Mind Masters - "Strange Magic"
- Dave Bristol
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
LOCATION: Clermont, Florida, USA
Photo above is property of Mind Masters
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Strange Magic
📅 DATE PLAYED: January 12, 2026
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Thriller
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
You thought you were simply showing up to play an escape room, but the curtain rises on something far more urgent. You’ve been quietly recruited by a mysterious organization to stop a once-celebrated magician who has crossed a dangerous line. Using a powerful amulet, he’s been draining the life force of his audiences, hiding sinister intent behind theatrical charm and sleight of hand. Your task is to locate the amulet and contain its power before he can capture his next audience.
Video above is property of Red Door Escape Room (Las Vegas)
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Whimsical, theatrical fun. The experience leans into classic stage magic with charm and humor. Magical reveals, playful surprises, and even a campy, inclusive intro video set the tone. It’s one of those rooms that’s simply joyful to play, and we really appreciated this light-hearted nature.
Meticulous detail, craftsmanship, and execution. This room is packed with thoughtful touches that reward close observation. Everything, from props to puzzles, feels intentional and rooted in a larger backstory and environment. There are no visible wires, no immersion-breaking “Do not touch” stickers, and everything linked to the GM and our real, modern world is linked to the “portal” door. The craftsmanship is no surprise given one owner’s background as a Cirque du Soleil prop maker.
Smooth flow and satisfying puzzles. Everything worked really smoothly and kept us engaged. The puzzles were satisfying, often multi-step, and many cleverly riffed on classic magic tricks.
Unexpected scoring system. Beyond just your final time, performance is tracked through solve speed for each puzzle, hint usage, and more. We debated whether knowing the details ahead of time would change how we played, but we appreciated the fresh approach. And we were, of course, delighted to hear we had an “excellent” two-player score. I’m sure they NEVER say that unless it’s true…
A connective thread across games. The recurring portal concept (designed to carry across future rooms) is a smart way to create continuity without boxing the creators into one theme. It hints at a broader universe while keeping this experience fully self-contained.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
There’s little to criticize here, but a few areas where things could be further elevated:
Set polish at the margins. While the props and puzzle elements are beautifully realized, the wall surfaces are more plainly finished. That said, it’s a minor quibble in a room where everything else so strongly supports the theme.
Broader narrative context. The mission-specific story is well developed, but the larger mystery of who exactly recruited you and why remains vague. A bit more narrative framing around this secret society could elevate the storytelling.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
"Strange Magic" is a classic escape room that just works, and works beautifully. It delivers seamless flow, thoughtful and varied puzzles, engaging reveals, and an environment brimming with personality. It’s lighthearted, family-friendly, and accessible, yet still rich with clever design and craftsmanship that enthusiasts will appreciate. (Though you may be sad it finished so soon!) If you have the chance, chatting with the owners afterward will really reveal just how much detail went into building this world. There’s a real sense of play here, a nod to the golden age of stage magic, and an obvious love for the art of escapery. Time flew by, we had an absolute blast, and we left grinning…always the surest sign that the trick was pulled off flawlessly.
🔎 HINT
Make sure everyone is paying attention when someone solves a puzzle so as not to miss anything…
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
There is free parking right outside. Inside, bathrooms are available, along with seating and some lobby puzzles (and fun retro decor). They will show you a corner in the room where you can leave your things.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(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 Mind Masters for providing a media discount for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever.
