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LOCATION: Vancouver, BC, Canada Photo above is property of Find and Seek Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Mystery at the Majestic Theatre 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 14, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 Players): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $39.99/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Commissioned by the time-traveling agency under the command of Magnus, your team must retrieve a significant artifact: a lost necklace concealed within the historical Majestic Theater. This legendary venue, once a proving ground for aspiring magicians, serves as the setting for your infiltration. By pinpointing a temporal convergence, you have gained access to a moment in the theater's past that aligns with reports of unnatural activity. It is your objective to investigate the theater, navigate its secrets, and recover the relic. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The puzzle trajectory is logical and follows a predominantly linear structure. Transitions between challenges are seamless, supported by effective signposting that ensures participants remain oriented without feeling overwhelmed. Ranging from easy to medium, the complexity is well-calibrated. While seasoned enthusiasts will find the mechanics intuitive, the room serves as an ideal introductory challenge for novices seeking their first immersive gaming experience. The latter half of the experience features sophisticated reveals. These moments are integrated intuitively, surfacing critical information in unexpected areas that significantly enhance player discovery and immersion. Hidden objects are designed with finesse, placed in plain sight with subtle guidance. This creates a rewarding "aha!" moment that feels balanced and satisfying rather than frustrating. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The room's 'puzzle-in-a-set' design prioritizes mechanical gameplay over narrative, creating a disconnected experience that fails to deliver the promised theatrical immersion. Although the environment shows its age with a dated and 'grungy' aesthetic as part of the company's older game catalog, all equipment and set pieces remain fully operational and reliable. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Mystery at the Majestic Theater" may be an older title, but it remains one of the most thoughtfully designed and expansive experiences in the company's catalog. Its puzzles are accessible and logically paced, making it an excellent entry point for new hobbyists and a perfect, frustration-free choice for families. While the narrative integration could be tighter—some story elements feel slightly disjointed—this minor critique does not diminish the overall gameplay quality. If you are looking for a substantial, puzzle-forward adventure that rewards collaboration and focus, this is a fantastic room to experience. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Third floor of a shopping center Wheelchair accessible No washrooms, closest washroom is in the nearby food court Photos above are property of Find and Seek (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 Find and Seek 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. #MikeSchnurr #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #FindandSeek #Mystery #Magic #Vancouver #BritishColumbia #Canada

LOCATION: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of Secret City Adventures Photos above are property of Secret City Adventures 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: When Shadows Lie 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 9, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Spooky, Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Groups of 4 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins. (playtime), 105 Mins. (including intro & outro) 💰 PRICE: CAD $35/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY More than two centuries have passed since the curse on a small, humble village was believed to be vanquished. Now, Riley Wilde and Cameron Doyle, descendants connected to the original events, have opened an exhibit in the same location to share the story and history behind the curse. On opening night though, it becomes clear that the darkness may not have been fully destroyed. With the demon god Hastur awakened once again, your group must uncover the truth behind the original curse and find a way to stop them before it is too late. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game had some fun, immersive acting to start and end the experience. The experience was well designed and mostly non-linear. You could visit each location and either pick up the puzzle package or they may have multiple stations to work at. That way, you could either grab the package and solve elsewhere or if all the stations were full, simply move onto another puzzle. The hints were well tiered and could be accessed by a QR code on the back of the map or by chatting with the characters roaming around. The puzzles were solid and well thought out, doing a great job weaving the narrative together. They offered two streams of puzzle play, one described as whimsical (Doyle) and one logical (Wilde) so you could come back and experience it a second time. When asked, they did say the Wilde stream was more difficult. I did enjoy how the story was designed to be split. The performers added to the experience, popping up here and there to give us a scare while respecting our space. The Hastur costume was also fantastic. There was a lot going on since the game was overlayed on the historic site of Fort Edmonton, but they did a great job ensuring there was no confusion about what was part of the game and what was not. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The only issue we had was one puzzle that required us to listen to an audio clip for the next steps of the experience, we had trouble hearing it and only caught the ending. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Overall, "When Shadows Lie" was a fun sequel to the continuing story. The puzzles were enjoyable and were built into the narrative. The performers helped elevate this immersive experience. We did notice that the game felt a little shorter than their previous game, “Where Dark Things Dwell”, which allowed more teams to complete the game. We brought a group of four and had a great time navigating the puzzles, the story, and Hastur’s minions. It is definitely recommended for anyone looking for something that is a little more than a typical escape room. Arriving at Fort Edmonton Park, we drove along the access road to the back entrance, passing the historic Selkirk Hotel on the way to our destination. Once there, we made our way to Kelly’s Saloon, where drinks and snacks were available to purchase while we waited for the game to start. A staff member then came around to check us in and ask which game track we wanted to play, whimsical or logical. From there, we hung out until the game was ready to begin. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO This is a sequel to Secret City Adventure’s game “Where Dark Things Dwell”. Though the stories are connected, you do not need any knowledge of the first game to play this. This game typically only runs during June to September at Fort Edmonton (Edmonton, Alberta) and September to December at The Village at Black Creek (Toronto, Ontario). Free Parking Depending on which time you book, you will play either during sunset or dark Ample areas to sit and rest your feet throughout the game if required Drinks and snacks can be purchased before the game. Groups of 3 to 4 are required so either book with friends or make new ones. 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"!) #MatthewLui #ImmersiveExperiences #SecretCityAdventures #Spooky #Thriller #Canada

