LOCATION: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Photo above is property of Mystery City Games
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: The Mystery of a Secret Sender
📅 DATE PLAYED: May 26, 2022
🎬 GENRE: Puzzle Hunt, Secret Society
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-100+ ppl (Ages 6+)
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 2 Hrs.
💰 PRICE: 25 €/ pp, 15 €/ per child
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
The Rosy Cross is a legendary esoteric society that has resided in Amsterdam for over centuries and they are now looking for a new member. One of the famous members of this society, known as a Secret Sender, invites you to test whether you are worthy enough to be a part of this society. To prove yourself, all you have to do is explore the city, solve all the mysteries, and reveal the identity of this Secret Sender. Can you prove yourself to be a new member of this prestigious secret society?
Photos above are property of Mystery City Games
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
This game was absolutely the best way to explore the beautiful city and visit the historical sites in Amsterdam while solving fun puzzles inspired by its history! In some parts, I walked a lot from one spot to another, but I enjoyed it every step of the way! It led me to paths and places that I had never been to. Not only did I enjoy visiting the historical places to solve puzzles, but I also appreciated the vibe of the city and of course the view of the canals!
There were five sites that I needed to stop and solve puzzles. Each one had a bench to sit down on or space to read and solve puzzles. I felt comfortable solving puzzles on the street at most places.
I love that the puzzles were related to both the history of Amsterdam and the mysterious sender who is a famous figure related to the city. The puzzles might be easy for experts, but they were well-designed to fit both the game and introduce historical facts. I think that they're all approachable and enjoyable for everyone. Though the history part was introductory, it was just the right amount to inspire me and keep me focused on the game. There were so much that I wanted to learn more about after playing the game. I also loved the design of the booklet for the puzzles and it helped keep me immersed into the story of the game.
The staff was nice and helpful. They offered me options to use a shoulder bag instead of a backpack to carry the puzzle booklet and box. They also inquired if I needed a phone to receive hints (I used my WhatsApp to communicate with him instead). In addition, they were very kind to suggest to me some other activities I could do during my stay in Amsterdam.
I was happily surprised to receive a small prize after I finished the game so that I could take it back home for the memory.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
Although the box that I carried wasn't too heavy, I believe that it can be a little bit more portable. Regardless, I loved that I got to opened the box with keys even for the city puzzle hunts!
A very minor thing, for one of the puzzles, some people may be able to solve the puzzle without collecting information from the site if they already have the knowledge. It may be good to have an option for those who would like a harder challenge.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
“The Mystery of a Secret Sender” is a great way to explore the city of Amsterdam and get to know its history and people by solving fun puzzles related to its history. I strongly recommend this game to anyone who would like to be immersed in this beautiful city and learn about it while having fun. If you love to solve puzzles and go sightseeing, this is the perfect game for you! Just wear comfortable shoes and clothes because you walk quite a lot. Do not forget to check the weather forecast before you book. This experience may be better on a sunny day!
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
No parking
The headquarters are near the "Waterlooplein Station" and tram station. You can walk from the central part of the city.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank Mystery City Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
