Escape game craze makes its way to Regina

Genies often conjure images of wishes, golden lamps and Disney movies.But genies take a more sinister turn in Regina, where a new escape room has opened.

"An escape room is a new form of entertainment where a group of people will enter a room, be locked in the room and have to find clues, solve puzzles, and decipher riddles in order to get out of the room," explained Dale D'Silva, the owner of Escape Club.

D'Silva opened Escape Club in Regina's warehouse district in December. Its theme? The curse of the evil genie.

"You and your group would be trapped inside of the genie's lamp and need to find his ten favourite stories... in order to escape his curse and free yourself from the room," he said.

Inspiration from other rooms

D'Silva was inspired after doing his first room in Calgary with a group of strangers. When he told his niece about this experience, she was immediately excited, so he looked for places near her home in Lethbridge. Hefound three.

"My first thought was, 'Why does Regina get everything last?' And then my next thought was, 'Somebody should open up an escape room in Regina'.And my third thought was, 'Hey, I'm someone,'" he said.

D'Silva said that some escape rooms can be very challenging, and his is no exception. D'Silva gives the teams one hour to complete it. However, he also provides players a series of hints when he feels the team is struggling.

My first thought was "why does Regina get everything last?"- Dale D'Silva, Escape Club owner

He recommends anywhere between fourand 10 players come in to try their luck, adding that the more people you bring the more successful you'll be breaking out of the room.

"The more different perspectives you have in your group, the easier it is to traverse the room," he said.

"We'll often find that with certain clues you'll have four or five people look at the clue and just not get it, but that sixth person will take a gander at it and they'll pick it up immediately."

The other important thing is to have good teamwork and communication.

Right now, D'Silva only has one room, but his second room is in development with a new theme: a prison break.

He's hoping to open the new escape roomin mid to late February.