Stained Hourglass Escapes - "Witch's Hollow"
- Dave Bristol
- 18 minutes ago
- 3 min read
LOCATION: Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Photo above is property of Stained Hourglass Escapes
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Witch's Hollow
📅 DATE PLAYED: December 15, 2025
🎬 GENRE: Magic
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-8 ppl (Ages 10+)
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $39:00 - $45.00/ pp (Min. 3 ppl)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
When an older woman in town hasn’t been seen for a while, you do the neighborly thing: pack up a basket of food and head to check on her. However, what starts as a thoughtful visit quickly turns into a magical predicament that asks you to make a choice and see it through. From the very beginning, the game lets you know that intent matters here…
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Whimsy over wickedness. We adore games that lean playful instead of grim, and Witch’s Hollow absolutely embraces that energy. While there are moments of spookiness, the tone is far more mischievous than menacing. We wish more rooms would dare to have this much fun.
Perfectly on-theme for Salem. If you’re going to play a witchy game anywhere, this is exactly where it should be. The magic-forward design, folklore vibes, and ritualistic elements feel tailor-made for a town steeped in witch history.
Delightful character interaction. You get to engage with a wonderfully silly live character who plays a central role in puzzles, story progression, and hints. It’s one of our favorite aspects of the game. Importantly, this interaction is low-pressure (no forced improvisation or close physical contact) making it friendly even for players who are usually wary of live actors.
Delivers the magic. While there are a few traditional escape room elements, much of the experience is powered by smooth, well-integrated tech that truly sells the illusion that magic is afoot!
Meaningful choices. Both the opening and closing moments ask you to make decisions that affect your experience. These are implemented cleverly: minimal disruption to gameplay and flow, but noticeable differences in story and even a special keepsake at the end. We love the ability to meaningfully impact your own experience.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
We wanted more! There’s very little to nitpick here. Our main wish was simply that the experience lasted longer. The game smartly uses adaptive difficulty to allow for removal of puzzles or interactions to ensure success for its core audience (Salem visitors and newer players). However, enthusiasts will likely finish on the early side. Expanding the adaptive difficulty further by adding extra challenges or dialing up complexity would make an already excellent game even more satisfying for seasoned players. We were having such a good time, we didn’t want the spell to break.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
"Witch’s Hollow" proves that Boring Office was no fluke. Stained Hourglass Escapes has a real knack for blending whimsy, creativity, and thoughtful design into a satisfyingly complete experience. This game delivers across the board: immersive and engaging, clean puzzle flow, clear narrative, and tech that enhances rather than distracts. We loved how the game empowers each group to make decisions that tailor their experience. And it was just SO. MUCH. FUN.
There’s a clear sense that this was made by an enthusiast who genuinely loves the craft and that care shines through in every detail. It’s very family-friendly and suitable for beginners, but there’s plenty to enchant enthusiasts too. It’s well worth the drive out to Salem! We were absolutely entertained and enthralled, and we can’t wait to see what spell they cast next.
🔎 HINT
It’s a playful room! You won’t get to play pin the tail on the donkey, but you might get to take a chance on a different carnival game.
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
There is metered parking available right in front of the clearly marked location. If you come during high tourist season in October, parking may be hard to find, especially after noon.
The spacious lobby is beautifully decorated with hanging pieces of colored “glass”.
The owner takes accessibility seriously, and makes sure that the rooms are flexible, adaptive, and accessible for people of varying mobility. There are bathrooms, lockers, and room to hang coats.
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 Stained Hourglass Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
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