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Session

Why Build a World? The Philosophy Behind Phantom Peak

ERIC
Tues

Escape rooms changed live entertainment, but where else can we go next?
This talk explores the philosophy that drove Phantom Peak: a belief that players shouldn’t just solve a mystery… they should belong to it. In this talk, Nick unpacks how and why he moved from linear rooms to living worlds, and why worldbuilding, not puzzle design, can be the most powerful storytelling tool of all.

Key Themes:

  • From “what happens in the room” to “what happens in the world”
  • Making narrative persistence real: how the story remembers you
  • Emotional play: giving guests ownership of their experience
  • How worldbuilding creates brand loyalty and return visits
  • The bridge between escape rooms, theatre and theme parks
  • Why the future of immersion lies in connection, not control

Nick Moran
Phantom Peak

Nick Moran is the co-founder and Creative Director of Phantom Peak, an open-world immersive experience based in London. Nick began his career in the immersive sector with “Time Run”, a multi award-winning escape room game in London. Following this he co-wrote and designed “Sherlock: The Game Is Now”, together with Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, which won several awards including ‘Best Escape Room Experience – London’ in The Global Excellence Awards 2020, and the ‘Most Innovative Venue’ in the 2020 Tiqets Remarkable Venue Awards.

Nick, together with Glen Hughes, launched Phantom Peak in August 2022. Initially meant as a proof of concept, the experience has become a trailblazer in the industry and has been visited by over 85,000 people in 2 years. It has broken return-rate industry records and gathered a cult following. Nick has won multiple awards for his games both nationally and internationally and has worked as a design and experience consultant for some of the world’s largest brands and theme parks.

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