How To Approach Immersive Experiences

Over the years, I’ve become interested in making my puzzle-based experiences more immersive. With the launch of Philly Spycraft Mission, I’ve finally created something that I can confidently categorize as an “immersive experience.”

Philly Spycraft Mission definitely feels a little like an escape room or an elaborate scavenger hunt—but the setting (outside on the street), narrative ("you're on a spy mission"), and other surprises you'll experience make it more immersive than what you might have seen before. So I want to give you some pointers on how to get the most out of an immersive experience like this!

Pointer #1: Get into the right headspace.

When you watch a movie, you know it isn’t real, but you suspend your disbelief anyway, because that makes it more fun. Immersive experiences are the same way! Those who embrace their role in the narrative and take the adventure at face value will find the experience more enjoyable.

Pointer #2: Communicate.

Collaborative team activities function best when everyone is communicating with each other. Read things aloud! Ask questions! Share any physical materials that are part of the experience! Everyone should be an active participant, and everyone should know what’s happening and why.

Pointer #3: Follow the narrative.

Every part of an immersive experience contributes either to its narrative, or to fleshing out the setting in which it occurs. Paying attention to and engaging with the story that you’re a part of will make it more fun (and may even help you reach your goal!) And if you ever feel like you missed something, refer back to Pointer #2!

Finally, let's talk about boundaries.

Normal games have clear boundaries: this is the board; these are the pieces; this is the goal. One of the hallmarks of an immersive experience, however, is obscuring the boundaries between what is in-game and what is out-of-game. This boundary blurring is actually integral to creating an exhilarating escapade—because when you don't know what's part of the experience, it opens up the possibility that anything could be part of the experience! Not knowing where you'll end up means that you get to decide for yourselves where to go and what to do—and who knows what might await you around the next corner?

But hiding the boundaries is a double-edged sword—because if a player breaches the boundaries, it interrupts their immersion by forcing the designer of the experience to step out of the shadows in order to keep things from going off the rails. So here's my last piece of advice: when participating in an immersive experience, think of the designer as an invisible teammate. Even if you never see them, they're actually continuously collaborating with you to make sure you have a good time—so do your best not to sabotage them! And trust that they have embedded in-game messaging that guides you away from actions that would interrupt your immersion.