Minderheitenlabyrinth

Minderheitenlabyrinth is an immersive, escape room-inspired serious game set in a real Cold War-era bunker near the German-Danish border. Developed together with the Minority Competence Network Schleswig-Holstein/South Denmark, the project brings regional history and diversity to life through an innovative blend of analog and digital media.

Designed for groups of up to 30 participants, the experience is structured around the histories of the four recognized minorities of the region: Sinti and Roma, North Frisians, Germans in Denmark, and Danes in Germany. Divided into teams, participants take on the roles of these minority groups—and a special “borderland” group focused on dialogue—working together to recover and reconstruct a lost documentary film about these communities. To solve the layered puzzles and challenges throughout the bunker, visitors interact with custom-developed tablet apps and bespoke Arduino-based puzzles, interweaving tactile, analog elements with digital storytelling.

Each successfully solved puzzle reveals video interviews and personal stories, allowing players to experience and reflect on the real lives and challenges of minority members and the shifting history of the border region. The core design concept—”Bringing Light to Darkness”—is felt throughout the space: atmospheric lighting, sensitive use of the historic site, and intentionally designed safe spaces invite dialogue and reflection on identity, history, and coexistence.

Highlights:

Hybrid analog-digital escape room experience, grounded in serious game principles
Interactive puzzles and storytelling foster empathy and understanding for four regional minorities
Immersive use of atmospheric lighting, video interviews, and custom-built technology
Developed in partnership with local experts, minority representatives, and regional policymakers
Central to the experience is a tablet app that guides participants through the experience
Awarded funding from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community

Minderheitenlabyrinth offers a unique opportunity to engage with cultural diversity, regional history, and social dialogue—making sensitive topics accessible and memorable through hands-on, collaborative play.