Playing out the final hours of 2020

People looking to escape 2020 can spend the final few hours of the year solving an online escape room.

District 3 Escape Rooms offers the virtual experience as an option, where participants log in and direct an actor to solve the problem. A mobile camera system gives the player a first-person view of the escape room.

“It actually works better than what most people expect,” said co-owner David Ma.

“They feel the immersion while they’re in the room. This time, they’re sitting at a computer or at a TV watching but with all the communication and with the time running down, they do get that pressure, especially as time’s running down and they’re trying to save the actor in the room.”

Ma has been cast as an actor before. It’s not what he does by trade and the amateur performance occasionally results in a flubbed line or giggles when they break character.

“But it’s a lot of fun because we’re part of the experience with the team,” he said. “It adds to the conversation after the game, which we call ‘the debrief.’ — joking, asking questions, talking about the whole experience.”

Over at Escape Manor, it’s a more conventional experience. Operators have teamed up with the DoubleTree, offering a $100 New Year’s Eve package for two that includes a private escape room and a stay at the hotel.

Escape Manor’s Alyssa Kristensen says they wanted to offer people an enjoyable end to the year.

“I’m thinking that people are really wanting to end this year feeling safe and feeling like they can still go out and celebrate,” she said. “(They’re) still being surrounded by the people they love and I think this is a great way to do it.”

For those who want to sit back and relax, Moonlight Movies is another option, in Pilot Butte.

The drive-in theatre is showing a magic show followed by a doubleheader on Thursday night, screening Onward and Aladdin.

Co-owner Jason Longworth is advising visitors to make sure they know how to dim their lights so their brightness does not interfere with the picture quality. He said it would be a good idea to bring some blankets for warmth.