Early 2017: An empty factory floor. 340 square meters of concrete, old walls from 1900, and a vision. Today: Four unique escape rooms celebrated by players from around the world as some of the best in Berlin. In between: Years of work, creativity, sweat – and a lot of crazy ideas.
This is the story of Illuminati Escape. A behind-the-scenes look. A making-of.
How It All Began: The Vision (2016)
"We want to create a coherent story – and yet each room should be playable on its own and be fun."
– From the original planning notes, March 2016
The idea was clear: Four escape rooms, connected by a grand story about the Illuminati – the ancient secret society seeking world domination. But each room should also stand on its own. No room as a prerequisite for another. Each room its own adventure.
The planned themes were wildly different:
- A stolen quantum computer had to be retrieved – from a high-tech lab in Russia
- From a sinking ship an important scientist had to be rescued
- From a casino vault in China important documents had to be obtained
- Under a diner in the desert of Nevada a research lab studying alien technology had to be discovered
Ambitious? Absolutely. Feasible? That remained to be seen.
2017: The Beginning
In early 2017, we found our factory floor in Berlin Charlottenburg – 340 square meters of possibilities. But before construction could begin, we had to navigate through a mountain of permits and approvals.
Early 2017: 340 sqm of empty factory space
The first walls (framework) are taking shape
But soon enough, we got started: the first walls were erected, and the framework for our first two rooms, Cyber Attack and Jackpot, emerged.
The Team: The People Behind the Rooms
Without our fantastic team, Illuminati Escape would never have become reality. Everyone contributed a crucial part:
Roland Steiniger – The Artist
Roland Steiniger and his team handled the painting work – and what painting work it was! The Chinese wall painting in Jackpot? Roland. The atmospheric details in every room? Roland. Thanks to him, we now have some of the most beautiful, immersive rooms in Berlin!
Roland was also a great help with the design and implementation of Titanik 2.0. A true master of his craft.
The Tech Team: Dennis, Marvin and Christian
Dennis, Marvin and Christian – our tech wizards! They technically implemented what felt like hundreds of puzzles. NFC readers that recognize secret codes. Raspberry Pis and Arduinos controlling the puzzle logic. Relays clicking at just the right moment. Magnetic locks opening precisely when the code is correct.
Every electronic puzzle, every surprising mechanism, every technical refinement – these three made it happen. From the AI in the quantum computer to the modified Geiger counter in Alien Grill: Without these three, our rooms would just be beautiful sets without the magic they have today.
Margret – The Craftswoman
Margret gave her all in craftsmanship! From a piece of wood, she crafted an authentic bulkhead door for the Titanik. Built a massive safe for Jackpot. Just casually placed a 1950s-style computer wall in the room.
What others would have dismissed as impossible, Margret made reality with saw, hammer, and incredible skill. Every detail, every prop that wasn't off the shelf – Margret was at work!
2017: Cyber Attack and Jackpot Take Shape
Almost two years had passed since the first idea. We had been tinkering, puzzling, and building Cyber Attack for over a year. Test games began in September 2017 – and we were totally excited!
Cyber Attack: High-Tech Lab in Russia
2017: Under Construction
Today: The Finished Entrance
Cyber Attack – a high-tech lab – here we had to proceed particularly professionally! The challenge: Unlike a temporary installation, everything had to last for many years, not just a few days. Every detail had to be robust yet authentic. The result: A high-tech lab that's just as impressive after thousands of players as it was on day one.
2017: The Tech Takes Shape
Today: High-Tech Lab in Operation
November 2017: The Moment of Truth
Illuminati Escape opens! The first "real" players play Cyber Attack. Now comes the moment of truth!
After an hour, the players emerge from the room, buzzing with adrenaline and excitement. Beaming with joy, they present the quantum computer. We talk about the room for a long time – there's tons of praise.
Now we knew: We did everything right. This job is super fun when the players have fun!
Jackpot: Casino in Macau, China
Parallel to Cyber Attack, Jackpot was taking shape. In Hamburg, we found some dragon pillars from a Chinese dealer – these would become the landmark of Jackpot at the entrance. With us, players should be able to immerse themselves in the story right at the entrance to each room.
2017: The Entrance Takes Shape
Today: Welcome to the Casino
2017: In the Shell
Today: The Finished Casino
In December 2017, Jackpot opened. Now we had two totally different rooms. With Jackpot – a casino in China – we had created a real gem. The room has a great atmosphere, everything fits together. Roland worked his magic – we have what appears to be an authentic Chinese wall painting.
Jackpot would later be voted the best escape room in Berlin – this room is truly exceptionally well done!
2018: Alien Grill – The Desert Calls
January 2018: Two years later, and we have two rooms up and running. We're halfway there. We've learned a lot – we know that a good room takes at least a year to build. Time to start work on Alien Grill!
We bring in reinforcements: Tobias joins the team. He has lots of experience in construction, e.g. from the Computer Games Museum in Berlin. Exactly the expertise we need!
2018: The Diner Takes Shape
Today: Welcome to the Desert
Alien Grill opened right on time for Christmas 2018. Again, a lot of work went into a room – again, we were curious how the room would be received by players. This room too had its surprises, this room too was completely different.
The hardest part, of course, was getting real aliens under contract... but that's another story. 😉
2020: Titanik 2.0 – Building During Corona
2020 was a difficult year – entirely marked by Corona. It was very difficult for us as an escape room to survive this time. Nevertheless, we courageously continued to invest in the new room and pushed construction forward.
"Time to think about the fourth room: the boat. So we'll build a boat – then sink it. That's the plan...."
– February 2019, planning notes for Titanik 2.0
After 4 years of planning and 2 years of construction, it finally happened in December 2020: Titanik 2.0 was finished!
2020: A Bulkhead Door Takes Shape
Today: The Bulkhead to the Submarine
Roland Steiniger was also a great help with the design and implementation of this project! We hope we've created an unforgettable experience for you with this escape game!
Today: Four Unique Worlds
What began in 2016 as a crazy idea is reality today: Four completely different escape rooms that thrill players from around the world. From an empty factory floor to one of the top-rated escape room providers in Berlin – a journey that would never have been possible without our fantastic team, the support of our players, and a lot of perseverance.
The Vision Has Become Reality
Something special has emerged from the original concepts:
- Cyber Attack: The stolen quantum computer in Omsk, Russia
- Jackpot: The casino in Macau, China (later voted the best escape room in Berlin!)
- Alien Grill: The mysterious diner in the Nevada desert
- Titanik 2.0: The sinking ship in the Caribbean
Each room tells its own story. Each room is its own adventure. But together they form the grand story about the Illuminati – the secret fight for humanity's future.
And the best part? The vision from 2016 is now completely reality! Four unique worlds are waiting to be discovered. Whether you play all four missions and experience the complete Illuminati story, or choose your personal favorite – each room is a perfectly tuned adventure in itself. And who knows: Maybe you'll discover details on your second visit that you missed the first time. Because at Illuminati Escape, there's more to each room than meets the eye at first glance... 😉
Ready to Become Part of the Story?
Experience for yourself what the empty factory has become! Four unique missions await you – each with its own story, its own secrets. From Russia via China and Nevada to the Caribbean: At Illuminati Escape, you'll find more than just an escape room!
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