Photo above is property of Arcane Wonders Company: Arcane Wonders Game: Pyradice Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game (Dice Game) 📬 Genre: Adventure, Fun Date Played: May 1, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 2 ppl (Ages 14+) Time: Unlimited (Approximately 25 Mins.) Price: $29.99 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 In "Pyradice", players step into the role of rival leaders of an ancient civilization, each striving to construct the most impressive pyramid. You are tasked with gathering the best “stones” (dice) from a shared quarry and carefully assembling them into a structure that will earn the most prestige. The theme is simple as you watch your pyramid take shape, which creates a strong sense of ownership, while the shared quarry introduces a subtle rivalry: every die you take is one your opponent can’t. 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 At its core, "Pyradice" is a two-player dice drafting and placement game built around a clever physical system: a three-dimensional “quarry” of stacked dice. This board sits at the centre of the table, and players take turns selecting dice that are accessible (with enough free sides). The game can be extended to three or four players by flipping the quarry board over, revealing a larger placement area, though a second copy of the game is required. Once drafted, the die is added to your personal pyramid board. Placement is restricted by structure—you can only build upward when supported by dice beneath, mirroring how real-world stone structures are formed. From a production standpoint, Pyradice impresses. The components are of a very high quality, with sturdy dice and well-designed dual-layered player boards that keep everything neatly in place as your pyramid grows. This is particularly important in a game where spatial placement matters, adding a satisfying tactile element to each move. The artwork is also a highlight: bright and colourful, with a slightly comical tone that never feels childish. It strikes a pleasing balance that enhances the table presence without distracting from gameplay. The iconography follows this same philosophy—clear and easy to interpret, allowing players to quickly understand abilities and scoring conditions at a glance. That said, each player is also provided with a well-designed player aid, which is both helpful and easy to read, especially during early plays, ensuring the game flows smoothly without constant rule-checking. To add depth and flexibility, each board contains a number of special abilities that trigger whenever a die is placed on specific levels (levels 2 through 6). These abilities allow you to manipulate your pyramid—changing values, rerolling dice, or even swapping them with others already placed or still in the quarry. Additionally, the game offers a variety of shared objectives used for final scoring. Five of these are built into the player board (levels 1 through 5), rewarding specific arrangements within each row, such as ascending sequences. A further four objectives are displayed on the table and score based on broader criteria relating to dice colours (of which there are four), for example rewarding players who collect the most of a certain colour. For added replayability, these abilities and objectives can be swapped out between games. There are 12 abilities in total and a larger pool of objective cards and tiles, all of which can be rotated across different layers and colour conditions. During setup, players can choose combinations together or randomise them, although both boards must be configured identically. While this adds a slight level of fiddliness to setup, the resulting variability makes it worthwhile. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzle element in "Pyradice" comes from optimisation under constraint. You’re not solving a fixed problem; instead, you’re constantly adapting to what the quarry offers and how your opponent is playing. In practice, this can feel somewhat like a solo puzzle, aside from needing to pivot when your opponent takes a die you were planning to use. However, this rarely feels too punishing, as the breadth of available abilities often allows you to recover or reshape your strategy using alternative options. That said, this leads to my main criticism: the game can feel a little too forgiving. Across the five games played for this review, both myself and my opponent consistently managed to complete all pyramid layer objectives. As a result, final scoring often came down primarily to the colour-based objectives. This highlights just how strong and influential the abilities are, regardless of the combination in play. While this accessibility will undoubtedly appeal to families and less experienced players, it does reduce the overall tension. There’s less sense of risk or consequence, which slightly softens the competitive edge. On the positive side, this also helps to reduce analysis paralysis. Early mistakes can often be corrected through later ability use, keeping the game flowing at a steady and enjoyable pace. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Pyradice" stands out as a tight, focused two-player strategy game that blends accessibility with thoughtful decision-making. Its physical presentation, the 3D quarry and dual-layered player boards, adds both visual appeal and mechanical depth, helping it stand apart from many other dice-driven games. It doesn’t aim for deep thematic immersion or sprawling strategy. Instead, it delivers a compact, replayable experience built on smart drafting and satisfying puzzle-building. The player interaction is subtle but still meaningful, particularly for those who enjoy adapting to their opponent’s choices. For couples or players looking for a quick yet engaging head-to-head game, Pyradice hits a sweet spot. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and offers enough variability to keep you coming back—each time aiming to build a more optimal pyramid than the last. As for the 3–4 player variant, while it’s an interesting addition in theory, it doesn’t significantly enhance the experience. It tends to lengthen the game without adding meaningful interaction, as other players’ turns have minimal impact on your own decisions. For that reason, it feels best enjoyed in its core two-player format. (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 Arcane Wonders for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #CardGame #USA #ArcaneWonders

