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Photos provided by Mirror World Creations Company: Mirror World Creations Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Games: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Genre: Magic Date Played: 10/12/2020 Difficulty (based on 9 players): 3.5/10 Size of Team: Up to 7 Players Time: 90 Minutes Price: $25 pp (+$0.63 Service fee) "Basic Principles of Magick" is an online immersive theater experience we've never encountered before. We attended Professor A. Sibly's class unaware what we are getting ourselves into. We received 2 PDF files totaling about 30 pages a few days prior to class. Since the instructions did say that it wasn't necessary to read the entire text before class, we followed those instructions without hesitation. The class was conducted over Zoom. The professor and his assistant began with checking off the attendance. Everyone was informed to "rename" themselves to make the experience feel more immersive. You'll definitely be participating thorough the class and if you answer questions correctly, you'll earn merits. I was somehow made "The Duchess" and everything I said (regardless of right or wrong) earned me merits. I was quite lucky as there were definitely some "A" students in that class that studied the PDFs thoroughly before the session. Some of the students were more in character than the professor and his assistant, so much so that I couldn't even tell if they were part of the show or not. It was quite entertaining to watch how serious they were with learning the topic of linguistics, magik, and Esoteric Arts. This kind of format of play was quite new to us since most of the games we've played included some sort of puzzle that were either logic, ciphers or physical. This theater experience was focused on learning a new "language" that could be used in the world of magic to cast spells. There were topics like how to create a counter spell or how would we morph a word in order for this spell to work. The final test of breaking the curse on the professor felt closest to having some sort of puzzle in the game since we had to search the textbook, "decipher" which spell would work on the professors condition and how to create the word that would counter the curse. Perhaps it's because of the peculiarity of the experience, there were a lot of funny moments (especially when people are trying to pronounce those spells). If you do decide to join in for this magical adventure, definitely try to get a head start on those PDF files or pray that you'll be lucky like me and be crowned as a Duke or Duchess! *** We regret to inform this company has closed its doors *** Disclosure: We thank Mirror World Creations for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOMers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #MirrorWorldCreations #BasicPrinciplesofMagic #StudentofEsoterica #OnlineImmersiveEntertainment #Magic #Spells #Incantations #Esoteric #ImmersiveTheatre

Photos provided by Chorus Productions Company: Chorus Productions Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Size of Team: Unlimited (ages 18+) Show: Eschaton Genre: Mystery, Theater Date Played: 10/10/2020 Price: $13.00/ pp + $2.00 (booking fee) Time: 60 Minutes Lights, camera, action! When the door of Eschaton opened for us on Saturday 10th at 10PM EST on Zoom, our perspective on online immersive theater experience completely changed. What is this? Are we watching short films? live performances? A movie? Let us take you to the beginning... When we heard of this experience from our subscribers, we decided to reach out right away. Everyone was raving about the show and from what we saw online they sold out every Saturday. You won't be able to get much from the website but its that mysteriousness that pulled us in. As the show began, 4 doors appeared on our computer screen. We had no idea what we're suppose to do so we went separate ways. My first encounter was with an amazing singer. Her smooth and angelic voice captured my attention right away. I didn't even notice but 10 minutes have already passed. Since I did have some foreknowledge on a puzzle adventure that's designed into the game, I knew I couldn't stay here forever. Good thing some people in the show recognized who we were and pointed us to the right direction on which room we should enter to start solving the mystery. As we were trying to solve riddles, our mindsets were still on the other rooms that are in the show. Brandon went to some rooms that I didn't have time to explore. He told me afterwards that he was in a room with a beautiful lady who does burlesque and another room where he watched a fire eater. I saw a magician and various singers and dancers of different genres. As time went on, other room key codes would be given to us so we were be able to visit new areas in the show. There's no way you'll be able to fully absorb everything in 60 minutes. You'll definitely need to return the next Saturday in order to continue the journey if you want to dive deeper into the mystery. The acts will also change from time to time in the show so you won't ever feel like you've seen it all. There are also a lot of hidden puzzles in the show that you'll need to discover in order to solve the ultimate puzzle. We loved the experience. During this quarantine period, this show was like bringing the party to our home. The best part about this show is that there's something for everyone. If you are not into singers, go check out the magician. If you are not into watching fire eating, go get your future read by the tarot card reader. We can't wait to go back! If you dare to attend the Halloween show "END TIMES", we'll see you there! Show: END TIMES Genre: Horror, Theater Date Played: 10/31/2020 Price: $30-$400 Time: 120 Minutes After really loving the original production "Eschaton", we had to be back for Chorus Production's Halloween special edition END TIMES. There were various types of tickets that ranged from general admissions (one hour show + one hour after party) to VIP packages that included VIP rooms, Backstage passes, and custom package treats! The door opened at 10PM EST just like the regular ESCHATON show but this time all the performers and their rooms were "spiced up" with Halloween flavors. Even though this was not our first time at the show, we're still feeling quite lost as there's just so much to see in one hour. Since we are avid puzzle fans, we went straight to the puzzle track first. Good thing this one was designed to be quite short so we're able to complete that in less than 1/2 hour. This gave us more time to explore the rest of the show. If you thought the regular show left you stunned, you'll be amazed at what you would discover here. I know we're expecting 18+ contents but wow, talk about VIP hidden rooms and Ménage à trois! I was distracted by Brita's amazing "Hit Song" performances most of the time and before I knew it, it was the end of the show already (we never have enough time!). When 11 PM came around, the platform transformed into a street alley filled with neon signs. There were backstage doors, Club Mary, Hotel Chelsea, Lounge, XXX, etc...Guess who was in the audience? Neil Patrick Harris! We know he's a big "Sleep No More" fan so it was no surprise to see him here. What's amazing about these online theater experiences is that you never have to worry about choosing seats or getting there early to have better views. Everyone has front row seating and will be treated like a VIP. As you visit these actors on a regular basis, they will actually start to remember your names! We loved that they are so personable. If you get lucky, you might even get called on and have your 5 second of fame! We can't wait to see what else Chorus Production has up their sleeves. One thing we're sure of and that is we will definitely be the first in line to report back our findings! *** Shows are temporarily suspended*** Disclosure: We thank Chorus Productions for comping our tickets for this experience. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOMers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #ChorusProductions #Eschaton #ENDTIMES #OnlineImmersiveEntertainment #Mystery #Maze #VirtualClub #InteractivePerformances #Nightlife #ImmersiveTheatre #halloween

