In October 2020, with the world on pause, we found ourselves in the middle of lockdown, itching to create something new. After the roaring success of The Network, our first play-at-home game, we decided it was time to embrace the festive season and design a Christmas experience.
Physical Christmas escape rooms had always intrigued us, but the short lifespan of seasonal games often meant they are built on a budget, meaning the quality is poor, which isn’t our style. We pride ourselves on creating quality, long-lasting experiences. That’s when the idea struck—a play-at-home Christmas game.
How We Made It
The process of bringing The Charm of Christmas Past to life was nothing short of intense. It all started with daily brainstorming sessions over Zoom. Lewis led the team, gathering ideas and crafting puzzles that fit seamlessly into the storyline. Each evening, he would refine the designs and mechanics, ensuring everything was just right. By the following day, Mica would have prototypes ready for the team to review and test. This relentless cycle of creativity and collaboration continued until every puzzle was perfected.
With the game fully planned, Mica shifted her focus to the design phase. Every single element was carefully crafted to create a magical and immersive experience:
A beautifully illustrated puzzle book.
Hand-cut wooden Christmas trees and baubles.
Ribbons, Perspex, and intricate handcrafted elements.
Each detail was designed to make The Charm of Christmas Past stand out as a truly special experience, featuring over 20 unique trinkets and items to bring the story to life.
Challenges
As we moved from design to production, the hurdles began. With only a few weeks to spare, it was all hands on deck. We hand-tied over 6,000 tags, stamped 4,000 folders, cut more than a quarter-mile of ribbon, popped wooden baubles out of over 1,000 trees assembled Christmas crackers, and sealed every letter with wax. It was exhausting, and a mammoth task. We JUST managed to pull it off in time. All that we now needed to do was add the illustrated storybooks to the parcels and we were complete, but it wasn't that simple...
The Final Rush
Suppliers let us down repeatedly, the biggest challenge was the storybooks—a vital part of the game. The suppliers foiling machine broke, delaying delivery for weeks.
With no other suppliers being available to deliver on time, the entire project was at a standstill.
Finally, after countless phone calls and a lot of stress, the supplier hand-delivered over 1,000 books via taxi! Just a week before Christmas. We were thrilled but now faced an enormous task to assemble and ship everything out in time. We managed to pull it off, boxing and labelling over 1000 games! Every day we shipped hundereds of games out.
Then came another stressful moment. A few days before Christmas Royal Mail was scheduled for their final collection, a 4pm pick-up—a hard cut-off to ensure parcels reached customers before Christmas. By 4:15, there was no sign of the collection van, and panic set in. Luckily, Lewis’ brother-in-law’s brother, Hayden, was our postie. Frantic calls were made, and we finally got through to him. He explained that he’d visited the site, but a faulty doorbell meant we hadn’t heard him. Heroically, he turned the van around and raced back to collect the parcels.
With just minutes to spare, we loaded the van, and Hayden made it to the depot on time. It was a heart-stopping moment, but we did it. Every game was on its way.
When the last parcel was shipped, we finally closed the doors on our makeshift storeroom. The space was a disaster—stripped boxes, shredded ribbon, and general chaos surrounded us. But after eight weeks of non-stop work, we were too tired to care. The mess could wait until the new year.
Why It Means So Much
The Charm of Christmas Past was a labour of love. Loosely inspired by Lewis’ great-aunt Winifred, it’s a captivating and enchanting experience designed to bring people together during the festive season.
Why You’ll Love It
Packed with over 20 handcrafted trinkets, a beautifully illustrated storybook, and immersive puzzles, this play-at-home adventure is perfect for families, friends, and couples. It’s a chance to bond, laugh, and create memories that truly capture the magic of Christmas.
Get Yours Now
We’re thrilled to bring The Charm of Christmas Past back for another year. If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas game or a unique gift for someone special, this is it.
Use code LOYAL20 at checkout to get 20% off your order today.
Thank you for supporting us and believing in what we do. We can’t wait for you to experience this magical game. 🎄✨
Comments