LOCATION: Paris, France Photo above is property of Deep Inside 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Taxidermist 📅 DATE PLAYED: June 22, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy, Investigation 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl (ages 10+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE: 150 - 240€/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Beneath Paris there is the City of Martyrs, an underground city full of secrets. It is in the heart of this city that Adèle, the governor's daughter has mysteriously disappeared. Seen a few days ago in the company of Martin Joly, better known as the taxidermist, no one has heard from her anymore, she has disappeared. The governor promises a reward to those who find his daughter. Your mission will consist of going down 30 meters below Paris, in the City of Martyrs, in order to go to the Taxidermy shop and pass yourself off as buyers. You will have to find a way to find yourself alone in the store to explore it thoroughly in the hope of solving the mysteries of this disappearance and finding Adèle. Video above is property of Old Mouse 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game creates a true movie-like experience through outstanding sets, lighting, sound, scents, and world-building from the very first email.- Lovely decorations, interesting transitions, lots of details and objects clearly handcrafted with great attention. The City of Martyrs feels like a living world rather than a single escape room, with interconnected stories, lore, and hidden Easter eggs. Character interactions are meaningful and central to the gameplay. The actors help tell the story rather than simply perform scripted scenes. Every puzzle and action feels like a natural part of the narrative, creating an experience where immersion is more important than simply solving riddles. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Players looking for a highly challenging puzzle-heavy escape room may find the gameplay less demanding than expected. To fully enjoy the experience, players need to interact with the characters and embrace the narrative, which may not suit everyone. Despite its dark atmosphere, the game isn't particularly scary (around 2/5), so horror enthusiasts may be left wanting more. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Taxidermist" is much more than an escape room, it's an immersive theatrical experience set inside a beautifully crafted cinematic universe. From the moment you receive the introductory email until the very end, every detail is designed to make you feel like the protagonist of your own movie. If you appreciate incredible production values, believable worlds, outstanding atmosphere, and story-driven adventures where interacting with characters matters just as much as solving puzzles, this is a must-play. It may not be the scariest game you'll ever experience, but it's one of those rare projects that you'll remember for its immersion, craftsmanship, and unforgettable world long after you've left the City of Martyrs. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Only paid parking available; Lobby with sitting area; Restroom available; Wheelchair accessible; Air conditioning; Cozy restaurant right beside the entrance. Photos above are property of Deep Inside (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"!) #PaulShyshou #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #DeepInside #Fantasy #Investigation #Paris #France

LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA Photo above is property of Puzzle Break Seattle Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Eventide Departure 📅 DATE PLAYED: June 5, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Occult, Seance 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $200.00/Team ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Your mentor, Professor Firestone, has passed away but nobody can find his will! As students of the professor who have some knowledge of the occult, his son has asked you to try to reach the professor via a seance and discover the whereabouts of the will… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design for "The Eventide Departure" was really well done. There was lots to look at and many artifacts, as you might expect for the Professor’s study; these created an interesting, thematic, rich, and attractive environment. It made me want to be a well-funded explorer! However, they did an excellent job of also making it fairly clear what pieces were linked and likely to be puzzles versus those that were purely set decoration, so you didn’t waste a lot of time with irrelevant objects. There were five candles in the room that show your completion of the five major puzzles in the game. While, of course, you never know which puzzle you might get stuck on, this is a nice way to give you a sense of your progression through the game. One of the classic challenges in escape rooms is not knowing exactly how you are doing one time. How far through the game are you? Have you been stuck on this puzzle too long? Should you take a hint? This candle system is a great, thematic way to give you some idea of where you stand! One cool aspect of "The Eventide Departure" is that they actually have two versions of the game, allowing two groups to play head-to-head if desired! There are, in fact, two sets of candles in the room - one indicating your progress and the other indicating the progress of the other group, if applicable. (In our case, since we were not playing against anyone, the other set just remained unlit.) I think it’s a really nice touch to facilitate that competitive aspect that could be great for larger groups or team-building events, but to do so in such a way that it also does not negatively impact the experience when played on its own. During the game you periodically get messages (both “from the other side” and from the living), which help to nicely progress the story. The puzzle design for this game felt very clean, and it was a joy to play! With one very minor exception described below, everything (while certainly not always obvious) made sense and was very fair. Be sure to observe carefully and search thoroughly! 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There is one color-based puzzle where we had some difficulty distinguishing one of the colors. This was a minor issue, which you could figure out by deduction/process of elimination, and the GM also confirmed for us which color it was meant to be. So, certainly not a big deal, but one area that could be a bit clearer. As a personal preference, I always appreciate when it’s very clear if you have triggered something (and bonus points if it’s clear where). In most cases in the Eventide Departure, it was super obvious that you had triggered something, but there was one that we didn’t catch…did that do anything? Hmmm…wait, was this door always unlocked? Perhaps this was just us being too absorbed in other things, but just know to pay attention and look around if you think something could/should have happened! