Forget Watching Game Shows On TV, San Mateo Now Has One You Can Actually Play In

SAN MATEO, CA — A new entertainment concept is coming to San Mateo that lets you stop watching game shows and start playing in one.

The Game Show Studio, a live interactive entertainment company, opened its newest location inside Red Door Escape Room at Hillsdale Shopping Center on Thursday.

"We're bringing the energy of a real game show to life, one you don't just watch, but actually experience," said Julian Wagner, co-founder of The Game Show Studio.

The collaboration combines the puzzle-solving atmosphere of escape rooms with the competitive energy of a live game show, complete with studio lighting, sound effects, and rapid-fire challenges.

The venue is designed for groups looking for something beyond a typical night out — date nights, birthday parties, corporate team-building events, and bachelor and bachelorette parties among them.

Red Door Escape Room CEO Nicholas Madden said the partnership fits naturally with the company's focus on experiences that bring people together.

"This collaboration goes beyond entertainment — it creates joy, connection, and excitement," Madden said.