Videos/ Photos provided by Blumhouse, Little Cinema, Amazon Prime Video Company: Blumhouse, Little Cinema, Prime Video Game: Welcome to the Blumhouse Live Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Genre: Horror, Detective Date Played: 10/16/2020 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 4/10 Size of Team: Unlimited Time: 90 Minutes Price: Free 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 This was a live stream event created by Little Cinema in collaboration with Blumhouse and Amazon Prime Video. It was a promotional event to celebrate the launch of the 4 films on Amazon Prime: The Lie, Evil Eye, Black Box and Nocturne. The event was build around the mysterious disappearance of Erin Templeton. 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Each show opened up with a DJ (Ludacris, Questlove, Toro y Moi, and Jadalareign) doing a 30 minute set. After the show ended, Blumhouse would open its doors. There were 10 rooms to explore in the 3-story home. Each room had a live actor revealing some information about the missing girl Erin. The storyline was quite clever as it worked in bits of plots from all 4 films. You're able to interact with the actors through the live chat option. It was immersive theater on steroids! Since we only had 60 minutes, there wasn't enough time to explore everything so we decided to go back for the second show. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Most of the puzzles were like hunting for clues. There were a small portion of puzzles that we actually had to decode. The bedroom was probably where most of the puzzle lovers spend most of their time. There was one act in the garage that really felt like a remote escape room to us. The actress was a detective trying to save a hostage who's strapped onto a chair with crossbows pointed at him. We were amazed by the special effects of her walking on glass and taking out a real scorpion with her hands (at least we think it was real!). The final meta puzzle was combining all the clues we've found during the show to open the final lock to the attic. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 This would such a memorable online experience. The DJs hyped up the spirits for the audience and the actors took us on an amazing cinematic journey. The puzzles were cherries on top but definitely not the focus of the event. We really enjoyed every moment of it and hopefully we'll see more of these creations from Little Cinema in the near future! If you missed the event, there are still a few rooms that they left on their website so you can get a little taste on what you've missed out on! *** This immersive experience is no longer available but follow their website for future experiences*** (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) #ESCAPETHEROOMers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #Blumhouse #LittleCinema #PrimeVideo #WelcometotheBlumhouseLive #BlackBox #EvilEye #TheLie #Nocturne #amazon #blumhouse #OnlineImmersiveEntertainment #Horror #TheAttic #QuestLove #Ludacris #ImmersiveTheatre

Videos/ Photos provided by Seize The Show Company: Seize The Show Game: Rubix Control Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Genre: Adventure Date Played: 1/30/2021 Difficulty (based on 50 players): 3/10 Size of Team: Up to 50 Players Time: 60 Minutes Price: $16.99/ pp 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 The Rubix, an intergalactic cruise, was on its way to Mars when all of a sudden, it lost all of its connection with Mission Control. The only person they can rely on is you, an unpaid intern on Earth. Will you be able bring the crew back home safely? 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 There are two tracks (Alpha or Omega) to chose from when purchasing the ticket. Each track will have a different character encounter paired with a different set of puzzles. If you are playing with a group of friends, you probably want to chose the same track when purchasing the ticket. Each game will have a maximum of 50 players and they will be divided into the two tracks. You'll receive a zoom link with your purchase confirmation. Make sure to log in a few minutes earlier so you can learn about the portal (Gamiotics) that you'll be using to submit your votes. It's best to open Gamiotics on your mobile device and use your computer as the screen to view the game. Once the game begins, you'll be greeted by the live actors on board The Rubix. Pending on which track you chose, the captain will assign you to two crew members and you'll be taken to breakout rooms. There's no audio participation from the players nor will you ever need to turn on your camera. The entire interaction with players and actors are through the Zoom chat. Once we were inside our team's breakout room, we were presented with images that represented various rooms on the ship. We can use Gamiotics to suggest what areas to explore and submit the answer to the puzzles. The answers were given to us in multiple choice format. Once all votes were submitted, it'll be majority rules. The crew member will then implement the decision and the game will continue. The actors were really great. They kept the audience engaged and each had their own "flavor". The captain was in control and delegated various duties to the crew members. The crew members each had a specialty which they played out in their character but when it came to guessing who's the saboteur. it was quite difficult since they disguised themselves really well. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 We went through 4 puzzles during the game show. Since it does take time to collect all the votes, each decision to "search" took some time. The image slides were also presented quite quickly so if you didn't have the details on what you needed for a puzzle, you'll have to request to see it again. Since it's majority rules, you might not get your wish. Eventually we decided to take screen shots of the clues as we missed the details on the first slide when it was presented. It did feel a bit awkward at times since the crew member was also waiting on getting the results in order for them to know what to do next. I'm hoping the speed would improve on the Gamiotics in the future. The transition from room to room also felt a bit choppy since the entire team would need to be bought into the room so at times we're just waiting for others to join. It would probably be better if all the puzzles could just be presented in that initial breakout room versus having to "transfer" us multiple times during the game. Some puzzles were more challenging than the other but since you have a lot of teammates, you'll probably arrive at the correct answer eventually. Since the answers were in multiple choice format, some answers were also easily guessable by using deduction. It would be helpful if Seize the Show could send a debrief after each show to the players on the puzzle solutions so for players who didn't get a chance to solve them, they could at least have a chance to understand them afterwards. We did enjoy the moment when Alpha and Omega had to combine forces to solve a puzzle together. We had to feed each other information in order for both teams to arrive at the solution in order to open the final door. One thing I would suggest for that interface is somehow make the chat box not auto update whenever a chat comes in. While we're trying to focus on the information that was given to us by the other team, everyone was typing at the same time so all we saw was scrolling text. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 We've never experienced a game like this before. This is definitely a new concept for us. It felt like we were on a game show. If you are a puzzle lover, you might feel unsatisfied as there were only a handful of puzzles and a lot of moments of waiting. If you are a person who loves to work with teams and are into theatrics, you might really like this format. It was actually quite nice to sit back at times and not feel the pressure of having to solve a puzzle (go team!). You'll still need to make a critical decision about the saboteur at the end though. This is when you'll probably see some discrepancies from your teammates. Hopefully you'll pull through and find the snitch and save The Rubix! Oh yea, if you enjoy the show and want to return for another, there are a whole set of new puzzles waiting for you! *** We regret to inform this company has closed its doors *** Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of these game: Disclosure: We thank Seize The Show for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOmers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #SeizeTheShow #RubixControl #OnlineImmersiveExperiences #liveshow #Adventure #Escape #escapegame #space #sabatoge #gamiotics # livestream #stayathome #scifi #spaceship

