groups, from bachelor parties to senior groups even psychology researchers. What do you think makes escape rooms appealing to such a wide range of people?
* **For Heiner:** Do you believe escape rooms can offer more than just entertainment? Do you see them as having the potential to foster teamwork, problem-solving skills, or even emotional intelligence?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you both for sharing your insights and expertise with us today. This has been a fascinating glimpse into the world of escape rooms and the creative vision behind Escape Room Dorfen. What advice would you give to anyone considering venturing into the world of escape rooms?
