by Joe Tracy, editor of Theme Park Magazine
Dead Walk Designs, renowned for shaping themed experiences at iconic locations like Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds, and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, is now making a mark in the world of escape rooms. This journey started in 2021 with The Temple of the Forbidden Idol for the acclaimed Chronos One Escape Rooms in Eltham, London.
Chronos One Escape Rooms: A Step Above
Dedicated to making each escape room an immersive journey, Chronos One Escape Rooms (formerly Eltham Escape Rooms) integrates story, design, sound, and smell into their room themes. This holistic approach, coupled with an unwavering commitment to customer service and staff training, has rocketed Chronos One Escape Rooms to the top of the global escape room rankings. This is echoed in their exceptional ratings on TripAdvisor and Google. On TripAdvisor, they have 525 reviews. Out of those, 479 ratings are “Excellent,” 42 are “Very Good,” and only four are rated “Average” or below. On Google, they average 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Chronos One Escape Rooms 2022 release, “The Temple of the Forbidden Idol,” is another testament to its success. To transform this room into an immersive spectacle, Chronos One enlisted the creative prowess of Dead Walk Designs.
Crafting The Temple of the Forbidden Idol
This collaboration between Chronos One Escape Rooms and Dead Walk Designs was born in 2021 when Chronos One reached out, seeking a fresh approach to their Temple-themed escape room, which was due for a significant overhaul. The idea was to rejuvenate, not just renovate, and Dead Walk Designs embraced the challenge.
The Temple of The Forbidden Idol is a blend of adventure and mystery. Players follow the quest set by Professor Jones, braving a jungle to begin the quest. After a challenging expedition through the jungle, players find themselves at the Temple of the Enfada Idol. But they’re not alone – the menacing Dr. Belloq and his mercenaries are hot on their trail. The task at hand? Navigate the temple’s enigmatic puzzles and outsmart Belloq to secure the Idol before they do.
The first jungle room employs lifelike rainforest scents expertly crafted by AromaPrime, to create an all-encompassing experience. As players transition into the tomb, a musty scent underscores the feeling of antiquity and decay, enhancing the narrative.
The Temple of the Forbidden Idol’s Design Journey
The journey for The Temple of the Forbidden Idol began with a comprehensive 16-page document outlining potential puzzles and a gripping storyline. This initial blueprint underwent several revisions, leading to the creation of concept illustrations that offered a glimpse into the potential look and feel of the room. With the storyline, puzzles, and theming style completed, Dead Walk Designs built a detailed 3D model, paving the way for a complete visual design of the experience.
Utilizing every inch of available space was a critical consideration in the design process. An ingenious use of previously underutilized areas led to the creation of a crawl-through element, adding a layer of intrigue to the overall adventure.
Dead Walk Designs employed advanced 3D printing techniques to craft unique props, including skull keys and puzzle pieces, all equipped with hidden sensors for an interactive experience. One of the key features of the room, the towering stone doors, were meticulously designed to split open, revealing the hidden tomb within—an element that is certain to thrill players.
The Payoff
Temple of The Forbidden Idol was a perfect fit for Chronos One Escape Rooms, with reviews confirming its uniqueness.
“We played Temple of the Forbidden Idol, it was brilliant! Very tense and exciting. Sam was our Games Master and explained everything to us in a clear and friendly manner before we started. Highly recommended,” said Stuart in a 5-star TripAdvisor review.
It was a perfect fit for Chronos One Escape Rooms’ other adventures, matching the company’s motto: “Your Ticket to Immersion.”
From Temples to Purgatory and the Gates of Hell
Dead Walk Designs’ expertise was again put to the test with the design of “Gates of Hell,” for No Escape. Nestled in the basement of the Purgatory Bar in London’s Victoria, this escape room pushed the Dead Walk Designs team to the limits.
The Dead Walk Designs team had just five weeks to design, build, and install all the intricate theming, technological elements, and games to have the escape room ready for a Halloween launch. With the dedication of their experienced crew, they not only met the tight deadline but delivered an escape room experience designed to leave players on edge from beginning to end.
The construction of the Gates of Hell escape room required a vast array of skills and expertise. From sculpture, 3D printing, electronics, and mechanics to scenic painting, prop making, carpentry, and mural and sign writing, each element was meticulously designed and built to create an immersive and gripping setting. Tasked with the mission of sealing the Gates of Hell within an hour to prevent demons from wreaking havoc on Earth, players experience a perfect fusion of Dead Walk Designs’ origins as a haunt prop design company with its evolution into a creator of immersive designs and experience for multiple applications.
The Art of Escape Room Design
Dead Walk Designs co-founder Shaun Davies tells Theme Park Magazine that there are a lot of important considerations that go into an escape room design.
“The perfect escape room will play to all senses,” says Davies. “Being well-themed with interesting games is hugely important. Added elements of sound, smell, and touch can really amplify the experience. We love working in big surprises, such as hidden doors which reveal a new area or completed puzzles which trigger jump scares.”
Ensuring the right balance of challenge and achievability within the typical one-hour time limit of an escape room is an intricate process. The goal is to make the game accessible and enjoyable for everyday players while simultaneously ensuring the game remains challenging. Meticulous structuring and flow management are vital to the process.
Entering the Future
Chronos One Escape Rooms ensures the adventure begins at the entrance. Collaborating with Dead Walk Designs, the escape room giant has reinvented its lobby, drawing inspiration from iconic cinema spaces to transport visitors to a different realm the moment they step in. The remodeled lobby, exuding a sleek, futuristic aura, sets the stage for the diverse adventures housed within its walls.
Staff members clad in custom-made, sci-fi-inspired uniforms and a revamped logo that nostalgically nods to the venue’s past further accentuate the immersive ambiance.
The Driving Force: Dead Walk Designs LTD
Dead Walk Designs Ltd is the brainchild of business maven Shaun Davies and Creative Director Rachel Bemrose. Using their collective skills, they design immersive experiences not just for escape rooms and theme parks but also for educational centers, museums, zoos, festivals, and even virtual reality events.
The team at Dead Walk Designs is meticulous, with their design process including initial site visits, concept sketches, in-depth discussions, and detailed 3D designs for client exploration and feedback. The process ensures storylines, puzzle elements, and the atmosphere of each moment are tailored to the client’s unique requirements and are documented thoroughly.
Through their services, Dead Walk Designs offers clients the opportunity to co-create their escape rooms. Whether building upon a client’s rough concepts, as with The Temple of the Forbidden Idol, or incorporating specific client ideas into the final design, like the Gates of Hell escape room, Dead Walk Designs ensures every experience is as unique as the vision behind it.
Explore More: Videos
Temple of the Forbidden Idol Trailer
Explore More: Resources
- Website: Dead Walk Designs
- Website: Chronos One Escape Rooms
- Website: AromaPrime
- Website: No Escape
About Joe Tracy
Joe Tracy, the creator, and editor of Theme Park Magazine, is a lifetime enthusiast of theme parks and immersive experiences. The publication was launched under his leadership on June 1, 2021, as a manifestation of his deep-seated love for all things themed. Joe has amassed over 20 years of expertise in both traditional print and online publishing.
