Exit board game brand signs contracts for 28 new titles as global sales soar
Exit board game creators Inka and Markus Brand expand the franchise with 28 new titles, Advent calendars and global sales milestones and strong market share.
The Exit board game franchise, created by Inka and Markus Brand and published by Kosmos, is entering a new phase after more than a decade of rapid growth and international reach. The Brands and Kosmos have inked contracts that cover 28 new games for the coming years while already planning seasonal products such as the 2027 Advent calendar. Sales figures and ongoing product rollouts underscore Exit’s sustained position as a leading puzzle and escape-room-style board game franchise.
Sales milestone and market dominance
More than ten million Exit products have been sold outside Germany, and the series has recorded over 20 million sales in its home market since the first release a decade ago. Industry research previously noted that Exit overtook Monopoly as Germany’s strongest board game brand within four years of launch, a rapid ascent that underpins current expansion decisions. Kosmos reports regular multi-million annual sales, with Exit titles consistently among the top-selling releases.
From live escape rooms to one-use puzzle games
Exit’s design draws directly from the live escape-room trend, translating immersive rooms into tabletop cases with paper-and-card components. Each Exit title centers on a ten-puzzle scenario solved through three-digit codes and a decoding wheel, and players are required to alter physical elements of the game—cutting, folding or marking—which makes many editions single-use by design. That one-time-play concept, novel in the industry, helped differentiate the franchise and capture consumers seeking cinematic, puzzle-driven experiences at home.
Creators’ process and family collaboration
Inka and Markus Brand remain the creative core behind the series, committing at least one day per week to inventing new puzzles and refining ideas. Their daughter Emely and son Lukas participate in testing and development; Emely, now studying game design, acts as an early tester and has co-authored earlier award-winning family games. The Brands keep notebooks of ideas and subject prototypes to extensive playtesting, a quality-control ritual that can reveal errors even after hundreds of published puzzles.
Production choices and editorial precision
Kosmos emphasizes meticulous editorial work and close coordination with manufacturers to ensure consistency across print runs, where minor color or print variations can affect puzzle solvability. The publisher selected ASS Altenburger as a primary producer to secure reliable domestic manufacturing capacity, a strategic choice that proved resilient during supply-chain disruptions. Development timelines for each Exit release typically span between one and one-and-a-half years from concept to market, reflecting iterative testing and design adjustments.
Ambitious release schedule and new product types
The Brands and Kosmos maintain an active release calendar: four new games, two Advent calendars and two book-and-puzzle combinations each year, totaling eight projects annually. The recently signed agreements for 28 games cover multiple seasons and formats, freeing the authors to focus on creation rather than outside employment. Exit also stages promotional initiatives—live shows and a traveling puzzle truck—to mark milestones and engage fans directly across regions.
Competition and sustained niche strategy
Although Exit enjoyed peak mainstream attention several years ago, Kosmos and the Brands observe a market consolidation that has concentrated demand on strong incumbents. The board-game field now sees hundreds of new titles a year in Germany alone, increasing competition from international designers and publishers. Exit’s advantage remains its brand recognition and a product range that spans casual to expert difficulty, with future releases planned for youth-fantasy tie-ins and specialist professional-level puzzles.
The Brands balance innovation with continuity: while developing products aimed at younger players and “between kids and beginners” audiences, they continue to serve experienced puzzlers with challenging editions such as the favorite Orient Express pro game. Family narratives and real-world inspirations—164 live escape rooms visited by the couple so far—feed new storylines and mechanics, ensuring the line grows without abandoning its core puzzle ethos.
Exit’s trajectory illustrates how a well-executed concept, rigorous testing and coordinated production can turn a niche idea into a durable global brand. As Inka and Markus Brand look ahead to the next Advent calendar and dozens of new titles, the franchise appears set to maintain its market share while experimenting with formats and audience segments to keep the puzzles fresh.