Photo above is property of Walking Shadow Theatre Company Company: Walking Shadow Theatre Company Game: Reboot Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Genre: Adventure Date Played: August 20, 2021 Difficulty (based on 8 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 6-10 Players (Recommended Ages 14+) Time: 90-105 Minutes Price: $60.00/pp 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You and your team of computer hackers receive an urgent message from Agent Halo at the Department of Defense. They know about your involvement in the many hacker attacks around the country, but you are not in trouble, yet. By helping Agent Halo with an old government project you might be able to strike yourselves a deal! Video above is property of Walking Shadow Theatre Company 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 After making sure that we all have our codenames setup and that the line is secure in our Zoom call, Agent Halo (live actor) gives us our first test to make sure that our team is trustworthy. Throughout the game their digital assistant Bernice is sending us information and links in the Zoom chat. The links take you to different websites and also Google Drive documents. You'll need to find passwords and solve other tasks in order to gain access to some of them. While investigating the info given, you can also direct Agent Halo to perform tasks in the physical room that they were in. To solve the puzzles, you will need to utilize both resources. The storyline is told through videos, communication and still images, You'll be able to have discussions with various characters in the game. Don't be afraid to show off some improv skills and step away from puzzle solving mode from time to time! While playing, you will not only be asked to prove that you are human (whatever that means), you might also have to answer some personal and philosophical questions. There might even be a surprising point during the game where you might be separated from the pack. Can you handle the pressure? Photos above are properties of Walking Shadow Theatre Company 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The game starts off with an easy puzzle that requires everybody to share information and work together to solve, a great way to make sure everyone joins in on the first task. The puzzles are cute and on theme, with a good mix of search and find, word plays, deductions and ciphers. One of my favourite ones was a word puzzle that we even had to get a hint for, but once we figured it out the solution, it was quite clever and easy enough to solve even for a non native English speaker like myself. If you have played an escape room before you might take into consideration that this experience has fewer puzzles than a pure escape room of 90+ minutes would have, to give room for story development and audience interactions. The final task made us discuss as a team how we wanted to proceed, step by step we had to agree on what to do. We were given 7 whole minutes to decide and those minutes flew by. Luckily we all managed to agree within that time. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The game not only raised plenty of philosophical questions for us to think about like what defines life and what is free will but also gave us a chance to put our votes in to make decisions. It makes us think about questions like if this is not a game, will we still make the same decisions? I enjoyed all of this, but there is still some further potential for our answers to be utilized more in the puzzles, tasks and other game elements and not only in the storyline. There were times when we felt that the Q&A segment felt a little long and the answers weren't really utilized in a thicker plot for later development. Although one use of our answers was quite innovative. It is definitely worthy to point out again that we would categorize this more as an immersive theater experience rather than a standard escape room format as the storyline was definitely the focal point rather than the puzzles. We really enjoyed the puzzle presentation right before the show. There were a few "wow" moments that only a few of our players noticed and it quickly became a chain reaction after that. In summary, the discussions and decisions we participated in this game actually made me think about the consequences even after the show. Reboot is a storytelling performance that explored on ideas of technology, identity and personal freedom in an intriguing and innovative way! *** This game can no longer be booked as a remote game but check out their in-person experiences *** (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Walking Shadow Theatre Company for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HannaNyberg #AtHomeGames #OnlineImmersiveExperience #WalkingShadowTheatreCompany #Reboot #USA #SciFi

Photo above is property of Play Dead London Company: Play Dead London Game: The Elf Who Stole Christmas Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Genre: Whodunnit? Date Played: November 24, 2021 Difficulty (based on 2 player): 4/10 Size of Team: 15 ppl/ 4 groups ((large group splits into breakout Rooms) Time: Approx. 60 Minutes Price: £20/ pp (£300 for 20) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 In the days leading up to Christmas, we discover that someone has stolen Santa's "Naughty or Nice" list! We are provided with a map and the opportunity to chat with four elves who were in and about Santa's workshop on the night the list was stolen. Can we figure out who was the culprit and why? Photo above is property of Play Dead London 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 This is a deduction-based immersive theater experience via video conference. There is an initial introduction from the host, some pre-recorded videos, and then interactions with the four elf suspects. At times, the whole group is together, but other times, you will be divided into breakout rooms to interrogate each elf individually to eke out key information (and also discuss your theories with the others in your group). Interacting with live performers in the breakouts means anything can happen, and this team is good at improvising off of whatever material they're given, while also making sure to drop bread crumbs of information for us to follow. At the end, you all vote as to who you think did it, and the full story is revealed! 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There weren't really any puzzles per se; however, by using your listening, interrogating, and deducting skills, you will be put to the test to build a timeline for the evening, identify the guilty party, and understand their motive. It's an experience to be watched, first and foremost, so die-hards looking to push the limits of their puzzling prowess won't find themselves challenged. With only four suspects, there aren't too many variables to eliminate, and there aren't the kind of hidden observational tidbits that seasoned puzzlers are accustomed to hunting for. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The highlight of this show is the performers! As with any live show, it succeeds or fails based on the strengths of its performers, and the Play Dead Ensemble does not disappoint! The elves have an eclectic mix of personalities and duties, and Detective Sleigh Bells is the glue holding the pieces together. So long as you’re not expecting a puzzle-heavy experience, this is a light-hearted holiday romp. It is very much a fun-for-the-family type of show, sprinkled with puns and the occasional PG-bawdy joke. Why go to the movies when you can invite the silly cast of Play Dead London into your home, interact with a charismatic set of Elves, and save Christmas - all from the comfort of your living room?! So pour yourself some hot chocolate, grab a candy cane, put on your ugly sweater, and enjoy the show. *** 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, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Play Dead London for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DaveBristol #AtHomeGames #OnlineImmersiveExperience #PlayDeadLondon #Christmas #RPG #MurderMystery

