Escape room locations in the US

American escape-room storefronts opening at a steady clip while the count of countries with marriage equality also expands. Two unrelated forms of voluntary unlocking, both proceeding through the 2010s and 2020s with patient enthusiasm.

US escape-room locations grew from a handful in 2014 to over 2,000 by 2023 as the format went from novelty to standard family-entertainment offering. Countries with legal same-sex marriage grew from about 17 in 2014 to over 35 by 2023 as legislative and judicial decisions in the EU, Latin America, and Asia expanded recognition. Two unrelated decade-long expansions sharing the same window because the 2010s and early 2020s were a long opening-up era in many specific corners of life. Different keys, same general direction.

Some things kept opening. Different doors, gradually unlocked across the same calendar.