Runaway Games - "Escape Spy Island"
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Runaway Games - "Escape Spy Island"

Updated: Apr 28


Photo above is property of Runaway Games

Game: Runaway Games

Country: Singapore 🇸🇬

Language: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Baha Melayu/ Indonesia, Polish, and Russian

Type of Game: Digital Game w/ Live Host 💁

Genre: Espionage

Date Played: February 19, 2022

Difficulty (based on 6 players): 7.5/10

Size of Team: Unlimited (Min. of 4 Players)

Time: 90 Minutes (Can be adjusted to 75 Mins.)

Price: $54.00 (3 Players), $72.00 (4 Players), $90.00 (5 Players), $108.00 (6 Players)


🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈

You are students in the Spy Academy of Spy Island and you hope to be one of the best to fight against the bad guys out there in the world. After four years of training at this academy, today is your big graduation day! However, at the ceremony, the principal announces that your graduation IS your final exam. This is your final test and you must pass in order to become an official spy! Will you be able to demonstrate to all your professors the skills that you've acquired thus far and "Escape Spy Island"??

Video above is property of Runaway Games


🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈

"Escape Spy Island" is a live-hosted digital game communicated via Zoom and played on Runaway Games' website. The game master sends you a link to the website after briefing you about the game. Throughout the experience, the game master will guide you and monitor your progress. The main goal of this game is not to escape, but to earn points at several stages to pass the final exam. This isn't a standard escape room game, it's more like several mini-game challenges that you have to pass in order to score higher points during each stage. There are mainly four distinct challenges in three stages by three professors who examine the different abilities that will qualify you as a good spy. Each challenge has to be completed within a certain amount of time. If your answer is correct, you get points. If your answer is wrong, you lose points. If you want hints, you can ask the game master. However, hints will result in points deducted from your overall score. So, think wisely before you ask.


There were only a few very minor concerns when we played. For one of the puzzles, the clock was ticking while the game master was explaining the puzzle. Since time is of the essence for this game, it would have been better to stop the clock or clarify before the time started. Also, the point system that they used was a bit complicated and unclear. The measurement of the final scores in the three challenges varied tremendously. If the point system was much simpler and more interpretable, then the scores might be more meaningful. Other than that, their web system looked very professional and the game was really smooth throughout (there was one tiny technical flaw but nothing major).

Photos above are property of Runaway Games


🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂

The challenges for the first stage are logic puzzles and a memory game to test your intelligence. The very first task is one type of conventional logic puzzle. The content of the puzzle fits perfectly with the theme, but it may be better to explain a rule or show an example beforehand when a conventional pencil puzzle is used. Some people may not be familiar with the rule of the puzzle (I personally like solving this kind of puzzle at my own leisure rather than solving together as a group). If you love it, enjoy it! If you don’t, wait until the memory game which is a more straight-forward challenge. The second stage is a point-n-click escape game to test your hacking and decoding skills. This section is definitely for escape room enthusiasts. The set design of the room was really nice and the puzzles in were challenging even for some experts. So don’t hesitate to ask for hints even if you lose some points. The last challenge is the application of your skills to the real world using the GeoGuesser-type game. It is entertaining and fits perfectly well with the theme. This mini-game is much simpler than the other challenges. So everyone can enjoy this section

as a group.


Overall, I had a fun and positive experience with the game (although I am not a huge fan of solving logic grid puzzles as a team). Each task was highly challenging and exciting and our game masters were friendly and supportive. The animated introductory and backstory was very intriguing and made me feel eager to play the game in the beginning. The website for the puzzles looked very professional. It might've been even more exciting if they add just a little bit more originality in the puzzles or a twist in the story towards the end. There were only a few small concerns about the operation, but the game as a whole was really enjoyable.


Photos above are property of Runaway Games


🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂

“Escape Spy Island” is a fun and exciting game that challenges you with mini-games to tackle as a team. This game is for players that like to try various challenges and work as a team. Because the skills that were tested at each section are distinctively different, each member of your team will have something to contribute. I believe that “Escape Spy Island” is a great game for team building. So put on your graduation cap and gown and get ready for your exciting final exam at Spy Island!

 

(If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)


Disclosure: We thank Runaway 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.



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