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Playing "The Eventide Departure" was a smooth and rewarding experience! It was an exceptionally well-implemented game with a “classic escape room” feel. There are a few traditional locks but plenty of integrated tech and reveals as well. Although you are dealing with a seance, the occult aspect is very mild; it is definitely not a scary or disturbing game. Staff were super friendly, enthusiastic, and accommodating as well. Puzzle Break’s games are stated to be 12+ (with adult accompaniment); while normal gameplay involves one section that requires some ability to go through a low entryway, I believe that there would be a workaround for someone if that were an issue. This is a great room for smaller groups of enthusiasts or mid-sized groups of newer folks; larger groups can try the head-to-head version! (Puzzle Break will also hopefully soon be reopening some of their other rooms geared more towards larger groups.) This is definitely a room that I will be recommending to friends in the area! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Puzzle Break (in Belltown) has two lobby/seating areas (one with some small physical puzzles to play with), and bathrooms available. There are designated areas within the rooms themselves to leave your things. You do access their space via stairs. It is reachable via public transportation or there are both paid lots and street parking (free on Sundays!) nearby. 🔎 HINT Apples and oranges might be hard to distinguish in this lighting. Photo above is 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 Puzzle Break Seattle for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Occult #Seance #PuzzleBreakSeattle #Washington #USA

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of BrainXcape Escape Room Game NYC 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Haunted Hotel 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 30, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29-37.50/pp (pending on weekday/weekend) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Their set design for "The Haunted Hotel" room was amazing. I would have expected no less, since the room was built by the renowned designers of "Sleep No More". This location does not have an elevator available. You will have to climb four flights of stairs. From the beginning of the experience of the "greet" (I don't want to give it away), to the start of the game. You are fully immersed in a haunted hotel. The hint system was also very well designed along with the sound system. The whole experience is catered towards a private group booking, so you can attend with as little as two people or more. For this room, I would suggest no less than four people as we had five and was able to escape with a few minutes remaining. All the props and clues were also extremely theme-driven. We did get a little startled a couple times so keep in mind that the "scare" factor is definitely there. We highly recommend that you try this room if you are in the NYC-area. We are definitely excited to go back to try their other rooms sometime soon. Photos above are property of BrainXcape Escape Room Game NYC (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"!) *We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but you want more info like if the room is a multi-room or what other additional tips we can provide to you, feel free to email us. #CiciCao #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #BrainXcape #Paranormal #Haunted #Horror #NYC #USA

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of BrainXcape Escape Room NYC 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Prison Break 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 11, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Prison Break 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 8ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29-37.50/pp (pending on weekday/weekend) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Read our reviews on "The Haunted Hotel" room to get more information about this escape room location. We had so much fun the last time we were at BrainXcape Escape Room Game NYC that we decided to try their other room - "Prison Break". This time, we were also fortunate enough to speak w/ the owner to learn more about the future of BrainXcape. Currently they offer two rooms at their Midtown location in Manhattan, New York City and they are in the process of opening up three more rooms in their brand new Financial District location. Much like "The Haunted Hotel", you are full immersed as soon as you start your game! The set design is truly incredible and extremely detailed. Some of the puzzles were creative and had a bit of relevance to the theme of the room. However, there was no clear explanation of the storyline. In comparison w/ "The Haunted Hotel" room, "Prison Break" was less difficult and story-driven. Either way, we highly recommend that you try the rooms at BrainXcape if you are in the NYC-area to experience the decor and the level of detail that is implemented. We can not wait to see what the three new rooms have to offer! *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** (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"!) #BrandonChow #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #BrainXcape #PrisonEscape #NYC #USA

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of BrainXcape Manhattan 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Elevator to Hell 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 20, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: M-F: $60.00/ pp (2 ppl) - $36.00/ pp (5 ppl), Wknds: $70.00/ pp (2 ppl) - $41.00/ pp (5 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Having died, you and your group are trapped in an elevator that is destined to take you to Hell. If you can fix the elevator though, you might have a chance to decide where you end up for eternity. Video above is property of BrainXcape Manhattan 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The immersion and experience begins the moment you enter the lobby of BrainXcape and continues all the way to the ending. The puzzles utilized all areas and sections of the elevator. BrainXcape made sure to use the elevator space to its full potential. There was lots of puzzling throughout the experience. Though the story was simple, from the non-traditional timer to the pre-recorded hints, the measures they used to keep the immersion alive were fantastic. The set design was dead on (see what I did there?). Looking like a spacious, luxurious elevator, the set was truly believable and was built to fit us all comfortably. At a key point in the experience, the puzzles went from linear to non-linear which allowed us all to move to different areas of the elevator to give everyone space to solve. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There were a couple of puzzles that we knew how to solve but did not know the proper way to input the solution. It did take us a few tries to figure out how to get the answer in. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Elevator to Hell" was an amazing experience. Despite the limited space and the simple story, BrainXcape nailed the overall experience through the clever puzzles and use of space. There was no jump scares in the game and though the theme seems scary, we found this game comfortable to play. We played with 4 and found it was fairly comfortable to move around. 5 would be the limit. Any groups looking for an intimate game or a little thriller would enjoy this game. BrainXcape definitely knew how to elevate the experience with the details in this game. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Multiple subway lines to get to the area (2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, R, W) Wheelchair accessible Easier if your group enters the building as a group Located on the 3rd floor, elevator available Washrooms available (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 BrainXcape Manhattan for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #BrainXcape #Thriller #NYC #USA

