Nexon announced on Sept. 11 that, in collaboration with Leesang Creative, it will officially open 'MapleStory Escape,' an escape room cafe utilizing the 'MapleStory' IP, on Sept. 21.
'MapleStory Escape' is located in front of the main gate of Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It reinterprets the world and iconic regions of 'MapleStory' into escape room content, allowing visitors to experience the game's story in a real-world space. Admissions are set at 2 to 6 players per team, and regular reservations open every Monday at 10:00 AM on YES24.
The facility features a total of five themes, which will be unveiled sequentially. Starting with the thriller theme 'Kerning City' and the arcade theme 'Mu Lung' on Sept. 21, the spooky theme 'Haunted Mansion' will open on Sept. 28, followed by the stealth theme 'Edelstein' on Oct. 5 and the arcade theme 'Ludibrium' on Oct. 12. Each theme incorporates production elements that highlight the characteristics of its in-game region alongside genre-specific gameplay mechanics.
The narrative begins when five books with missing endings are discovered deep within the Grand Athenaeum. Participants become heroes who dive into the books to resolve distortions in Maple World, recover 'Dimensional Fragments,' and complete the missing endings.
Through Sept. 27—the first week of the official launch—a pre-booking period will be available for players with a main 'MapleStory' character level of 270 or higher. During the same period, events such as 'Maple Escape Room No. 1' for teams achieving the fastest daily times and 'Kerning City in Hongdae,' featuring in-game NPCs on the streets of Hongdae, will also take place.
From Oct. 9 to 11, a private venue event titled 'MAPLE ESCAPE DAY' will be held. 'MapleStory' creators including Segeulja, Pangiyo, Myeongye Hunjang, Cheongmyo, and JinGyeokCannon will participate as escape room staff members, with applications accepted through Sept. 27.
A match prediction vote for an escape room showdown featuring TV personalities Xitsuh and Heo Seong-beom alongside 'MapleStory' creators Tayo and Ira333 will also begin on Sept. 17.
Nexon plans to operate 'MapleStory Escape' continuously for approximately two years until Sept. 20, 2028, aiming to offer a venue enjoyed not only by 'MapleStory' players but also by Hongdae visitors and escape room enthusiasts.
