A Maze In - "Asylum 1920"

Ryan Driver
2 days ago
3 min read

LOCATION:  Strasbourg, France

Photo above is property of A Maze In

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Asylum 1920
📅 DATE PLAYED: June 27, 2025
🎬 GENRE: Spooky
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-4 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: 28-38 €/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (31:00)

📖 THE STORY

In 1920, it didn’t take much to be branded insane. After a fever left you raving, you were swiftly declared unfit and locked away in a grim psychiatric hospital. Now, confined to a padded cell with nothing but a flickering lantern, your mind is clear, but no one believes you.

You're not alone. In the next room, another patient may hold the key to your freedom. You’ll have to work together, across walls, through whispers, and in the dark, to unravel the secrets of this twisted institution. Time is running out.

Dr. Maze is making his rounds, and if you’re still here when he returns... you may never leave.

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

As with all games at A Maze In, our experience began with an in-character and entertaining interaction with our gamemaster. This time, she was playfully deciding which of us would start locked in the doctor’s office and which poor soul would be confined to the padded cell. Spoiler: I drew the short straw and got the cell!
This is very much a game of two halves. For the majority of the time, players are split between the two spaces, only reuniting near the end to work together on their escape before the doctor returns.
I’m not usually a big fan of extended team separation, especially in a two-player game—but here, the difficulty was well-balanced, and we both genuinely enjoyed the challenge. For us, two players felt like the ideal group size. That said, we think even with up to four it could still work without feeling too cramped or chaotic.
The set design struck a great balance, dark and devious, without being overdone. Low lighting and selectively placed props created a convincingly grim atmosphere. I particularly liked the padded cell, which avoided the cliché sterile white aesthetic. Instead, it felt raw and realistic, featuring graffiti and scribbles left behind by previous “residents.” It added an eerie authenticity without leaning too far into horror.
As you'd expect, the gameplay involved a fair bit of communication and exchanging physical items through slots or openings, but it wasn’t exclusively about collaboration. There were also independent puzzles that each player needed to work through alone. I appreciated this variety. Some games fall into the trap of requiring constant teamwork, which can dilute the individual problem-solving aspect. Here, there were moments of “what does this do?” and “is this for me or for them?” that added a satisfying mental layer. Puzzle design overall was diverse, thematic, and engaging.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

The game could have benefited from being slightly longer or having a larger footprint, perhaps by adding another space to break into (and out of). The flow was solid, but the physical scope felt just a little limited. That said, we understand the challenge of working within a confined venue layout.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

We’re glad we played this as a duo, it felt like the sweet spot for difficulty and pace, especially for more experienced players. From what we’ve read, Asylum 1920 tends to divide opinion a bit, but we both firmly fall on the positive side. We found it creative, immersive, and fun to play.

While the theme leans into a darker tone, there’s nothing overtly frightening here. It’s more eerie than scary—so even those who shy away from horror-themed games should have no problem with this one.

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Parking is not available on site, however there are plenty of car parks in the surrounding area, as well as a Park & Ride scheme
There is a large lobby area with comfortable seating and a bar that serves food and drink.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

BOOK NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank A Maze In for providing us with a media discount for this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.