$65 per month for the first location
One installation can operate unlimited rooms and devices. ARC is free to download and try, and your first 14 days are free when you subscribe.
Owner's comparison guide
ARC vs Mythric Mystery Master (M3)
Both are installed escape room control systems with serious automation and hardware support. The difference is how they organize a room, which devices they connect to directly, and how owners and staff work across the business.
Last verified July 2026
$75 monthly or $825 annually
M3 lists all features in both plans and offers a no-charge demo through an M3 account.
Installed control without a live cloud dependency
Both systems run at the escape room and state that live operation does not require an internet connection.
Side by side
What changes in day-to-day operation
This is a practical comparison, not a scorecard. Both products can run escape rooms; the important question is which operating model fits your business.
| Decision area | ARC | Mythric Mystery Master (M3) |
|---|---|---|
| Live operationWhat staff uses during a game | A multi-room operations screen for objectives, hints, timers, room state, quick actions, resets, cameras, and activity history. | A game control system built around stories, dynamic clues, countdown timers, billboards, leaderboards, and an intelligent event system. |
| Game buildingHow room logic is organized | Games, objectives, scenes, variables, media, devices, and native When / If / Do automations are built in ARC. | Experiences are organized as Stories with Prologues and Epilogues. M3 also lists custom C# scripting and custom HTML support. |
| Hardware and protocolsWhat can connect directly | MQTT, Modbus TCP / PLC, DMX, OSC, Z-Wave, Zigbee, Hue, Kasa, Shelly BLU, Arduino / ESP, Raspberry Pi, and ARC Node-RED nodes. | M3 lists native support for PLCs, DMX, JSON and MQTT devices, Philips Hue, Z-Wave, Arduino-compatible boards, Raspberry Pi, and Windows IoT. |
| Operation when internet is downWhat keeps running at your business | The game engine, automations, hardware control, media, and staff screens run from the ARC computer at your business. | M3 states that no internet connection is required to operate; it checks for updates and validates licenses when a connection is available. |
| Pricing shown publiclyUSD, checked July 2026 | $65/month for the first location and $50/month for each additional location. | $75/month or $825/year. M3 says both subscriptions include all features. |
| Try before switchingHow the evaluation begins | Download and try ARC instantly. Create your account when you open it; subscribing starts with 14 days free. | M3 offers a free demo after creating an account. |
| Moving existing gamesHow much starts over | ARC Portal can turn a zipped M3 story into an ARC starter archive, including supported objectives, hints, devices, automations, and media. | M3 provides its own story format. ARC migration is a one-way import into ARC, not a synchronization between products. |
A fair decision
Which one fits your escape room?
- One system for games, native automation, devices, displays, diagnostics, and room resets
- A broader mix of smart-home, industrial, stage-lighting, custom-prop, and Node-RED connections
- A multi-room staff workflow with separate tools for building and operating games
- A migration tool that turns an existing M3 story into a reviewable ARC starting point
- The M3 Story, Prologue, and Epilogue model already matches how you build experiences
- Your rooms rely on M3 custom C# scripting or custom HTML that you intend to keep
- Your team is established in M3 and the cost and risk of changing outweigh a different workflow
- The specific devices and integrations listed by M3 cover the rooms you plan to operate
ARC publishes this comparison. Product details for M3 come from the official pages linked below; ARC details come from the current ARC product and billing configuration. Test the workflows that matter to your business before deciding.
Switch without starting blank
Bring an M3 story into ARC
Zip the complete M3 story folder and ARC builds a ready-to-import .arc game package in your browser. The importer is designed to reduce rebuilding, not promise a perfect clone.
- Objectives and hints
- Supported automations
- PLC, MQTT, and DMX devices
- Included audio, image, and video files
How this page was checked
Official sources, linked for verification
Competitor details can change. We use the company's own public pages and date the review so you can check the current information yourself.
Run ARC alongside your current system during your first 14 days free
Download ARC and try it free. When you subscribe, your first 14 days are free — build one room, connect the hardware you already use, and let your staff try the live control workflow before you switch.