Halloween – Social Distance Style
It is no surprise Halloween in San Diego is going to look a little different this year. With social distancing in mind and business closed in Southern California, many of the Halloween activities we all have traditions doing are more than likely not going to happen or at the very least are going to look […]
9 Escape Room Tips From an Escape Room Owner
If you have never played an escape room before or consider yourself a novice, here are 9 sure fire tips in ensuring your success!
Our Response to COVID-19
We are excited to have opened and welcome everyone back to Steal and Escape… just with a few minor changes.
We are taking every cautionary step to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and community. Therefore, we have implemented the following new sanitation requirements along with additional staff training.
3 Ways You Can Help Small Business Amid Social Isolation
We have all felt the effects of the Corona Virus in the last few weeks and even days– some more than others. Small businesses and small business owners have been put in a difficult situation because of social isolation and social distancing. Restaurant and bar owners have had to reduce their customers by half or […]
Three Puzzle Games on Steam to Warm-Up Your Brain
We have all been there before—waiting to play and escape your next escape room. Perhaps you and your friends might want to warm up? Here is a list of three puzzle games you can play. Half-Life 2 : Valve’s 2004 classic, Half-Life 2, has its players thinking outside the box. Traditionally, puzzles are mechanical or […]
Spring Break -Into Something New
In San Diego, locals and tourists have an endless amount of options for Spring Break Fun. Beach goers, sports fans, foodies, and craft beer connoisseurs – they all have one thing in common, they are looking for something to do! But the question must be asked, “Are you tired of doing the same activities over […]
Top Dog-Friendly Places in San Diego
San Diegans love their dogs, and luckily have many dog-friendly places and activities to enjoy with them. Dog Parks: Nate’s Point Dog Park, Balboa Park Located in historic Balboa Park, this dog park is popular for both the location and the tree-covered expanse of grass. Dusty Rhodes Park, Ocean Beach Many locals bring their dogs […]
Best Bars for Trivia in San Diego
San Diego is a dense community of brewing and beer. If you are in San Diego, it’s important that you take drinking alcohol seriously. We do! We also take games seriously, so we wanted to make sure that you know where you can find the best trivia nights in town. Midtown: Regal Beagle Wednesdays, 8pm […]
The Psych Ward, Crossroads Escape Games
One question we are constantly asked as an escape room business: “What is your favorite escape room?” While I am not sure we not come out and say it for fear of reprisal, we certainly love Crossroads Escape Games. They have been in business a bit longer than Steal and Escape, and we consider them […]
Best Coffee in Golden Hill, San Diego, California
So why Coffee? Everyone has their different rituals for getting into their escape game mode. For me, coffee is a key ingredient for puzzle solving and coordinating with others. Steal and Escape is based in National City. Golden Hill is a bit more residential than National City, so if you are in town, it might […]
4 San Diego Adventurous Activities
Looking for an adventure in San Diego similar to Escape Rooms? Escape rooms throughout North America, Asia, Europe, Russia, and New Zealand share some common elements. In essence, it is a timed, physical puzzle that may or may not involve storytelling. The puzzles require strategy, cooperation, and hints to escape, and they are based on the video game genre “escape-the-room.” Although not an exhaustive list, common locations of escape rooms are space stations, prison cells, dungeons, laboratories, and shipwrecks.
The Origin of Escape Rooms
Our current digital age has left the information-overloaded population to once again seek out adventure in the physical world. The phenomena led to the success of escape rooms, and this is evidenced by a closer examination of their roots. Scrap Inc. in Japan was the first documented example where the concept of the digital escape room was transferred to a “lets do this in the real world” counterpart. Scrap Entertainment Inc. is a Kyoto-based event company managed by Takao Kato. The thirty-five-year-old entrepreneur opened Real Escape Game (Riaru Dasshutsu Ge-mu) in July 2007 for teams of 5-6 players. “I thought I could create my own adventure, a story, and then invite people to be a part of it,” said Kato.