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of BrainXcape Manhattan 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Rikers, 1932 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 20, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Prison 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: M-F: $60.00/ pp (2 ppl) - $36.00/ pp (5 ppl), Wknds: $70.00/ pp (2 ppl) - $41.00/ pp (5 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The year is 1932. You have been imprisoned on Rikers Island, Manhattan’s infamous prison but after some meticulous planning, you and your group have the opportunity to escape. Can you uncover the clues and solve the puzzles to make your daring escape? Video above is property of BrainXcape Manhattan 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design of the room truly looked and felt like a prison cell and more. From the stone walls, to the lockers and secret passages. There were some challenging puzzles that stumped us just the right amount with plenty of eureka moments. The puzzles blended into the environment and fit the experience perfectly. There were a few puzzles that we didn’t even realize were puzzles until we got to them. There were plenty of in game reveals throughout the room that led to a lot of high moments. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was a solid experience that did not have any misses. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Rikers, 1932" was a top-tier prison break experience. From the stone walls to the quality props, the set design brought us into the game. The puzzles were the right amount of challenging and worked well with the environment. We played with 4 people and found that it allowed us all to see everything and participate in everything. The room could fit up to 6 people comfortably. Anyone who is into prison break rooms, challenging puzzles or top tier set designs would enjoy this room. Will you be able to escape and “cell”-ebrate a victory or will the puzzles leave you “con”-fused? ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Multiple subway lines to get to the area (2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, R, W) Wheelchair accessible Easier if your group enters the building as a group Located on the 3rd floor, elevator available Washroom available 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 BrainXcape Manhattan for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #BrainXcape #Prison #NYC #USA

LOCATION: Urbana, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of CU Adventures in Time & Space Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Calling All Villains 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 14, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-10 ppl (Ages 13+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $42.00/ pp (4 ppl), $27.00/ pp (5+ ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You’ve been looking to start a new career as a henchperson, and you just might have found your in! A local supervillain is hiring, and your “working interview” involves breaking into Dr. Radiation’s lab to steal some highly questionable technology and sinister plans. Just don’t get caught…or mess this up! Your future depends on it. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE A delightfully villainous premise: We loved getting to play from the “bad guy” side for once. In most escape rooms, we’re the heroes and that’s how we typically lean. But it was novel to lean into our role as aspiring henchpeople, particularly when done in such a silly kind of way. Playful GM interactions: The live interactions here are not as extensive as in some other games (and we had more than usual…as a duo, we required some extra hands a few times in this game intended for 4+ players), but they add huge amount of charm. Our GM fully committed to the bit as our prospective supervillain boss with a silly, tongue-in-cheek approach and the “Yes, and...” improv vibe. Good use of space to foster teamwork: The room expands nicely as you progress, and continues to encourage players to move back and forth between areas, share information, and coordinate tasks. (Though it would have been great to have a workaround for one crawl tunnel between two sections.) Creative puzzles: There were several fresh puzzle ideas we haven’t seen before, and it does a good job epitomizing the comic-book mad scientist theme in many of its challenges. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Uneven environmental design: The opening space in this game is impressive, but overall the set design doesn’t quite reach the same level as some of the venue’s other rooms. It’s still fun and functional, just a little less visually super-powered by comparison. Some more random puzzles tossed in: While many puzzles fit the comic-book world and storyline well, a handful felt less fully integrated into the narrative and setting. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Calling All Villains" has a slightly more classic escape room feel than some of the venue’s more epic experiences. It captures the energy of a goofy comic-book caper and is a great conceptual twist on classic (super)hero games. It’s a particularly good fit for larger groups since the room gives players opportunities to take on different roles and spread out across various areas. The finale includes a twist that may divide opinions depending on what kind of narrative payoff you prefer. One of us enjoyed it, while the other wished for a little more player agency in how things concluded...a branching choice at the end would have been great. Still, if you’ve ever wanted to commit questionable crimes for a fabulous supervillain, this is your chance to embrace your inner hench-person. Tip-toeing and maniacal laughter encouraged. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Private lot with a good amount of parking. The generous lobby/waiting area where you check in has both shirts for sale and a creative, co-operative version of tetris you can play. There are bathrooms and a water cooler available. There are no lockers, but you can leave your things in the rooms themselves. On the other side of the building, you’ll find Parcadia – a very cool mini-golf experience with a tavern, a mini puzzle-hunt, and lots more in the works! Across the street there is also a food hall with a variety of options. 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 CU Adventures in Time & Space for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #CUAdventures #SciFi #USA #Illinois

