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Year 2043. After a world crisis in 2020, the stock markets collapsed and the currencies were devalued, creating a new planetary order where the currency of exchange is toilet paper. One Ferrari equals two six-roll packages. As it is. Only the most powerful on Earth have access to them. African Prince Jones Dimka has left an entire shipment for his heirs. You have found out and decide to impersonate one of his descendants. Will you get the loot?

This is how the escape room hygienic Apocalypse starts , one of those successful puzzle games in which the opponents are locked in a cabin (whether it be in the form of a prison, bunker or whatever ) so that they can get out in a certain time pulling quickly mental , clue resolution, teamwork ... In this case, however, seclusion is everyone's own home . And the tests to be solved are on the internet, since it is a virtual escape room (and free, another of the differences with physicists) designed to better cope with the confinement caused by the coronavirus.

From Big Ben to the Tower of Pisa

The idea came from three Spanish entrepreneurs who own two escape rooms , Adrián Caeiro de Saa and Enrique Latorre Ruiz (from Paradox Room , in Santiago de Compostela) and Héctor Muñoz (from Exit-Room Escape , in Fuerteventura). Friends and partners, what they do best is create riddles and web pages , so, as soon as the confinement began and since they had to close their premises due to the state of alarm, they saw it clearly: they had to start a game on line for people to play from home, either alone or in groups through videoconferences .

Both options are possible, although the initial idea was intended for a single person to enjoy. All you need is a computer with an internet connection (not all content is visible on your mobile) and have a pencil and paper handy to take notes that you think are necessary throughout the journey. The objective is to get hold of that monumental toilet paper pallet by going through tests that make you travel the world through the game's website.

It can be accessed from the two escapes of its creators, the Paradox Room and the Exit Room. The trip takes you from the African country of the mysterious and delicious prince with whom the story begins to the Tower of Pisa , the Golden Gate of San Francisco, London's Big Ben or the very water park of Loroparque de Tenerife. "The idea is to travel virtually through these sites or Google Maps , essential to solve the puzzles for which there is no specific time limit, although it is normal to take between one and three hours to solve it," says Caeiro.

To play alone or with friends

It didn't take long for the trio to come up with the plot and the escape name. "The first images of confinement with people carrying toilet paper carts marked us," says one of the owners of the Paradox Room with a dose of humor , since that is precisely one of the keys to the game, "something necessary in these times. Hence, memes or hideous catchy songs abound. "

One of the Exit-room Escape games.

A couple of days of cabal , trolling and endless skype sessions between the three were enough to give birth to their offspring. They could not imagine the success they have had. "The first two days about 10,000 people signed up, but in a week or so we reached 200,000 and that we hoped that 20 or 30 people played," continues Caiero. And that they were aware of the success of this type of entertainment by customers who came to their premises. "There are people who make escape routes through different cities and even an alternative Camino de Santiago looking for the games that interest them."

But the hygienic Apocalypse is not expected. To the point that they cannot cope with the hundreds of emails and messages they receive from the participants to congratulate them , ask them for clues, or beg them for new games. In fact, in the coming days they plan to launch a prequel also online in which competitors must seek refuge , since cities around the world have been destroyed.

His new creation is intended for several opponents who will see each other through Skype and will even have different versions depending on their number. Another difference is that it will have a time limit: 60 minutes . Success, again, is assured.

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