Photo above is property of Play Dead London Company: Play Dead London Game: DROWNton Abbey at Christmas Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Online Immersive Experience 🎭 Genre: Murder Mystery Date Played: November 17, 2021 Size of Team: Up to 16 Players (Ages 18+) Time: 75 Minutes Price: £10.00/ device (1 person), £15.00/ device (2 people), £20.00/ device (3+ people) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 The aristocrats at Drownton Abbey are in the Christmas spirit and preparing for a party. but just before the guests are due to arrive Lord Drownton has been found dead! You will meet Inspector Slaughter who will explain the scene of the crime and then introduce you to the suspects. You and your fellow detectives are regularly split into breakout rooms to discuss theories, look at evidence and interrogate the suspects before being all brought together again for a debrief and to watch the interactions between the characters before you deduce who the murderer is - hopefully identifying the correct one. Photo above is property of Play Dead London 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 This is an online immersive and interactive festive themed Murder Mystery set in Drownton Abbey. You are sent a Zoom link a day before the event with the recommendation of joining the meeting 5 mins before the start. I recommend having a pen and paper to hand to make notes throughout. The scene is set from the moment you receive the initial email confirming your booking, as lords and ladies are invited to come and help solve the murder of Lord Rivers. It is a fun event with great characters, witty banter and an engaging storyline. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The cast and suspects set and maintain the scene, they are fully interactive addressing us all by name and answer any questions we have whilst also providing us with extra background information, often delivered with humour. The banter picks up between characters during the recap sections but this doesn’t feel scripted and is delivered very naturally making it all very entertaining. All the detectives and cast are brought back together for recaps between each interrogation to keep everyone up to date on how the investigation is going. The finale starts with us all being given the chance to ask one last question to help fill in any missing blanks and share theories before making our final deduction. After revealing our verdicts the inspector then went round the suspects, explained their motive, or lack of, laid out the case and revealed who actually was the murderer. how they did it and what their motive was. It can feel a bit rushed and awkward as you are with a group of strangers and given 2 mins to interrogate each of the suspects but the actors are clearly used to this and break down the barriers very quickly and share information openly with what can be a hesitant group of detectives so we get what we need. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Play Dead London are known for their well executed murder mysteries and this is no exception. It has strong and varied characters, a great script and is guaranteed to make you smile. I’d recommend it for people playing solo, a group home together and also with friends or family over zoom - it is for anyone who likes a whodunnit or is looking for a fun way to spend an evening. *** 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, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Play Dead London for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DawnBallard #AtHomeGames #OnlineImmersiveExperience #PlayDeadLondon #Christmas #RPG #MurderMystery

Photos provided by TRAPT Bar & Escape Rooms Company: TRAPT Bar & Escape Rooms Game: Alchemy at Home Country: Australia 🇦🇺 Language: English Type of Game: Remote Escape Room 🗣 Genre: Magical, Fantasy Date Played: 5/23/2020 Difficulty (based on 6 players): 7/10 Size of Team: Up to 6 Connections Time: 60 Minutes Price: $80 - 1-2 Connections ($10 each additional), $100 - 6 ppl (3 connections) Can "magic" really happen in a remote escape room? In this game, you'll need to test your "spell" skills and find the Philosopher Stone before time runs out! We played in this room a year and a half ago when we visited Australia. It was interesting to compare the physical room play with the remote play. The game didn't change much visually and there were a lot of puzzles that were the same. Our favorite prop (that we still have not seen elsewhere) was still in the room so it was quite emotional for us since we played in this room at the beginning of our ETR journey. We liked how the creators were trying to incorporate magic into remote play by using passwords ("spell") to open new inventory lists. The inventory list was a bit confusing for us to navigate but hopefully, that will be revised soon. It was very helpful to have since our team was able to refer back and forth on different puzzles separately. The room decor felt like a wizard's room in Harry Potter. I am always a sucker for these wizard themes. So if you think you're a skilled wizard, see if your power is strong enough to lead you to the Philosopher Stone in "Alchemy"! *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** Disclosure: We thank TRAPT Bar & Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOmers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #TRAPTBar&EscapeRooms #AlchemyAtHome #RemoteEscapeRoom #Avatar #Magical #Fantasy #Wizardry #HarryPotter #spell #wizard

Photo + video property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Escape The Big Top 📅 DATE PLAYED: June 3, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Puzzle Hunt 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 10 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 100PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Min 💰 PRICE: FREE for cruiser ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: No We boarded the Norwegian Cruise Line "Getaway" cruise ship at the end of May for an incredible journey from Denmark to Norway, Iceland, and Scotland. Of course, our journey was filled with escape rooms in these locations (check out our YouTube channel for our incredible trip)! We were super excited when we found out that there’s an actual escape room on the cruise ship - "Escape The Big Top"! We signed up right away as they do book up quickly as this experience is complimentary. We also have an exclusive video on our YouTube channel touring the ship along with a preview of the escape room itself! Now going back to NCL’s “Escape The Big Top”, the story line is that an onboard carnival takes an unusual turn when an act goes wrong. It’s then up to the guests to solve the clues and escape the spell before the time runs out.  