Locurio - "The Mysteries of Noximillian"

LOCATION:  Seattle, Washington, USA

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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📝  ETR DECODER

• 🔑 GAME: The Mysteries of Noximillian

• 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 15, 2025

• 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Magic

• 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10

• 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl/ team (Up to 2 teams simultaneously)

• 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: ~1-2.5 Hrs. (no time limit)

• 💰 PRICE: $25.00/ pp

• ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private

• 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

You’ve spotted an ad in the paper: the great magician Noximillian is seeking a new assistant! You leap at the chance, but before you can claim your place at his side, you’ll need to prove yourself through a series of trials designed to test your wit, grit, and resourcefulness. Each puzzle brings you closer to Noximillian’s secrets…will you dazzle him with your brilliance and earn the role?

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

• This outdoor adventure is set in the same universe as The Vanishing Act. It serves as a clever precursor for those who haven’t played, and a sly wink for those who have. I’d done the room before, but my friend hadn’t. The game struck a nice balance, managing to tease me with callbacks without spoiling her future fun.

• The structure and system work smoothly and provide a lot of flexibility. You’ll pick up a binder from Locurio’s lobby, then set out with the ClueKeeper app. Puzzle time is tracked, but travel time isn’t, so you’re free to pause for coffee, grab a snack, or linger at a scenic spot. Our run was about 90 minutes total, with about an hour puzzling and a half-hour strolling. There’s no real time limit, though you’ll ideally want to play in daylight, and you’ll need to return the binder to Locurio at the end.

• This is a great opportunity to check out a really funky Seattle neighborhood!! The Fremont area is its own kind of stage set: waterfront views, quirky landmarks, and art on nearly every corner. There are plenty of enticing shops, cafes, and restaurants to pop into as well (before, after, or during). On a sunny day, it felt like a magician had conjured the perfect backdrop.

• Puzzle-wise, there’s a nice mix of difficulties. They start off more straight-forward but have some tougher ones in the middle. Most are paper-based and live in the binder, but there’s a tactile surprise and a neat AR moment. The tiered hint system works smoothly: free hints unlock with time, or you can “pay” points for earlier nudges. We liked that two copies of the puzzle pages were included, which was a thoughtful touch for bigger groups (or even teams of 2 that want to battle it out). That said, when the wind picked up, the second set became more juggling act than magic trick. (Even the ones in the binder got a bit tricky with the wind!) A clipboard would’ve been handy, so consider bringing your own if you want to utilize that second set.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

• We loved that the game is set in the Noximillian universe, and there is a nice narrative component at its conclusions (along with some insights along the way). However, it would have been great to have a little more story development throughout the journey.

• The AR puzzle was clever and fun, but we wanted the option to zoom in to see some of the elements more clearly. One of the hints eventually tells you what the things are, but it’s coupled with a solving hint, which felt like being forced to see the whole trick when all we wanted was a peek at the props. We’d love to see those sawed apart.
  

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

"The Mysteries of Noximillian" is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. While it doesn’t have the full narrative or immersion of one of their escape rooms, it’s perfect for anyone craving a more relaxed, untimed experience that doubles as an excuse to wander this quirky, art-filled Seattle neighborhood. It’s more puzzle-focused (and tougher than some outdoor games I’ve played), but the tiered hint system keeps it accessible to all. Puzzle enthusiasts, families with older kids, tourists, and Locurio devotees eager for “just one more trick” (as they await their new room…) will all find plenty of magic here.

🔎 HINT

Early on, if you’re struggling to spot what you need, remember: magicians always use misdirection…check the top as well as the front.

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

• This is an outdoor puzzle game, but you will pick up a physical binder from the Locurio lobby. (While there are stairs leading up to the lobby, they could likely bring things down to you if that’s a problem for all group members).

• The lobby can also be a nice place to wait for other team members to arrive, with seating and the option to buy an enthusiast passport!

• There are also bathrooms available.

• There is public transport access fairly nearby, or you can look for street parking (including some free options).

• The game does run rain or shine, so check the weather and come prepared appropriately to wander outside for a few hours.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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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 Locurio for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.

#KristaJones #IRLEscapeRoom #PuzzleHunt #Locurio #Magic #Washington #USA