Solve It Sherlock - "Nautilus Rising"

LOCATION:  Neptune City, New Jersey, USA

Photo above is property of Solve It Sherlock

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Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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📝  ETR DECODER

• 🔑 GAME: Nautilus Rising

• 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 27, 2025

• 🎬 GENRE: Adventure

• 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5/10

• 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl

• 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins

• 💰 PRICE: $34.50/ pp

• ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private

• 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
  

📖 THE STORY

Trapped 12,000 feet underwater, the Nautilus IX is under siege by a massive Kraken, disabling the submarine and causing systems to fail with rapidly dropping oxygen levels. You and your elite team have 60 minutes to restore power, trace the creature's path, send a distress signal, and prepare to eliminate the Kraken and surface, or be lost to the depths.

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

• The game's overall flow was great. Despite being just two players and needing to "divide and conquer" for much of the game, we seamlessly reunited to solve the puzzles and achieve our ultimate escape.

• The set design seamlessly embodied an "underwater" ambiance as we navigated the engine room, with the large lookout hole featuring various sea creatures that truly immersed us in the experience.

• The game design adeptly separates areas to "encourage" player collaboration, with one side dedicated to "solving" and the other to "inputting" information.

• The storyline concluded clearly, leading the game to a "victorious" end.

  
  

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

• Given the theme of a submarine under attack by a giant octopus, we were hoping for more moments of heightened sense of "danger" or "urgency" conveyed through sound or lighting effects.

• The sequence required for one of the puzzles is open to multiple interpretations. It would be advisable to redesign it to provide a clear and definitive solution.

• One of the control panels is crafted to resemble other puzzles but is purely ornamental, with fixed switches. The gamemaster had to inform us that it was preset and not an actual puzzle, which somewhat disrupts the immersive experience.
  

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

The game's puzzle design focuses on clear instructions that guide players through tasks necessary for progression, emphasizing task completion over complex logic puzzles. This traditional design philosophy aligns with genre conventions, offering an accessible experience for beginners interested in non-linear gameplay with a linear thought process. Players embark on an adventurous journey, facing challenges to escape the kraken and rescuing the Nautilus. The game combines clear guidance with strategic thinking, appealing to players of all skill levels. Are you ready to take on this quest and prove your mettle in the deep sea adventure?

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

• Free parking lot right in front of the location

• Lobby with seating and merchandise for sale

• Free water offered

• Free bracelet for each completed game

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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Check out our interview with the owner to understand more on the development side of their games:

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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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 Solve It Sherlock for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.

#CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Adventure #SolveItSherlock #NewJersey #USA