The location of the escape room was quite fitting as it’s in the "Illusionarium" where they showcase their “Cirque Dream and Steam show” performance (by the way, this is a must see if you are on the ship; the show and dinner are both “delicious’). This is a very different concept than your typical escape room. Since it’s in a “movable” setting, there’s really no finding puzzle pieces or looking for an exit to get out kind of scenario. Each of our teams had a total of 10 people so if you didn’t have enough people in your own group, you will be paired with strangers. There are 10 groups total, so the max capacity is 100 people for this game. We liked how the show started out with a mysterious announcer explaining the game rules but thought it would've been even more immersive if a real actor (like a ringmaster or something) would come out and debrief us. We thought we had a total of 60 minutes, but it seems like our time included the debriefing. Therefore, we only had about 45 minutes left or so. This was a bit different from the normal escape room since most of the time you get debriefed prior to game and you have the full hour. When the game started, the situation became a bit chaotic since everyone’s clues are the same. Even though everyone is working on something different, there’s still a lot of people standing in front of the puzzles blocking others and making it difficult to see with the limited amount of time. Later, we did suggest to the NCL crew that we think maybe a second set of these puzzles can be set on the other side of the room since there wasn't enough space. Maybe 5 groups on one side and the other 5 on the other side? This will make the game less frustrating for people (we noticed a bit of tension during the game play). We also thought it was a bit odd that different teams could potentially hear what the other teams answers were since we were all so close to each other. If this was a competition, then perhaps each team needed to be spread out a bit further apart (although our teammates were giving other teams the wrong answers, not sure if was intentional or not, har har). We liked the puzzles that they had as they incorporated different ways of thinking and teamwork was definitely a requirement. The end goal was for the team that could unlock the combination to the treasure chest first to solve the puzzle in it. None of the groups that day were able to get there. But for those of you that are interested (if you did win), everyone in your team will receive a water bottle from NCL as a prize. In the future, we would love to see more escape rooms being built on these cruises as we see how much people enjoy them. We do however like to see a more structured set up and perhaps a more traditional setting of an escape room concept being built. Also, a smaller group would be more adequate. We can’t wait to try another escape room on their ship. Why? Because what else is there to do in the middle of the ocean? *** This game is no longer available. Check out the escape rooms on board NCL Prima (reviews on our 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"!) #escapetheroomers #etr #review #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #norwegiancruiseline #ncl #thegetaway #escapethebigtop #illusionarium

Photo is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Dutchman's Loot 📅 DATE PLAYED: June 23, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Puzzle Hunt 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Unlimited 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Min 💰 PRICE: $34.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Video is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers We are very excited to be trying our first outdoor escape puzzle hunt game today with Crux Club. Despite the hot weather in the busiest city in the world, we were ready for our challenge to find "The Dutchman’s Loot". Normally, what you would do is purchase the adventure book you like to try, download the app, register, and you’ll be ready to start your hunt. Today, we had the privilege of meeting the mastermind behind the development of this game and you can check out our YouTube video on the whole experience. Although, if you like to have a game master as well that can be arranged by booking one on their website. This game is best played when the weather is nice (definitely not on a rainy day) as you’ll be carrying items in your hands throughout the game. We suggest having a pen/pencil and some friends with you so you can have an extra set of eyes and hands. However, the game can also be played alone if you like. You’ll need cell phone service as well since GPS will be needed for the puzzles. The storyline is that Dutch Schultz stashed millions before he was murdered by a fellow mobster in 1932. We are treasure hunters in the East Village of NYC trying to find out what’s been hidden here all these years through a journal that was found by treasure hunter James Sherry. As we are solving puzzles, we are learning a little history of NYC throughout the way. Even though Brandon is a fourth-generation born and I’ve been here for over 20 years now, we’ve never even heard of some of these places that the book took us to. As we are exploring the city at our own leisure (unless you are extremely competitive, we’re not), we stopped at places that we passed along the way (mainly food and drinks) and found “treasures” that we’ve never known before. We like to believe whatever we consumed was balanced off by the amount of walking we did as you’ll be doing a lot of that. The puzzles were very creative as it incorporated a lot of the surrounding areas into their design. The only concern that had when we were talking to the creator, was that it would have to be constantly updated as this busy city changes its appearance every day. We did find some items that were either wrongly marked or weren’t there for that reason. The app is a resource we haven’t seen being used in combination with the book on a hunt before which we thought was clever. There’s a sense of accomplishment when you can check off each spot with the right answer to move on to the next. We liked how some puzzles also needed some “origami” rather than just reading and searching for things. Overall, we really enjoyed this game and will finish it one day. As we said in our YouTube video, this is definitely a “dangerous” game especially for foodies because after 2.5 hours of play and 4 food stops later, we had only completely about 20% of the game. So good luck treasure hunters! *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** Disclosure: We thank Crux Club for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #escapetheroomers #etr #review #escaperoomreviews #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #cruxclub #thedutchmansloot #newyorkcity #manhattan #eastvillage #scavengerhunt #nyc #ny #thebean #misoyo

LOCATION: Kralendijk, Bonaire Photo above is property of Escape Games Bonaire 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Missing Piece 📅 DATE PLAYED: January 25, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Puzzle Hunt 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 2 Hours 💰 PRICE: $25.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes One of the biggest reasons that we created “ESCAPETHEROOMers” was to work w/ escape room enthusiasts – players and developers! We are always honored to meet w/ developers that are passionate about what they do and value our opinions and suggestions; especially when we get invited to beta-test. Today, we are meeting w/ the owner & developer of “Escape Games Bonaire” and beta-testing his first game titled - "The Missing Piece". Usually, escape games involve players to be confined inside of a room attempting to get out within a certain time period. This game is more like a treasure hunt w/ escape game challenges. You are outside for the majority of the time and a vehicle is mandatory in order to play (we highly recommend that you have a vehicle, not a Moped/ Vespa or scooter). You start off w/ finding a treasure chest which you will have to keep with you for throughout the game. Since Kralendjik, Bonaire is such a beautiful island, outdoor gameplay was an added bonus for us. We are not sure how much time will be allotted when the game officially launches to the public but we managed to finish within an hour. The concept of the game was definitely unique for obvious reasons. The puzzles were fun and interesting to tackle and we’ve been told that the designs are going to be upgraded prior to launch. Overall, we believe that with a proper game title and finalized puzzle designs, “Escape Games Bonaire” is going to be a “Thing To Do” in Kralendijk, Bonaire! 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 Escape Games Bonaire for inviting us to be their beta testers for the game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLPuzzleHunts #PuzzleHunts #ScavengerHunt #EscapeGamesBonaire #Pirates #Historical #Bonaire #Netherlands

