Krista Jones
- Jul 9, 2022
- 3 min read

Conundroom Escape Rooms - "Time Travel. Project 'Ex Machine'"

Updated: Apr 6

LOCATION:  Redmond, Washington, USA

Photo above is property of Conundroom Escape Rooms

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Time Travel. Project "Ex Machine"
📅 DATE PLAYED: June 1, 2022
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Time Travel
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-8 PPL
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins
💰 PRICE: $35/PP
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Irresponsible use of a time machine has left our future in danger and it’s up to you to fix things!

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

Personally, I think time travel is a really fun theme and it was implemented well here. We definitely felt the futuristic vibe and were concerned about how our actions might affect other timelines!
We got to read an entire comic book explaining the backstory before the game began! It sounds like sometimes this is just discovered during the game, which could be a challenge since it takes a while to read (I know I’m not the only one who rarely has the patience to read long story components when the clock is ticking!). However, it was a fantastic setup for the game to be able to read it at a leisurely pace before we began, and helped to really provide a more in-depth backstory than you typically get.
There were no padlocks in this game, with lots of tech integration, which was definitely in line with the technologically-advanced theming. Everything worked smoothly, and some of my teammates particularly enjoyed getting to use one of the props at the end!
In terms of the puzzles, there was a nice flow with options for group members to be working on several puzzles simultaneously, as well as some places where teamwork is required. There were plenty of tactile interactions and those satisfying moments when things clicked and you realized exactly what something meant!
There is a great mechanism that gives you a nice "a-ha moment!" part way through the game. It is very on-theme and also provides a good opportunity for team communication/collaboration.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

Although there is the really cool comic book backstory that provides a lot of context, the way the story plays out in the game admittedly has a few holes. Yet, this is something I thought about later, in contemplating this review. I definitely didn’t care about it when we were playing, as I was fully engaged and having a blast! In discussions with the owner, a change in the story (that introduces this inconsistency) was made to improve the player experience, and I can totally see why.
We accidentally opened a door to the hallway, which dispelled a bit of the immersion. It would be great to find a thematic way to tell players not to open that door (except in case of emergency).

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

If you are looking for a well-themed game with lots of tech and that classic escape room feel, "Time Travel: Project 'Ex Machine'” will be right up your alley! While some of the puzzles are a bit tougher, there are some that would be good for more experienced kids/families and nothing too scary (though, some of their other rooms are specifically geared towards those groups)! We had a blast tackling this mission, and really appreciated some of the cool design elements. So, if you’re ready to save the future, give this one a go!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Time Travel: Project 'Ex Machine'” is at the main Conundroom Escape Rooms location in Redmond, which is particularly geared towards adult players. There is a bathroom available and several cool lobby/waiting areas with seating. They have a small lot, and street parking is also available.

Photos above are property of Conundroom Escape Rooms

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 Conundroom Escape Rooms for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.