The dictionary definition of the word "Quest' is: "a long or arduous search for something.' In medieval times, when the word first appeared, it meant: "An adventurous expedition undertaken by a knight or knights — for example, the quest of the Holy Grail.' But the modern fad of Quests actually had its origins not with King Arthur, but with the first crude video games in the 1970s and 1980s. These, such as King’s Cave and Myst, were largely text based and seem unbelievably dull to us now; but the emphasis on puzzle-solving and narrative made them popular among more cerebral gamers. Ultimately, these games would evolve into the immersive universes that we now find in virtual reality role-play games such as World of Warcraft.
But somewhere along the way, in the late 2000s, adventure gaming made a decisive shift from the digital and into the real world, creating an entirely new entertainment genre. Known abroad as "Immersive Team Games' or "Escape Room Games,' they are referred to in Russia by the far snappier term "Kvest' or "Quest.' The basic premise is usually that a group or teams of friends are trapped in a particular enclosed space — examples include abandoned dungeons, high security prison cells, or a locations connected to well-known films, such as the Da Vinci Code’s Rosslyn Chapel — all of which are recreated in lavishly detailed sets. Under the watchful eye of a moderator — who also serves to ramp up the tension — contestants must unpick conundrums, answer riddles, find clues or treasure in order to escape or win. The first real-life Quest, entitled Escape Room, appeared in Japan in 2008 — and by 2015 there were more than 2,800 different kinds of quests around the world.
Some of the most popular and interesting worldwide include The Lost Spy in New York, a cold-war storyline in which contestants must investigate the disappearance of secret agent Jack Redwood in order to prevent a plot by the Soviet Union to destabilize and the "Free World', and Egyptian Tomb, a race to decipher an ancient Pharaoh’s curse before the tomb collapses. In London, there is Secret Studio, which takes place on an abandoned film set where players must investigate — in a particularly delicious twist — the disappearance of the previous Quest contestants.
But in Russia, over the past few years, the Quest phenomenon has really taken off. Here in St. Petersburg, our favourites include Schizophrenia, an atmospheric, somewhat psychedelic quest based on the true story of the life of the infamous Billy Milligan, a man who had 24 personalities! The main idea of the quest is to unravel the mystery of each personality, and gather them all together. It's the only way to solve the riddle of the room, and get out!
In second place comes Rise of the Machines, a technically brilliant but fiendishly difficult adventure involving programmers, artificial intelligence and virtual reality helmets … for ITMO people sounds both familiar and inspiring, doesn’t it?
Next — a mystical and disturbing quest called Masonic Order, located in the heart of the city, and inviting players to immerse themselves in the life of a humble history student, chosen to become part of the "Old Order' in a journey to solve all of its darkest mysteries, and, along the way, to find a couple of life-size, actual skeletons in the closet!
Of course, no review would be complete without the classic (and a classic never gets old) game: Jailbreak. You’ll need to become a real tight-knit team with some of your most trusted friends! Some tasks cannot be solved without lightening quick reactions, so get out of those handcuffs — and forward, to freedom!
And finally — designed for a really big group, a quest that takes place over a sprawling territory of 200 square meters. Cannibal is not about complex riddles, but rather emphasizes the psychological component! The Maniac's lair is huge and filled with terrifying traps; just try to stay alive!
So, here are just a few examples from the world of quests, available to anyone in St. Petersburg who has a couple of hours of time and a couple of thousand rubles (per game, not per person).
If you want to try — and I hope what to do — then first turn ON your brain, then gather up all your courage and ingenuity and forget about your claustrophobia. However, do *not* forget that teamwork is more important here than in any computer shoot-em-up!
Good luck escaping from the room!