LOCATION: Coalville, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape & Educate 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Sorcery & Superstitions: Escape Quest 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 9, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Interactive Outdoor Treasure Hunt 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Unlimited 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: Pay Museum Admission, game is free to play (online version FREE) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes You’ll need a well-charged mobile or tablet device (the bigger the better) and headphones are recommended for the audio parts of the game. The game’s interactive component is not able to display full screen on Apple devices currently, but this is being looked at. The estimated duration of the game is 1 hour but you can take as little or as much time as you wish! The environment for this challenge is through an old building with uneven floors, low ceilings (one taller member of our team came to blows with a doorframe!) and on two floors with steep stairs, so it's not suitable for push-chairs, wheelchair users, or those with limited mobility. If this affects you, there is a digital version of the game which you could enjoy from the grounds, the cafe or even your own home. The house has gardens, a cafe and other attractions to add to your experience and is a fascinating piece of the area’s history. Please do check when the museum's operating hours and days and they do close for different seasons. At time of playing this is a fairly Covid-safe activity as the building is fairly well ventilated, you do not have to touch anything, masks can be worn and there was sanitizer provided. Of course, the digital game is totally Covid-safe! 📖 THE STORY There are many stories of superstitions and strange beliefs during the 17th Century at the 1620s house, which will be revealed to you as you play the game. Your mission is to solve a mixture of puzzles and challenges as you walk through the house to help the house’s protector, Benjamin Bellarmine escape from a room where he has been locked by witches. Can you solve the clues and help him? A collaboration between 1620s House and Garden and Escape & Educate, this exciting escape type game is designed to teach, entertain and challenge you as you tour the beautiful and fascinating house. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game uses puzzles and riddles as you would usually find in a standard escape room, in a small digital game interface, while navigating you to relevant stories and facts specific to items and artefacts found within the house. This ticks a lot of different format boxes and means that different members of the team or family can contribute by either beings spotters, solvers, gamers or all three! Once you arrive at the house, you start the game on your device and follow the story. The first task is to listen to a message from Benjamin he’s trapped and needs your help. You are then taken to a vision of the room where Benjamin is trapped and shown how to navigate your way around. Make sure you read everything carefully! There is a mix of puzzled which are entirely completed online, which then reveal some information that will help you to complete a further task within the game room, or instruct you to find information within the physical house. If you are playing online, you will be given relevant media of the house that will give you the answers. The game room’s items also contain hints for future puzzles, which you need to combine as you progress. You will also collect a couple of digital items which need to be used in the game to activate things. These are stored in an inventory icon which will appear bottom left. There’s also a useful map of the house. There are multiple extra bits of information about the rooms to read which are fascinating but need you to spend a lot of time looking at your phone whilst in the room - just make sure you stay out of other visitor’s ways to enjoy these learning opportunities! You must open 4 chests within the digital room using the answers from the puzzles you have solved using all the information at your disposal, and these must be done in order (chest 2 is locked with 2 codes). Only then can you reveal the final code, open the door and free Benjamin! Upon completion, players will have played a game as well as explore the museum and learn extra facts about the time period and location. At the end there is a useful recap of the information you used and how, during your quest. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Sometimes it was a little difficult to know whether the information we needed would be found in the digital room or the real house, for instance we were told to search the fireplace which we did with the real one in the house, whereas actually the answer lay in the digital version. We’d like to have found and used a lot more features of the house to answer puzzles rather than relying so much on the screen, as it felt like we weren’t really taking in the amazing details of the rooms but staring at our screens a little too much! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a lovely way to add a little more interactivity to a visit to the house, and will certainly appeal to families, history lovers and puzzle solvers alike. It is so very kind of them to provide this as a free addition to the house entrance, and also great that you can play from anywhere in the world via online mode too! The house is an amazing place to explore and the staff were extremely friendly. We loved learning more about the house - it was not only a game but also like having your own personal tour guide who could add life to the rooms and make history come alive. ** Please Note: "Sorcery & Superstitions: Escape Quest" can also be played digitally and here's some thoughts for the online version: The game is free to play. All you need is an email to begin. You'll get a little tutorial at the beginning explaining the functionality of each of the buttons. There's a tiered hint system and a solution option. You can click on various objects in the main platform and it'll give you clues on what you'll need to look for. You'll know where to begin as the game will clue you in on this would be a great place to start. The game contains videos and a map of the museum. If you are correct to select where you should be heading to, then you're one step closer to the solution. Once you successfully opened up all 4 puzzles then you might discover the mystery behind Benjamin's disappearance! The functionality of the online version was quite easy except certain puzzles when completed doesn't stay in that state. We do recommend writing down or taking a snapshot of the completed puzzle so you wouldn't have to repeat that action again. Overall we had a great time spending an hour together on Zoom to not only play some fun puzzles but learn some history! *** The In-Person experience no longer exist but you can still play the online version*** (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) #HelenBailey #AtHomeGames #IRLPuzzleHunt #PuzzleHunts #ClickNPoint #Witches #History #EscapeandEducate #UK

