Halloween Horror Mode Now Active

Enter the Den. Follow Annie's Footsteps.

Dr. Elias Mercer is missing. Annie has contacted the family. His hidden den inside ArtHatch is still running, but not every system is responding.

Read the Story

Access pendingAnnie onlineMercer unreachable

Important: This Experience Begins Before You Arrive

Texting is required to play.

Annie's Footsteps does not begin when you walk through the door. It begins after you book.

Annie will contact the primary person on your reservation by text message before your scheduled experience. These messages are part of the game and contain required instructions, rules, authorization steps, and information you will need before arriving.

The primary contact must be able to receive and reply to Annie's text messages. If you cannot receive or participate by text, contact us before booking so we can determine whether an alternative can be arranged.

Do not book expecting to skip the text portion. The messages are part of the experience.

Protocol verified

Horror Mode Is Active

For the Halloween season, Annie's Footsteps enters Horror Mode: darker atmosphere, heavier tension, and a more unsettling version of Mercer's hidden world. The investigation remains story-driven and puzzle-focused, but the room feels less certain about what it wants you to find.

Family authorization

Dr. Mercer Is Missing.

Before he disappeared, Dr. Elias Mercer left Annie one instruction: if he became unreachable, she was to contact family. Now she has reached out to you.

Mercer's hidden home inside ArtHatch is still active. His belongings remain. His projects are unfinished. Some systems are still running. Others are no longer responding.

Annie can guide you through what she understands. The rest must be found inside the room.

System restricted

A Home. A Studio. A Horror Mode Investigation.

Annie's Footsteps is a story-driven escape room where players enter Dr. Mercer's private den and working studio after hours. In Horror Mode, the same world feels darker. The lights are less forgiving. Annie is less certain. Ordinary objects feel more deliberate.

Immersive Set Design

A detailed den and studio built to feel personal, lived-in, and real.

Analog + Tech Puzzles

Tactile clues, old equipment, hidden mechanisms, and digital systems work together.

Story-Driven Mystery

Every object, note, drawer, screen, and sound can matter.

Halloween Horror Mode

A darker seasonal version built around tension, atmosphere, and psychological unease.

Annie's Guidance

Annie helps where she can, but some systems are restricted, damaged, or silent.

Family Investigation

You are not random players. The story treats your group as the family Mercer trusted.

Do not skip steps

Adaptive Difficulty

Annie's Footsteps is designed to scale with your group. Newer players can stay immersed with guidance that keeps the story moving, while experienced teams can push deeper, solve faster, and uncover more without being handheld.

Difficulty: Adaptive

Observe

Read the room. Notice what should not be where it is.

Connect

Match objects, signals, notes, and Annie's guidance.

Unlock

Push deeper when the safeguards begin to answer.

Rear entrance only

Plan Your Investigation

Duration

60 minutes

Group Size

2-6 players

Difficulty

Adaptive

Mode

Halloween Horror Mode

Location

ArtHatch, Escondido

Device Policy

Explained before entry

Address

Annie's Footsteps is located by appointment inside ArtHatch, 317 E. Grand Ave #4, Escondido, CA 92025.

Visits

Appointment only. Book when reservations open, or use the contact form before visiting; the facility is staffed around scheduled games.

Booking & Arrival

Reservations are coming soon. Arrival instructions will be sent before your experience when booking opens. Please contact us before visiting.

Questions logged

FAQ

Is Annie's Footsteps scary?

In Horror Mode, the experience is darker, more tense, and more unsettling. It is built around psychological horror, atmosphere, and story, not cheap jump scares.

Is this a haunted house?

No. Annie's Footsteps is a story-driven escape room set inside a detailed den and working studio environment.

What is Horror Mode?

Horror Mode is the Halloween season version of Annie's Footsteps. It keeps the core investigation but adds darker atmosphere, stronger tension, and a more unsettling presentation.

How hard is it?

The difficulty is adaptive. The room uses layered puzzles, optional guidance, and story-driven progression so newer players can stay involved and experienced teams can push deeper.

How do bookings work?

Reservations are coming soon. Booking details will be posted here when times are available.

Do you take payment on this website?

Not yet. Payments will be available here once the game is live.

How many players can participate?

The experience is designed for 2-6 players.

How long is the experience?

The main experience is approximately 60 minutes.

Can players bring phones inside?

The experience includes specific device and camera rules that are explained before entry.

Is this family-friendly?

Horror Mode is designed to be darker and more intense than the standard presentation. Use your judgment based on your group.

Can I get a discount?

Yes. Go to distinctionart.com and find the ghost to start the game. Solve the puzzle within 60 minutes, then enter the code to get 20% off.

Family channel

Questions Before You Enter?

Reservations are not open yet. Check back soon for booking availability.

Annie's Footsteps is open by appointment inside ArtHatch in Escondido. Book when reservations open, or use the contact form before visiting; the facility is staffed around scheduled games.

(760) 497-5046 contact@anniesfootsteps.com

317 E. Grand Ave #4
Escondido, CA 92025

Horror Mode active

Mercer Is Missing. Annie Is Waiting.

The Halloween Horror Mode experience is coming soon. Step into the hidden den where the last signal from Dr. Elias Mercer was received.