Sherlocked Mystery Experiences - "The Architect"

Mike Schnurr
Apr 30
3 min read

LOCATION:  Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sherlocked Mystery Experiences - "The Vault"

Photo above is property of Sherlocked Mystery Experiences

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: The Architect
📅 DATE PLAYED: January 24, 2025
🎬 GENRE: Mystery
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 7/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: €29/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Your group finds yourselves in the heart of Amsterdam, drawn to an intriguing little study—one that seems to belong to a famed Dutch architect. What secrets might be hidden within these walls? Curiosity takes over as you step inside, ready to uncover the mysteries left behind. What starts as a simple investigation quickly transforms into a journey through time, unraveling secrets buried deep within the foundations of history. The discoveries that await are yours to uncover, but be prepared—nothing is quite as it seems..

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

For an introductory escape room, The Architect delivers a solid and engaging experience. The puzzles strike a great balance between accessibility and intrigue, keeping our group occupied and engaged throughout the entire adventure.
One particular prop, cleverly built up during the game, led to a satisfying and memorable finale—one that not only wrapped up the experience in an exciting way but also hinted at the larger world of Sherlocked, leaving us eager to explore more of their creations.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

There is a portion in The Architect where the group is split, and while one side is given relatively straightforward puzzles, the other is faced with a truly challenging beast of a puzzle. This led to a noticeable time disparity, leaving part of the team feeling underutilized while waiting for the other side to push through. A bit more balance in difficulty or guidance could have helped maintain engagement across both groups.
Additionally, one of the props in the game showed some wear and tear, and while it didn’t significantly impact the gameplay, a little extra care would have elevated the experience to match the otherwise high production value of the room.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

"The Architect" is a solid yet fairly standard escape room experience that blends a variety of puzzles with some interesting moments of discovery. The room is showing its age, which has both positive and negative effects on gameplay. On the one hand, the wear and tear give the space an authentic, lived-in feel that enhances immersion. On the other hand, some props feel well-used to the point of being in need of a refresh.

While there’s nothing in The Architect that screams “must-play,” it serves as a great introduction to escape rooms, particularly for newcomers. If you plan to marathon Sherlocked’s games, this is the ideal starting point, offering a glimpse into the world they’ve created. The biggest hiccup is a section where the team is split up, and one side is stuck with a lengthy sound-based puzzle that demands a significant amount of time and effort.

Overall, The Architect offers a well-rounded escape experience that works best as an introduction to Sherlocked’s world or for those new to escape rooms. While it doesn’t necessarily stand out as a must-play, it delivers a solid mix of puzzles and atmosphere. The experience remains engaging and provides a good foundation for players looking to explore more immersive escape adventures.

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Minor physicality needed (Ex. walking up and down stairs, squating, stretching)
No Lobby but bathrooms on site
Can be played in Dutch and English
Located in the heart of Amsterdam. Parking garages available however HIGHLY recommend public transit

Photos above are property of Sherlocked Mystery Experiences

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 Sherlocked Mystery Experiences 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.