Ukrainian Escape Room Business Adapts to War, Offers Lessons for Israel
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Aleksey Kolesnikov, a Ukrainian entertainment business owner, has compared how the industry in Ukraine and Israel adapts to constant threats. He highlights Ukraine's focus on energy autonomy due to blackouts and Israel's reliance on architectural safety features. Kolesnikov suggests Ukraine's experience with "controlled fear" in horror quests and its emphasis on energy independence could offer lessons for Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ukrainian quest rooms prioritize energy autonomy due to blackouts.
- Israel's entertainment industry relies on architectural safety features.
- Ukrainians prefer horror quests for "controlled fear" to manage stress.
- Both countries avoid direct war themes in games to prevent trauma.
- The business provides emotional release and a temporary escape from anxiety.
Aleksey Kolesnikov, founder of a quest room network in Odesa, president of the Ukrainian Quest Rooms Association, and creator of the VR GO virtual reality club, has analyzed how the entertainment industry in Ukraine and Israel is surviving under constant threat. Kolesnikov, who has Jewish roots and a connection to Israel, observed that while both countries face danger, their approaches differ due to the nature of the threats.
In Ukraine, where prolonged blackouts are a major challenge, businesses like Kolesnikov's have prioritized autonomy. This includes investing in generators, Starlink satellite internet, and backup power systems to ensure uninterrupted operations, especially crucial for technology-dependent virtual reality centers. Many Ukrainian quest rooms, often located in basements, also served as shelters during the initial months of the war, providing a dual function of safety and entertainment.
Kolesnikov noted a divergence in consumer preferences. While Israelis tend to favor cooperative and positive experiences like fantasy and logic games during escalations, Ukrainians show a consistent demand for extreme horror quests. Psychologists suggest this "controlled fear" allows Ukrainians to process daily stress by conquering challenges within the game. Military personnel are also frequent visitors, often choosing logic or detective scenarios for stress relief and team-building.
Both markets are cautious about incorporating war themes directly into their games. Israeli quest rooms avoid scenarios involving terrorism or hostage situations to prevent re-traumatization. Ukrainian businesses, while not directly replicating tragedies, weave in elements of espionage and technogenic disasters. Operators deliberately avoid using sounds of sirens or explosions, as this shifts the experience from excitement to trauma.
Kolesnikov emphasizes that the quest room business in both countries serves as more than just entertainment, acting as a vital outlet for emotional release and a way for people to temporarily escape anxiety. The Ukrainian experience, particularly its focus on energy independence and careful scenario adaptation, could offer practical guidance to Israeli operators facing periodic escalations.