LOCATION: Schaumburg, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of 60 to Escape Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Mystery Manor 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 13, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Paranormal 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $42.00 - $45.00/ pp (depending on # of players) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You’ve been called to the manor under mysterious circumstances…the prior owner has passed and, for some reason, you’ve been told that you were designated as the inheritors of the estate! However, you’ll need to find the deed (and the supposed fortune) for yourself. How hard could that be? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Spooky but family-friendly: There is certainly a spooky atmosphere and skeletons abound, but (one mild jump scare aside) the game balances that with humor and remains family-friendly, with well signposted puzzles suitable for beginners and the space and flow to accommodate slightly larger groups. Excellent flow: This room just works. The puzzles make sense, the tech all worked. There was very little to fault, and it delivered a seamless experience from start to finish. Great use of the environment: There is nice set dressing appropriate to the haunted mansion theme, but with each space having a distinct feel, and they do a great job of concealing effects and puzzles within the setting. Time for narrative: As players who are sometimes poor at pausing and fully taking in narrative, we really appreciated that the timer pauses and some electronic puzzles become inaccessible during the story exposition periods. This just allows more space and motivation to pay attention to the story without feeling torn or pressured to continue solving at the same time. Ouija board sensitivity: There is a Ouija board in the game, which fits well with the theme. While it isn’t something we have any issues with, GMs have the ability to bypass use of the board if players are uncomfortable with it. We appreciated this additional effort to be more inclusive and the flexibility to help players feel comfortable and have a great time. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There’s not much to criticize with this experience, but a few considerations for some players: Visual and aural clarity: There was one spot where two colors were difficult to distinguish and match to their counterparts. This was a consistent issue we saw across a number of rooms at this location. There were also a few audio sections which were a little hard to hear, but nothing that really impacted gameplay. These are minor quibbles in an excellent game. Out of world elements: As with many escape rooms, the GM intros include references to rules and gameplay. There is a large screen with a timer and where written hints are displayed as need after you hit the clue button. While none of these are necessarily problematic, they would be the next step in taking this room to the next level by heightening immersion with more in-world intros (costumes, acting) and hint systems. (It’s only mentioned here because it IS a game that is otherwise running at such a high level.) 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Mystery Manor" is a fantastic game. It’s a fabulous option for beginners, including larger groups, and we had a blast playing. We just didn’t want it to end so soon…it was only a 25-minute game for our experienced team of 2. If there were some kind of adaptive difficulty or additional puzzles that could be added for more experienced teams, it would make the room feel like a fuller experience for a greater range of folx. Nonetheless, we were very impressed by the design and well-roundedness of the game: smooth flow, fun tech that worked cleanly, developing narrative, satisfyingly tactile puzzles, some surprising reveals…it delivered them all! So if you’re ready to be a little spooked and go seek your fortune, take on the manor! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Large lobby with seating Merchandise for sale There are bathrooms (much cleaner and nicer than the main mall ones) and water fountains. There are no lockers, but there are hooks and a spot on the floor in each room where you can leave your things. Located inside the Woodfield Mall Free parking (closest entrance would be one near P.F. Chang's (Middle Level, Grand Court next to "Cinnabon") 60 to Escape also has a 9 hole mini golf experience available - "Putt Portal Mystery Golf" Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of their Schaumburg location, an interview with the manager & owner, and a look inside their rooms (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is 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 60 to Escape for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #60toEscape #Mystery #Paranormal #Illinois #USA

Photo above is property of Lock Sock Studio Company: Lock Sock Studio Game: Escape From Mystwood Mansion Country: Sweden 🇸🇪 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Mystery Date Played: May 15, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 90-120 Mins.) Price: $16.99 (Steam) O/S: Windows 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As a delivery driver, you enter Mystwood Mansion to deliver a package, and the door suddenly locks behind you. Looking around, you notice a note on the table: "Dear visitor, welcome to my abode of mysteries...". As you navigate the numerous rooms, you realize that someone has set up a sequence of puzzles and challenges designed to prevent your escape! Video above is property of Lock Sock Studio 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" offers a gentle, welcoming 3D art style. Rather than using traditional eerie or dark horror themes, it incorporates rustic wood paneling, elegant tiling, bookshelves, and plants. The vibrant and cheerful settings give it the feel of a relaxing puzzle session rather than a horror escape room, despite being monitored by security cameras throughout the mansion. I especially appreciated the meticulous attention to detail in the set design. Photos above are property of Lock Sock Studio 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" is a first-person, point-n-click escape adventure game where players navigate rooms, uncover hidden compartments, and solve various codes and logical puzzles. It's described as cozy and charming rather than genuinely spooky, featuring delightful scenery. The game is brief and uncomplicated, with a typical play-through taking under 3 hours, or up to 4 hours to reach the true ending. As for navigation, you use the arrow keys and your mouse to interact with the environment. The game offers a basic set of moves, such as crouching, jumping, and interacting. There is no inventory system; you are limited to using the one item you carry. However, you can scatter items and notes either on the floor or the furniture for examination. The tiered hint system is very intuitive, as it offers clues progressively to help you avoid getting completely stuck. There are 5 main stages, with a secret ending for those who want to fully complete the experience. Note: For the ultimate experience, make sure you carry "the package" with you until the end. