Escapewhere

Just before the end of 2025, the English version of The Storm finally went live.

Since joining Gaslight Theatre in 2023, localizing The Storm has been sitting quietly on my to-do list. I’m genuinely happy that it didn’t get pushed back for yet another year.😂

Compared to building a brand-new escape room, creating an English version is technically “simpler” — but that doesn’t mean it was easy. Before this project, I barely knew how to use any design software. Canva was about as far as my skills went. But there was no way around it. I pushed through, learned as I went, and followed one guiding principle: finish first, perfect later. Step by step, the story finally took shape in English.

Along the way, I found tools that really worked for me, gained hands-on experience, and — most importantly — built confidence in turning ideas into reality.

This past Christmas was one of the most intense and fulfilling ones I’ve ever had. The two of us practically lived in the venue, spending full days testing, adjusting, and retesting — fixing issues as they appeared, brainstorming solutions, and refining parts of the flow that could cause players to get stuck in the Chinese version.

Back in 2021, when I first started playing escape rooms and writing reviews, I never imagined how far this journey would go.

I never expected to meet so many like-minded friends online.
I never imagined becoming an escape room owner.
I never thought I’d become a global escape room voter.
And I certainly never expected The Hunt to be nominated this year.

The first game after The Storm launched made me extremely nervous. I kept watching the progress, listening closely to players’ reactions. Every gasp, every shout of surprise made me smile without even realizing it. The first group was incredibly sharp, moved through the game smoothly, and had a great time. That was when the weight on my shoulders finally eased — just a little.

And this is far from the end.

This experience has deepened my understanding of escape room design, and several new plans are already in motion. While the momentum is here, I want to keep creating — and create more.

There’s already so much to look forward to in 2026, and I believe even more surprises are waiting ahead.
2025 had its darkest moments, but they’ve passed. Looking back now, they don’t seem that heavy after all.

Stay mindful. Stay proactive.
Do everything you can — and let go of what doesn’t work out.

Have fun!