LOCATION: Brighton, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Puzzle Parade 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Project Pandora 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 29, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Interactive Outdoor Treasure Hunt 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 1 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 100 Mins 💰 PRICE: £45/Team ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes The route for this challenge is fairly flat, on good hard surfaces and therefore suitable for push-chairs and wheelchairs albeit with a little help, as some pedestrianized areas can get very busy so could be a challenge to get through at times. There are plenty of places to stop and rest on benches or in coffee shops, although you do not need to enter any other premises than “basecamp” but this is of course is part of the fun if you can :) Just wear good shoes as you will be walking around 2 miles in total. At time of writing this is a very Covid-safe activity as you mostly remain outdoors, can wear a mask if you wish and basecamp has facilities, sanitizer and screens. If you are a victim of the “lovely” British weather being miserable, they even have a policy of postpone or refund as long as you give them 24 hours notice, or an 80% refund, transfer to visit their indoor illusions attraction or free postponement with <24 hours (as these days the weather can change so quickly!). You can even postpone halfway through and come back to complete another time. This is a very generous and thoughtful policy which not many other places would do. 📖 THE STORY A collaboration between award-winning and top-rated escape rooms Pier Pressure (Brighton) and Escapement (Kent), this experience is an immersive city-roaming adventure hunt with a fun back story, city-roaming fun, challenges, puzzles and interactive tech that breaks an escape room out of the room and spreads it across a city, allowing you to get fresh air, explore a city that is new to you or even where you live and look at things with a fresh perspective! And with no time limit pressure, you certainly get value for money! Your team is challenged to embark upon an adventure to save Brighton from positivity-sucking monsters that threaten the people of Brighton since 2020. The Brighton Pavilion was built upon a portal to the world of these monsters you see to keep them at bay, but they are in danger of taking over unless we can help Prince Albert solve the 8 puzzles he hid around the city and return to basecamp and activate the magical Pandora’s Box which was forged to seal the portal and save the day! Can your team take on the challenge? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE On arrival at the incredible Paradox Place building in Gloucester Road, you will immediately be greeted with wonderful artwork, a tantalizingly tempting gift shop and a lovely smile from the team member in charge. You start your mission inside the gift shop and not at the back where the equally superb House of Illusions attraction is (also highly recommended!). Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers I was greeted by Vic, who was thrilled to discover I was there to take on the challenge, and quickly took me to the special briefing area where she explained what I needed to know, asked if I was ready and then played me the all-important mission briefing video. Luckily it did not self-destruct afterwards but there rather is a fun reveal at the end. Vic then sorted me out with my mission tech, a-la Q from the 007 series. A mission booklet, the vital city map, the ever-useful pencil, a curious device and the key part of the mission, my handheld “gizmo”. This amazing bit of tech is SO COOL - and makes you really feel like you are off on a mission to hunt ghosts, monsters and track down information with your trusty device. Listen carefully to the instructions on how to use your gizmo as success is based on using it correctly! Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Everything is contained within a sturdy tote bag for ease of transport, and after confirming that I was indeed ready for the mission, I was released into the city and off I went! The route marked on the map is numbered with locations to visit which must be done in order (for the puzzles to be unlocked in the correct sequence), although you can take any route you like really in between those stops. Heading for the first location it invariably rained right off the mark, so I ducked into a coffee shop for a spot of lunch and a hot drink, and by then the sky was clear and off I went. Each location is clearly marked and in the challenge book you have the puzzle you need to solve once you’re there to determine the code for that location, which is entered into your device. The beauty of this hunt lies with the collaboration between the game’s designers and the marvels and delights of Brighton. The infamous Pavilion, Dome and at least 5 choice businesses in The Lanes have worked together to give a varied experience at each stop, relying on a mix of observation, interaction and brain-power to progress. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Each puzzle has been written by escape room designers and each is different in its method. You must carefully combine objects and clues at times, everything is useful and this totally elevates this game above just a set of observations or simple puzzle solves on a sheet. I was super impressed at the cleverness and variety of the tasks and at times even though I am a seasoned puzzler and escape room player, some of them even made me think and have to re-work, but were never too obscure - just very good at making you think with some fabulous “ah-ha” moments. Each puzzle leads to a 4 digit code which you enter into your device and confirm correctness. One time you also use the device to listen to an audio file as part of the puzzle (tip - go somewhere quiet) and 3 times you get to use the special interactive technology to make something happen inside one of the venues on your route, which was such a delight, One was fairly obvious, one less so and one had me about to ask in the shop if they had removed something necessary because I was convinced there was nothing happening until I thought a little bigger and outside the box. A cunning and delightful twist that had me both cursing and congratulating the designers! Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers If you get really stuck on any of the puzzles there is a dedicated clue-line for hints, which I did not use but did call to let the team know that one location was restricted due to works going on, this is an occupational hazard of games such as these, but I was still able to complete the puzzle despite this. I was overjoyed to find and enter my final code and return to basecamp where Vic took me to Pandora and I did the necessary to complete the challenge. Once done, my reward for saving the day was revealed (and believe me I was thrilled with it!) and after a debrief and photo-op I was returned to everyday life - otherwise known as the gift-shop, to bask in my achievement and walk amongst the folk of Brighton, all completely unaware that they had just been saved from a dreadful fate... 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The ONLY teeny thing that I experienced in the whole thing that was the slightest bit of a nuisance was the fact that the gizmo device had no volume control that I was aware of. Combined with very sensitive keypad buttons, I found that many times throughout the journey the device (which I carried in the tote bag a lot of the time) would randomly proclaim in a loud voice that I had an incorrect code and to try again :) It’s a good job those wrong entries didn’t count towards a final score as it happened a lot! On the same note, when entering a code in a crowd outside a shop, the voice proclaiming success was quite loud and drew some attention at times! I managed to overcome this by pressing the speaker against my palm or clothing to muffle the sound. If there is a future iteration of the gizmo, perhaps a volume control or headphone port might be welcome, and possible a protective rim around the keypad to prevent accidental triggering? Like I say this is really a niche concern that does not affect gameplay and is easily overcome! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? No matter your group size or how long you are in Brighton, you should go do this puzzle hunt. I loved doing it alone, it felt like my own secret mission like I was a lone spy running around while other folk were oblivious. It filled a good couple of hours for me on my final day - and was one of my favourite memories of the trip. I spent a good amount on some awesome games and souvenirs from the gift shop afterwards (thanks Georgina!), and not only that but you get to keep the challenge booklet, pencil and tote bag from your kit which I was thrilled about. The staff I met at Paradox Place and at Pier Pressure were all fabulous, lovely people and so enthusiastic it was infectious! Hats off to all of them. I shall most certainly be returning when they release their 2nd and 3rd routes/missions in future. Go and treat yourselves to this excellent experience when you can! *** We regret to inform this company has closed its doors *** Disclosure: We thank Puzzle Parade for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #PuzzleHunts #IRLPuzzleHunt #TreasureHunt #PuzzleParade #UK

