Mastermind Escape Rooms (Biel) - "H. Potter - Keeper of Magic"

Ryan Driver

Dec 25, 20244 min read

LOCATION:  Biel, Switzerland

Mastermind Escape Rooms (Biel) - "H. Potter - Keeper of Magic"

Photo above is property of Mastermind Escape Rooms (Biel)

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: H. Potter - Keeper of Magic
📅 DATE PLAYED: November 2, 2024
🎬 GENRE: Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: 104 CHF (2 ppl), 126 CHF (3 ppl), 152 CHF (ppl), 170 CHF (5 ppl), 192 CHF (6 ppl)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [36:20]

📖 THE STORY

This is the second episode from Mastermind’s Harry Potter series, although the two games are not connected and you do not need to have played the first episode prior to this game.

Step by step, you enter the old school halls, where shadows of the past linger. In the dark corridors, a secret guarded for generations awaits. Talula Vipera, once the guardian of dark magic, vanished mysteriously, leaving behind a curse that threatens the School of Magic.

Now, it's time to enter the House of Snakes and face the adventure. The curse may surround the house, but within the darkness lies the chance to uncover the truth. Are you ready to face the dangers and solve the mystery of Talula Vipera? Your journey into the dark realms begins here – do you dare to take the first step?

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

The pregame introduction from our in-character Game Master took place both inside the room and out. His performance was thematic and even involved us performing a little bit of magic too. This was a fun way to help set the mood for our adventure into Hogwarts.
Immediately upon entering the room you are greeted by the high quality set design and props. Our surroundings were dark, mysterious, and immersive. The attention to detail and professional grade design fortunately continues into the second room too.
There are some small special effects included in the room which also help to promote a sense of immersion into the magical world.
The puzzles are thematic, leaning into the magical world, but they are not directly linked to any of the Harry Potter stories, making them inclusive for all players; whether you are familiar with the books and movies or not.
Since this particular theme is likely to attract families and younger players, I thought the level of difficulty was well balanced. There wasn’t anything inside that was too abstract or difficult to solve, yet there were still moments that could slow down even the most experienced teams. We also liked that the puzzles were designed in a way that has us constantly moving back and forth between the two rooms, reinvestigating areas we had once passed. This created a dynamic flow to the experience.
Focusing on the family crowd once more, I would also echo that the design too fits this demographic. Here, Mastermind has implemented a slightly darker than usual tone, but yet it doesn’t cross the line by making itself too scary for younger players. So even though you enter the House of Snakes, there is nothing to be worried about.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

There weren’t too many things to complain about in this game, overall it is a very professionally constructed escape room. However, if I was going to point to one thing it would be the size of the first room, which was very tight. I would not want to have played this with the maximum of five people; we would all likely be trying to squeeze past each other or crammed together trying to solve a puzzle.
The lighting in the room was also problematic for us, at times it was too dark, and on other occasions the system had a couple of hiccups. This resulted in the focus spotlights coming on out of sync and giving us false indications as to where we should focus next. It wasn’t a big deal but did result in the GM having to intervene to redirect us.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

This is definitely a room suitable for families and fans of all things magic. Although the connection to the Harry Potter stories themselves was weak, there is still a good thematic tone struck! Experienced players will likely want to play this in teams of two or three due to the simpler puzzles and linear game flow.

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Parking is available for free onsite. There are dedicated spots in a large car park for the escape room
There is a small lobby area with lockers and some drinks for sale.

Photos above are property of Mastermind Escape Rooms (Biel)

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 Mastermind Escape Rooms (Biel) for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever.