Interview
Escapades — What We Learn From Professional Game Designers
Released 20 April 2026 • https://escapades.gr
Jana Erbes was featured alongside three other internationally recognised escape room designers in this in-depth article by Greek escape room platform Escapades. It is a wide-ranging conversation about the craft, philosophy, and future of escape room design.
Across seven questions, Jana shares her perspective on what makes an experience truly unforgettable, the most common design mistakes she sees in the industry, how she consciously designs around emotional journeys rather than puzzles, and what she believes the future of immersive entertainment looks like.
The article places Hooked in international company, alongside Jonathan Driscoll of Escaparium, Alexander Gierholz of Logic Locks, and Vasilis Dalitsikis of Lockhill, reflecting Jana's standing as one of the leading creative voices in European escape room design.
Podcast
Room Runners De Podcast — Episode 34: Actors in Escape Rooms
Released 3 April 2026 • YouTube • 2:20 hours
Jana Erbes and Marc Welings joined Job and Gijs on Room Runners De Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about one of escape room design's most powerful and underused tools: live actors.
As the first international guests ever featured on the show, Jana and Marc brought both a creator's perspective and hands-on acting experience from escape rooms across Europe. The episode explores how actors appear in escape room experiences, what they add to immersion and emotional engagement, and what it is actually like to perform inside a live horror experience as a professional actor.
The conversation also touches on the founding of Hooked making this one of the earliest public appearances where the project was discussed openly.
A must-listen for anyone interested in the craft of immersive entertainment, actor-driven game design, or the story behind Hooked.
Interview
Escape Mania – Jana Erbes & Marc Welings on Horror Stories Wuppertal
Released 21 August 2025 • YouTube • 44 minutes
Jana and Marc sat down with Escape Mania following their visit to The Dark Forest and Asylum of Fear at Horror Stories Wuppertal; two of Germany's most celebrated horror escape rooms. The conversation covers Jana's work as both actress and game designer behind some of the venue's most acclaimed experiences, and Marc's perspective as a performer there and at Stay in the Dark, one of the most iconic horror escape rooms in the Netherlands.
A candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring high-quality horror experiences to life from both sides of the game master window.
Conference Talk
RECON 2025 — Inspiration from European Horror: Whether you like it or not
Released 17 August 2025 • YouTube • 42 minutes
Jana Erbes took the stage at RECON 2025, the world's largest escape room convention, to speak about the craft, culture, and emotional power of European horror escape room design.
The session explores what sets European horror escape rooms apart from traditional haunted houses, why they consistently rank among the highest-rated experiences on the TERPECA Awards, and how designers like Jana approach horror not as shock value but as a tool for storytelling and emotional connection. Whether you are a die-hard horror fan or simply curious about the genre, the talk offers genuine insight into the meticulous creative process behind some of Europe's most sought-after experiences, many of which sell out months in advance.
Jana draws on her background in theatre and film, her work as Creative Lead at Escape Stories Wuppertal, and her award-winning documentary Escape Room Horror Stories: BeNeLux Edition to paint a picture of a genre that is quietly redefining immersive entertainment.
No jump scares in this one. Just a deep, honest conversation about what makes horror work.
Podcast
Escape ManiaC – Courage, creativity and teamwork: The world of (horror) escape rooms with Jana Erbes
Released 11 December 2024 • Spotify • 1:45 hours
Jana Erbes joined the Escape Maniac podcast for a conversation about her journey through the world of horror escape room design, from filmmaker and game designer to one of the most recognised creative voices in the European escape room scene.
The episode covers how Jana found her way into escape rooms, what she learned behind the scenes while making Escape Room Horror Stories: BeNeLux Edition, and why storytelling and atmosphere are the defining ingredients of a truly great horror experience. The conversation also touches on TERPECA 2024 and the growing international recognition of European horror escape rooms.
Jana speaks openly about her work on some of Germany's highest-rated experiences, including The Dark Forest and Asylum of Fear at Escape Stories Wuppertal, both ranked in the global Top 40, and what it takes to bring that level of craft and emotional depth to a live experience.
An honest, wide-ranging conversation for anyone who loves immersive entertainment or wants to understand what separates a great escape room from an unforgettable one.
YouTube Documentary
Escape Room Horror Stories: BeNeLux Edition
Released 31 October 2024 • YouTube • 2.5 hours
In October 2024, Jana Erbes released the latest chapter in her acclaimed Escape Room Horror Stories documentary series. A 2.5 hour deep dive into three of the most celebrated horror escape rooms in the BeNeLux region.
The documentary offers rare, behind-the-scenes access to some of the most respected creators in the industry. Jeroen van Hasselt opens the doors to Demise of the Gricers, while Alexander Gierholz shares the history behind the unique Amsterdam Catacombs experience. The film's most poignant chapter accompanies the final days of Stay in the Dark — the legendary horror experience by DarkPark (Gijs Geers) — and its subsequent demolition, capturing a piece of escape room history before it disappeared forever.
Joining as special commentators are Lisa and David from Room Escape Artist, offering their perspective on the evolution of horror escape room design and what makes these experiences genuinely unforgettable.
The documentary premiered on Halloween 2024 and has since become a key reference point for enthusiasts and creators following the BeNeLux horror escape room scene.