LOCATION: Stratton, Vermont, USA Photo above are property of Stratton Escape Room 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Escape The Village 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 28, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Secret Society 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 3/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $30/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The welcome email provides a link to the rules, as well as instructions on the starting location. The goal? Follow the clues and perform the final task in order to be inducted into the secret society of Stratton Village Puzzlers. The Village is an outdoor pedestrian marketplace in the heart of the Stratton ski resort in southern Vermont. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE It's family-friendly, as well as being a fun diversion for a group of friends on a ski getaway. Small children would have a blast with the scavenger hunt aspect, and older groups could use this introductory puzzle exercise as a way to become familiar with both the Village as well as the world of escape rooms and puzzles hunts. Had we not been exploring the Village after hours, a drink or two and some food would've been a great way to get a taste of the local flavors, and warm our hands on a cold and snowy November evening. As the Village undergoes occasional construction, it's possible that a clue may have been moved or missing. To accommodate this, Stratton Escape provides ample digital versions of the clues. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A couple of the digital clues were a bit blurry. We also had to manipulate one of the puzzles a couple of times as the information to be gathered was unclear initially. These were minor inconveniences that didn't detract from the 1-1.5 mile stroll about the quaint Village. Aside from knowing we were working to be inducted into a secret society, the backstory would benefit from being fleshed out more fully - who started this society, and why? 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? There are a variety of puzzles as you move through the game and village. It's part scavenger hunt and part light orienteering, sprinkled with wordplay and code cracking. The answers to all puzzles are clearly apparent when located. Experienced puzzlers won't find this to be a difficult challenge, but will still enjoy the variety of curious shops that they will discover along the way. It's worth paying attention to more than the object of a given puzzle - keeping your eyes open will reward you in the long run! As we did this challenge on a cold November night and it requires no proctor or monitor, it truly can be done anytime of the day or year. And for both families (even those with young children) and friends who have wondered what the puzzling world is all about, it will serve as a fun and rewarding introduction, complete with a silly final ritual to gain induction into this secret society of Stratton! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Stratton Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DaveBristol #PuzzleHunts #IRLPuzzleHunt #ScavengerHunt #StrattonEscapeRoom #Vermont #USA

LOCATION: National Gallery of Singapore, Singapore Photo above is property of The Escape Artist SG 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Last Lion (Sneak Preview) 📅 DATE PLAYED: January 14, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Singapore cultural history, Heritage buildings 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 5ppl (Recommend ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 120 Min 💰 PRICE:  SGD 150/Group ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The Last Lion, an ancient network of clans, is looking for members to join their cause in protecting Art for the future generations. As a test for new recruits, they have given you an envelope of challenges to test your thinking and problem solving skills through Singapore’s National Gallery, once the old Supreme Court and City Hall. Will you be able to pass the test and enter this network? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Thanks to the close collaboration between the National Gallery and The Escape Artist, the puzzles and hunt route was carefully and intuitively designed. The hunt ran through the entire Gallery smoothly, with minimal backtracks. Therefore, players could solve puzzles and enjoy the grandeur of the National Gallery of Singapore through another lens. On top of the design, the individual puzzles were themed and aligned well with the story. Players all had to be on location, with the needed tools (as provided by the game organisers) to progress the story. If players took their time to absorb the surroundings, they can expose themselves to various forms of art from Singapore and the region. This allows players to immerse themselves in the story told through the game, as if they were truly hopeful recruits wanting an in to an ancient network. The helpline here was two-fold. Whether it was via asking game officers dressed in trench coats and dotted around the gallery, or through a QR Code in the game booklet, help was always within reach. Due to the possible movements of artwork (affecting the puzzle), the placement of needed personnel was done effectively as well. All teams have a game kit to bring home - including a side puzzle for players to complete in their own time. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We ended up taking a lot of time with one of the puzzles that might not have been clear enough - the process was right, but we had difficulty getting to the final answers due to conflicting knowledge of how updated laws of mathematics worked. The hints for this process were also not clear, needing us to resorted to getting the solution straight from the hints in order to continue with the hunt. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Singapore has no lack of puzzle hunts and heritage locations that give people a history lesson through a different but fun lens. This puzzle hunt is not an exception, and highly recommended, whether it is for a visitor or a resident. It’s definitely memorable, considering how stories are said to stick to minds well. Helplines here are a hit and miss in their usefulness, but should push come to shove, the hints do provide a solution for those with no other way out to the next step. We would recommend an average of 4-5 people in a team. Regardless of the size of the team (recommended range between 2 to 5 people), a single ticket and game session costs SGD150. Therefore, having a maximum of 5 people in a team can also split the costs of your game. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO "The Last Lion" is an experience that is still in the stages of a ‘sneak preview’. As such, interested players will need to take note of the company's website for updates and news on the later launches of this game. As this game is in its second preview, I believe they should release this game more regularly soon! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers *** 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"!) #JoelynAlexandra #IRLEscapeRoom #PuzzleHunts #History #Heritage #TheEscapeArtistSG #Singapore