October is something special for the escape room world – truly extraordinary!
It all kicks off on 1 October, when we celebrate World Escape Room Day. But that’s just the warm-up. 😉
The start of October also marks the opening of TERPECA nominations – the annual selection of the most original, most polished and most unforgettable escape room experiences in the world.
Where is our industry heading today?
The escape room industry is moving fast towards the wider world of “immersive entertainment”. The top of the rankings is defined by a clear shift towards longer formats with far higher production values: film-grade set design, original music, refined lighting design, special effects, live actors, original challenges and a gripping story in which you play the lead role.
The line between escape room, interactive theatre and themed attraction is therefore becoming increasingly blurred. It’s no longer just about solving puzzles, but about stepping into another world, where the player becomes the protagonist and the experience feels downright cinematic.
We’re delighted that Matthew Stein, one of the most experienced players in the world, who has passed the milestone of 1,000 escape rooms played, wrote the following on his blog after his thousandth game:
“Passing 1,000 escape rooms might have been a good opportunity to call it quits and find a new hobby, but honestly, I’m still having an absolute blast and not planning to stop anytime soon. Escape rooms have evolved so much in the past decade, but they also still have so much more room for growth.”
— Matthew Stein
If someone still says, after 1,000 games played, that they’re having an absolute blast and have no intention of stopping, that’s one of the best things we creators can hear. It gives us wings – and a little extra drive to dream bigger, experiment and explore how far this creative industry can still go.
The industry isn’t disappearing. It’s growing up.
Business models are changing too. Alongside regular bookings, team building, birthday parties, special events, outdoor games, premium formats, merchandise and other add-ons are playing an ever bigger role.
In Slovenia, we’re especially well known for the gamification of museums, tourist attractions, castles and other destinations. The escape room is increasingly becoming a tool for learning, bringing people together, interpreting heritage and developing tourism – not just a form of entertainment.
And that brings us neatly back to TERPECA.
What is TERPECA?
TERPECA – Top Escape Rooms Project Enthusiasts’ Choice Award is an international project in which the most experienced players from around the world choose the best escape room experiences.
Within the community, it’s often compared to the Oscars of the escape room industry. 🎬🗝️
Why?
Because it’s precisely the games that push boundaries – through story, set design, dramatic structure, technology, actors and the overall experience – that often end up among the nominees and, later, among the finalists.
Experiences like these attract players from all over the world. Escape room enthusiasts now travel across continents just to play a particular game, and in some places top-tier escape rooms have become an important part of local tourism development. And last but not least – the best games are booked out months in advance.
🗓️ TERPECA 2026: key dates
Nominations are open until 31 October 2026.
NOVEMBER – VOTING
Voting on the nominated games runs until 30 November 2026.
DECEMBER – RESULTS
The big online results announcement takes place on 19 December 2026.
And yes – this year, too, we’ll be following November with a slightly faster heartbeat. 😅
In ker 11 nominacij očitno še ni dovolj … 😉
Over the past five years, Enigmarium has received 11 TERPECA nominations – for Casino in Maribor and, in Ljubljana, for Circus, The Lost Submarine, The Return of the Werewolf and Sensperience – Hippocratic Oath.
We’re insanely proud of every single one. But… we’re still hungry for more. 😈
That’s why a major immersive experience is in the making:
✈️ AEROPHOBIA – FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS
This simply won’t be just another escape room. We’re building a new game format you’ve never seen before. Not just a game twice the size, but one where brilliant puzzles intertwine with theatre, actors, cutting-edge technology, stunning effects, a gripping story and sensational surprises.
ESCAPE EXPERIENCE. SHOW. THEATRE. BRAND NEW. BONKERS?
Because after 12 years, we still want the same thing: to push boundaries.
And yes – we’re aiming high. 11 TERPECA nominations have only fired us up even more.
That’s why we’re going all in on FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS – no holding back on wild ideas, top-class set design, a story full of surprises and fresh approaches.
Want to be among the first to experience it?
Why is every Slovenian nomination something special?
On a global scale, Slovenia is a small escape room destination. We don’t have cities of millions with hundreds of games, but we do have a highly creative and innovative scene. Because we get fewer international nominators than Europe’s biggest escape room destinations, every Slovenian nomination is especially precious. It means that someone who has played hundreds or even thousands of games around the world has chosen a Slovenian experience as one of those they want to single out.
We’re really proud of that. ❤️
🧩 Have you played 100 or more escape rooms?
Then check the eligibility requirements for taking part in TERPECA.
More active Slovenian players means more knowledge, more diverse perspectives and a stronger presence for our small escape room community on the international stage.
So: if you meet the requirements, sign up >>!
Not so you can vote for Enigmarium. 😉
But so you can tell the world which games around the globe truly blew you away.
Fingers crossed for Slovenia! 🇸🇮🤞
Until 31 October, players from all over the world will be submitting their nominations.
November will bring the voting.
And on 19 December, we’ll find out which games have made it among the best in the world this year.
We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for as many Slovenian nominations as possible – for Enigmarium’s games and for all the other great experiences being created here.
Because every time little Slovenia lands on the world escape room map, it’s good news for the entire Slovenian escape room community. ❤️
📢 TERPECA 2026 nominations are open until 31 October 2026.