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game's design resembled a real escape room experience, allowing players to inspect items from all angles. When discarding an item, players can choose to either place it or toss it, which can certainly save time when eliminating the unnecessary. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK In this game, there is no inventory for collecting or assembling items. You use each object individually, which can become tiresome. Throughout the game, there are many items available for inspection. To some players, this may feel like a series of red herrings in a physical escape room. Photos above are property of Lock Sock Studio 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles are inventive, satisfying, and logically coherent offering enough to satisfy enthusiasts while also being ideal for onboarding beginners. Most of the puzzles are specifically designed to lead to one solution: the number or letter combination required to unlock the numerous padlocks securing each door in the mansion. Much like an escape room, achieving success involves searching for the clues in order to solve the puzzles. This enhanced the experience, making it more engaging and interactive. Photos above are property of Lock Sock Studio 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" does an excellent job in providing a range of satisfying puzzles, all driven by an engaging story. It provides a short but enjoyable exploration of a charming, enigmatic manor house. I would have gladly explored and roamed around even without being locked inside! The rooms are filled with an engaging variety of puzzles, including some that involve opening a series of locks, common in escape rooms, and others that are more seamlessly integrated into the environment, typical of traditional adventure games. The difficulty level is perfectly balanced, complemented by an excellent hint system for those who might need a bit of assistance, showing that the developers aimed to present a great challenge without the risk of players getting truly stuck. Escape room enthusiasts and puzzle fans will thoroughly enjoy this game. For those who haven't experienced an escape room but are curious about their challenges, this serves as a fantastic introduction. "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" excels in both visuals and audio. The background music effectively fills the silence without being distracting. The mansion is designed in a way that makes it feel more like a living space than a puzzle area, with interactive elements that are relatively easy to identify. Although the game's theme is primarily cozy and lighthearted, it also includes an eerie element. As you progress, references to "Subject 83" might imply that Mystwood Mansion is a strange experiment involving players as test subjects. If you enjoy Scooby-Doo adventures, this is definitely the game for you! (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 Lock Sock Studio for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #Mystery #LockSockStudio #Sweden #Steam

Photo above is property of M9 GAMES Company: M9 GAMES Game: Project 7: Escape Room Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Mystery Date Played: May 15, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 45 Mins.) Price: $6.99 (Steam), £4.99 (Nintendo) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Eighteen months have passed since the perplexing disappearance of the esteemed inventor and physicist, Dr. Hillman. His deserted mansion continues to conceal the secrets of his enigmatic research endeavor, referred to simply as Project 7. Driven by curiosity, you enter this spooky escape room adventure. However, when you wake up in the middle of the night, you find yourself trapped inside the mansion's walls. Can you solve the mysteries, or will you become another lost element of this escape room mystery game? Video above is property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ One thing's for certain, M9 GAMES consistently excels in graphics. The landscapes are stunning, and the music is calming. The 3D environments showcase unique, beautiful designs, atmospheric lighting, and interactive physics-based elements, offering a far more immersive and refined experience compared to the developer's previous games. Photos above are property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Project 7: Escape Room" is a 3D puzzle adventure game centered around investigating a physicist's disappearance. This marks M9 Games' first project developed with Unreal Engine, featuring new interface adjustments that improve interactivity. This game focuses on physics-based interactions, enabling you to lift, rotate, and physically maneuver larger objects within the room to solve puzzles. You have the freedom to explore the mansion in any order you choose and take your time, using a comprehensive save system to track your progress. The experience includes unique 3D graphics, subtle jump scares, and a voiced internal monologue for the character. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE M9 GAMES excels at uncovering the mysteries of Project 7's captivating narrative as you progress. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Many of the "rooms" contained only a single puzzle to solve, which seemed like a waste given the large area available for exploration. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles mainly involve logic, deduction, and simple math rather than extremely complex riddles. The emphasis is on solving environmental issues instead of isolated puzzles involving reasoning. The escape-room style puzzles are the highlight. They are often commended for being logical and satisfying to solve, although they may be somewhat simple for experienced puzzle enthusiasts. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Project 7: Escape Room" emphasizes exploration, item collection, and puzzles akin to those found in escape rooms. Much of the game is similar to the developer's other recent titles, such as ALUMNI, VENARI, and SUBNET. However, it's the first game built with the Unreal Engine, featuring some interface changes and new ways to physically interact with the environment. This includes pressing buttons, rotating items, and even picking up and moving larger objects to specific locations, with a stronger emphasis on integrated problem-solving rather than isolated puzzles. A few mild jump scares are included to keep you attentive, but as is usual with M9, you have the flexibility to proceed at your own pace and tackle challenges in any order you prefer (or can), supported by a complete save system that lets you record your progress as needed. Overall, "Project 7: Escape Room" has a niche title that will appeal to dedicated fans of point-n-click or traditional escape room fans, but it might not meet the expectations of players seeking contemporary, smooth adventure game mechanics. (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 M9 Games for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #Mystery #M9GAMES #Project7 #UK #AppStore #Steam

