LOCATION: Rushden, United Kingdom
Photo above is property of Want to Escape Rushden
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Conspiracy Theorist
📅 DATE PLAYED: November 8, 2021
🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Mystery
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: £18-20/PP/Adults; £14-15/PP/Children (pending on the group size)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (45Min)
📖 THE STORY
The pyramids, JFK, the moon landings? What is real and what is not? Your best friend is a dedicated conspiracy theory investigator, and has travelled the world in the search for the truth, and brought home many amazing artefacts to boot!
But he seemed to be getting increasingly paranoid recently, and now you haven’t seen him for a while (but hey that’s not unlike him) But one morning a note comes through your door from an unseen hand. Your friend is apparently in possession of a mystical artefact that can be used for extreme good, but also extreme evil - and someone wants it. They have kidnapped your friend and they want that item. You bring it to them within the hour and they will release him. Or else….
So, you must break in and search his flat and all the fantastic treasures inside, but he won’t have made finding it easy...
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
The room upon entering really does look like the flat of a conspiracy theory nut. Dimly lit with newspaper clippings, things pinned to the walls, a large world map, trinkets and lots of locked drawers. Not much is just decorative - you’ll probably find it all useful! A nice ambient soundtrack plays in the background, which is welcome as it almost helps you concentrate and means there’s never any absolute silence should you be stood scratching your head.
You’re given a digital writing board to take notes which is super helpful for code-cracking!
Plenty of hidden objects to find, padlocks, codes to crack, tactile puzzles, logic puzzles and tech-assisted progress for a really nice balance. My team-mate, who swore she was “rubbish at escape rooms” always had something that she could do and then found she excelled at. I think this room may have changed her mind ;)
There is an absolutely brilliant task to be completed which I had a lot of fun with and reminded me very much of a Crystal Maze challenge. This task will definitely appeal to at least one member of the team who is young or young at heart, and relies of skill and patience :)
Another extremely clever puzzle that requires communication and patience really intrigued me as to how the “room” knows we got it right, I was convinced it was manually assessed by the GM but no such clever tech!
There’s a tv screen in the room that will chime and provide a clue if the GM thinks you need to be put back on track or if you look like you are struggling.
Outside knowledge of conspiracy theories may appear to help you but there is no reliance on this, everything you need information wise is available to you.
There are plenty of non-linear puzzles so players can focus on different tasks at the same time. That said, communication is key as sometimes you will need to refer to information in one place to solve a puzzle across the room.
Two of my favourite moments were a decorative reveal, and also a maths puzzle where the penny dropped so hard on me that it felt like it had hit me from the top of the Empire State Building. Kudos for that sneakiness!
Our GM/Manager is clued up on the conspiracies involved and shared some of the information on them with us afterwards that was genuinely intriguing!
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
If anything, I’d say the lobby is looking a little tired, but I know this is a priority for them once the rebranding has been agreed, so I look forward to this, and next time I do hope the manager’s doggo who is sometimes in residence is available for wuffles.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
A fantastic theme, wonderful puzzles and use of fun tech and props that are all in-keeping, some non-linear parts where you can make good progress and you will certainly learn some interesting trivia along the way! We had a lovely chat with the friendly manager Ruth who clearly loves escapes rooms, games and fun, and is so welcoming. Thanks Ruth!
Want to Escape opened just a few months before the pandemic hit, but has not sat back and done nothing, they built two new rooms during their downtime and now have 4 differently themed rooms to choose from. One of them, the Guardian of the Gallery, has been nominated in the 2021 TERPECA awards. There is a chance a Christmas room may be forthcoming from them too, and if that does happen I will be right there!
There’s absolutely no conspiracy here, this is a genuinely fun room - go play!
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
The venue is easy to locate and has plenty of free parking around the back. There are toilet facilities inside and hand sanitiser was provided. In terms of accessibility, the room is situated upstairs and there is a narrow passageway to be negotiated.
*** We regret to inform this company has closed its doors ***
Disclosure: We thank Want to Escape Rushden for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