Photo above is property of M9 GAMES Company: M9 GAMES Game: SOTANO Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Suspense, Thriller Date Played: May 14, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 45 Mins.) Price: $6.99 (Steam), £3.59 (Nintendo), $4.99 (App Store), $2.99 (Google Play) O/S: Windows, macOS 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 On the drive home from the airport, you notice your fuel gauge needle is on the red line. Feeling tired, you choose to take a lesser-known shortcut through a quiet village, opting for the shorter route to conserve fuel instead of stopping to refuel. As you drive past some of the large, old houses, the car starts making unusual sounds. You realize you've tested your luck too far, and the car gradually comes to a stop in front of one of the biggest houses on the street... Video above is property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ "SOTANO" features immersive 3D visuals and a captivating escape room setting which enthusiasts will appreciate. I liked the graphics and color selections for the game, as it created an eerie atmosphere. As you start to explore, you'll quickly notice the house's spaciousness. Photos above are property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "SOTANO" is a first-person 3D escape room adventure that offers a classic point-n-click puzzle experience. Much like an escape room, the game mechanics involve searching rooms, discovering clues, and gathering items in your inventory to solve puzzles.The completion time it takes to finish the game can vary based on how fast you solve the puzzles. "SOTANO" is mainly set indoors, where you gather items for your inventory to use throughout the game. The experience is enhanced by an immersive soundtrack and sound effects that draw you into the adventure. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Overall, the puzzles in "SOTANO" were fairly simple and enjoyable to tackle. The game primarily featured word riddles and observation challenges. I highly suggest it for beginners and puzzle fans seeking to enjoy some mini brain teasers. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "SOTANO" certainly quenches the thirst of passionate escape room fans, providing an enjoyable and atmospheric, compact adventure. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The expansive atmosphere of "SOTANO" definitely imparts the sensation of a survival exploration. As you advance, your capacity to explore and navigate expands. Similar to the other M9 Games, they excel in the set design graphics showcased in their games. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The first-person panning and camera controls seemed somewhat awkward, requiring us to take breaks to prevent motion sickness. While the puzzles in "SOTANO" were enjoyable to solve, I would have preferred if they included more multi-layered puzzles rather than just one per room or section. The game featured numerous word riddles, and some of the puzzles started to seem repetitive. If you find yourself stuck on a puzzle, there is no integrated hint system or walkthrough available, which means players must either guess or search for guides. (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 M9 Games for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #Suspense #Thriller #M9GAMES #SOTANO #UK #AppStore #Steam

Photo above is property of Deluded Games Company: Deluded Games Game: We Escaped a Twisted Game Country: Sweden 🇸🇪 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Horror Date Played: May 19 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 90-120 Mins.) Price: $4.99 (Steam) O/S: Windows 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Two players. A single escape route. Trapped in a haunted manor, you need to communicate, trust one another, and work together to survive and find your way out. What begins as an exploration of a haunted manor soon becomes a sinister survival game. Separated by walls yet linked by voice, you must depend on each other to reach the outside once more... Video above is property of Deluded Games 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ "We Escaped a Twisted Game" starts in a vast garden situated just outside the gates of a creepy manor. As you explore, you'll admire the set design and color tones employed to amplify the eeriness. The two main characters - Chad and Stacy (who you will opt to play in the beginning) feature a pixelated design that seemed somewhat out of place when compared to the set design. The game features a spine-chilling atmosphere, eerie silhouettes, and carefully placed jump scares. Photos above are property of Deluded Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "We Escaped a Twisted Game" is a horror-themed cooperative game designed for two players. Before starting the game, each player can select a character: Chad or Stacy. In the game, players assume these roles to explore a haunted, cursed manor, following different paths to solve puzzles and escape collectively. You and your teammate begin in the same setting but view the haunted manor from distinct perspectives. Throughout most of the game, effective communication of your observations to each other is essential for progress. The atmosphere is primarily spooky, with the game incorporating jump scares and stealth mechanics, such as avoiding masked figures and "The Silent Stalker", to maintain a high level of tension. There are a bunch of functionalities built directly into the game for you to interact with your partner. For an example, players can toggle their flashlights on and off by pressing "F" and can communicate with each other using a walkie-talkie by pressing "V". They've also integrated various preset messages to send one another like "Hello", "Thank You", "Hurry", "Good Job", etc. Photos above are property of Deluded Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 As with most two-player cooperative games, each participant is tasked with completing an action collaboratively. In games akin to "We Were Here", the typical arrangement involves one player having access to the clues, while the other possesses the solutions or operates the switches. A majority of the puzzles included elements such as visual pattern matching, mazes, and straightforward logic and color-matching tasks. Although these challenges aren't particularly tough for experienced escape-room enthusiasts, they demand effective teamwork and require players to communicate their observations clearly. Overall, the puzzles are engaging and stimulating without being too difficult, allowing the 2 to 3-hour playtime to pass effortlessly. Photos above are property of Deluded Games 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Having played numerous co-operative games before, we found the innovative communication methods in "We Escaped a Twisted Game" to be quite impressive! The game creates an authentically eerie atmosphere, featuring well-timed jump scares and intense chase scenes. It's engaging, enjoyable, and perfect for couples or friends, as it offers excellent opportunities for teamwork. As far as difficulty, the puzzles begin fairly easy, but their complexity increases nicely as you progress toward the end. (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 Deluded Games for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #DeludedGames #Horror #Sweden #Steam